I always find it difficult to judge the greatness of a player I never saw live.
How do you make an evaluation of a player when you haven’t been there to see them wow crowds in person, haven’t been caught up in the media hype of the day, and haven’t counted down the days to their next appearance?
But, much like little more than a scorebook is needed to know Don Bradman was a phenomenal cricketer, the odd highlights clip and newspaper report is all that’s needed to know Johan Cruyff was one of football’s greats.
The three Ballon d’Ors. The arrival at Barcelona – taking them from fourth last to champions in less than a full season. That turn.
As a player though, there are others whose quality is comparable to Cruyff’s. Pele. Diego Maradona. Garrincha. Franz Beckenbauer. Eusebio. Paolo Maldini. Ronaldo. Lionel Messi. Cristiano Ronaldo.
As an influencer of the modern game, though, Cruyff is peerless.
Cruyff may not have invented Total Football, but he was the system’s champion, its finest exponent. The Netherlands came close to winning the 1974 World Cup using Total Football, but without Cruyff, they wouldn’t have made the final.
Cruyff’s legacy extends far beyond that of the excellent player. In fact, as a coach, his influence of the game is far greater.
A manager who preached attack, Cruyff transformed Barcelona from a club in crisis to the European behemoth they are today. When he joined the club in 1988, they were yet to win a European Cup. That changed two years later under the Dutchman’s tutelage, and the Catalan club now has five.
Prior to his arrival, Barcelona had ten league titles. That has since doubled, and then some.
Barca are renowned for their style of play – tiki-taka – which has its roots in Total Football; lots of short passes, an emphasis on player movement, and an abundance of possession which, more times than not, cannot help but result in a win.
Aesthetically, the method has its critics; watching Barcelona tap the ball effortlessly among themselves can get a little monotonous.
But there is no doubt of the system’s success. The five aforementioned European Cups. Thirteen La Liga titles. Spain’s first World Cup and two European Championships. All achieved using tiki-taka.
Then there are the players who have thrived. Xavi. Andreas Iniesta. Messi. Ronaldinho. Even defenders like Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique have reaped the system’s rewards.
The finest manager in the world, Pep Guardiola, is a product of that same system.
And all of it can be traced back to the influence of Johan Cruyff. Without him, Barcelona doesn’t become the European footballing giant they are today. Without him, their style of play doesn’t become the envy of all others, and spread like wildfire across the footballing globe. And without him, football is a poorer sport.
Cruyff once said, “In a way I’m probably immortal”.
He was being modest.
The man may have passed away, but his football will live on forever.
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