The story of Johan Cruijff

Johan Cruijff, born in Amsterdam in 1947, is a Dutch football legend considered one of the greatest players in the history of football. His remarkable career began at a young age when he joined Ajax's youth academy in 1959, after playing at a local club for several years. At the age of just 17, he made his debut in Ajax's first team.

Cruijff quickly grew into a crucial player for the team and played a vital role in Ajax winning the Eredivisie title, a feat they achieved three consecutive times from 1966 to 1968.

In 1972, Cruijff moved to Barcelona, where he became the team's superstar. Under his leadership, Barcelona won the Spanish national title in 1974 and also triumphed in the Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) in 1978.

Cruijff was known not only for his footballing talent, but also for his simple yet wise sayings that summed up the essence of the game. For example, he said, "You have to shoot, otherwise you cannot score" and "You always have to make sure you score a goal more than the opponent.". In the Netherlands, 'Cruijffian' statements are often referred to. The dictionary describes the term as follows: 'enigmatic, profound-looking statements that do not always seem to follow the rules of logic'.

After retiring as a player in 1984, Cruijff made a name for himself as a successful coach. He returned to Ajax. He was also at the helm at Barcelona from 1988 to 1996, leading them to four consecutive La Liga titles and the European Cup in 1992. Cruijff is also known for his innovative approach to the game and is credited with developing the "Total Football" system, which emphasised players' ability to play in multiple positions.

Johan Cruijff remained involved in football throughout his life. In 2016, he was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away in March the following year. He was 68 years old.