⚽ Soccer · Forward

Johan Cruyff

Netherlands · 1964–1984

Played Total Football, then coached it into Barcelona's DNA.

3
Ballons d'Or: 3
European Cups (player): 48
Netherlands caps: 33
Netherlands goals

Career

Cruyff was the central figure of Ajax and the Netherlands sides that made positional interchange a tactic rather than an accident. As a coach he built Barcelona's 'Dream Team' and founded the youth philosophy that produced Guardiola, Xavi, Iniesta and Messi — arguably a larger legacy than his playing career, which included three consecutive European Cups.

Honours

Three consecutive European Cups with Ajax, 1971–1973
World Cup runner-up and Golden Ball, 1974
European Cup winner as Barcelona coach, 1992
Gave his name to the Cruyff turn

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