Hendrik Johannes Cruijff (25/04/1947 - 24/03/2016)

[ecc]

On this day eight years ago, the world of football lost one of its greatest ever exponents.

Johan Cruyff was a boyhood idol but it was only when I grew older that I realised just how great he was.

If Rinus Michels was the driving force behind the 1970s Dutch version of Total Football, created by Jimmy Hogan and developed by Hugo Meisl, coach of the Austria Wundeteam, Cruyff was the brain on the field. In addition to his astonishing technical ability, his reading of the game allowed him to act as a General, dictating the movement of his teammates. He himself had no fixed position roaming around the pitch in what might have seemed an anarchic fashion but was, on the contrary, his way of best maximising his team's performance.

The man was elegance personified. He was graceful, he had swagger, he stood out from all the other players on the pitch like an angel sent from the heavens.

Whether he was the best player of all time is a needless debate. He was quite simply unique.

His contribution to football continued as a coach at Barcelona. I say "coach" and not manager because that's as I saw him.

RIP Johan.

[FCBurnley]

Some player that boy. Never knew his first name was Hendrik

[mdd2]

copied from Wiki re his basic rules
And he listed his 14 basic rules that include:

Team player – 'To accomplish things, you have to do them together.';
Responsibility – 'Take care of things as if they were your own.';
Respect – 'Respect one another.';
Integration – 'Involve others in your activities.';
Initiative – 'Dare to try something new.';
Coaching – 'Always help each other within a team.';
Personality – 'Be yourself.';
Social involvement – 'Interaction is crucial, both in sport and in life.';
Technique – 'Know the basics.';
Tactics – 'Know what to do.';
Development – 'Sport strengthens body and soul.';
Learning – 'Try to learn something new every day.';
Play together – 'An essential part of any game.';
Creativity – 'Bring beauty to the sport.

[TheFamilyCat]

Some player that boy. Never knew his first name was Hendrik

His parents were big fans of Jeff.

[ecc]

His parents were big fans of Jeff.

Sadly, I expected that.

Thanks for your meaningful and indispensable contribution.

[TheFamilyCat]

Sadly, I expected that.

Thanks for your meaningful and indispensable contribution.

Get over yourself

[Woodleyclaret]

I was fortunate to see him play for Feyenoord at Tottenham at the end of his career.Spurs were winning but Johanne picked up the ball in his own half ghosted past several defenders and smashed in a goal. A truly great player .

[ClaretLoup]

I saw Cruyff play for Barcelona vs Ipswich in a UEFA Cup Round 3 tie in November 1977. Not one of the Dutch Master’s better nights as the Tractor Boys masterminded by Bobby Robson ran out 3 - 0 winners. Neeskens was also in the Barcelona line up.

Cruyff actually “retired” at the end of that season but had to resume playing later as he was conned out of most of his money by some scammers via investments in pig farming.

Stick to what you know.