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.
Post_hoc
Guest
I sat my 10 year old down brought up a bbc documentary they did on Cruyff, I sat him down and said this man is the reason we play football the way we do now, this man is the reason you are being taught to play how you are. To his credit he sat down watched and was trying explain who he was to his aunt today.
Buddy
Guest
I was fortunate enough to be growing up and interested in the game when Cruyff's Ajax side were a joy to watch and the dutch national side have to be voted as the best team never to have won a world cup! Although I had the good fortune to enjoy the skills of Pele, George Best, Eusabio and others, what Cruyff and his cohorts gave to the world was a total change in approach to the game. Never mind the cliches surrounding total football, what they provided was entertainment. They played the game like many of us try to play our favourite video version of the world game. There were few if any stereotypical players in certain positions in the side. There was no big beefy target man, no-one employed as a "hatchet man" , just a team of players that could interchange their positions and always looked comfortable on the ball. I lapped it up at the time and became very dissatisfied with what was being served up on "match of the day" as it was in those days. The legacy moved on from Holland to Spain and then into coaching of course. Any team he was associated with gave us great entertainment, good value for money, and often, spectacular goals and near misses. I always wished he would gic]ve up the cigarettes, it was never a good look, but there again, you can't always get everything but he gave us plenty and it will always stay with me...love the number 14!
football
Guest
in the 1974 word cup, Cruyff was involved in all 15 goals that the Netherlands scored. In that Word cup he was near peerless. The construction of the La Masia school at Barcelona may however be his most influential act. an icon and a legend.
marron
Guest
I think a lot of what cruyff leaves us is a bit intangible in many respects. For me personally it's that football can be the most satisfying when it's good looking... and that it's enjoyable in and of itself. Total football as a system had its antecedents in Moscow or Vienna or Budapest or wherever else. but in cruyff you have embodied that extra part - not only a means to an end, but a whole attitude, a way of seeing the game.
SM
Guest
Good piece, Daniel. Cruyff is an icon and the father of modern football. You don't need to have watched him play to know that his impact on the game arguably exceeds anyone.
cruyff turn
Guest
When you consider the contribution Cruyff made as a player, coach, and technical director at both Ajax and Barcelona, I would say no one has a more positive or profound contribution to the game....ever. And that's a totally objective viewpoint, despite my username!
Midfielder
Guest
A player who has left a huge influence on the game. I remember the 74 world cup.