Johan Cruyff

Hendrik Johannes Cruijff (spelled Cruyff in English) (25 April 1947 in Amsterdam – 24 March 2016 in Barcelona) was a Dutch famous soccer player and coach.

Biography[edit]

Cruyff was born on 25 April 1947 in the Dutch city of Amsterdam, nearby the Amsterdam Arena (the stadium of his first club AFC Ajax). He was the second son of Hermanus Cornelis Cruijff and Petronella Bernarda Draaijer.

Career[edit]

AFC Ajax (1964–1973)[edit]

As a teenager Johan Cruyff joined the youth division of AFC Ajax in Amsterdam. After its success as a youth player of Ajax, he made his debut on 15 November 1964 in the Eredivisie, the Dutch main soccer competition, the first match between Ajax and FC Groningen. With its successfully career by Ajax, the club won the KNVB Cup in several times.

His first entrance in the European football was on On 28 May 1969 against AC Milan but Milan wins with a score of 4–1.

FC Barcelona (1973–1978)[edit]

After a transfer Cruyff was sold for approx. $2 million to FC Barcelona in 1973,^[1] he helped the club defeat their greatest ricval Real Madrid C.F. in the La Liga competition. His debute was in the 1973–74 season. In 1974 he was promoted to European Footballer of the Year.^[2] One of Cruyffs last matches for FC Barcelona was against UD Las Palmas which led into a 3–1 victory for Barcelona to win the 1978 Copa del Rey Final.

Los Angeles Aztecs/Washington Diplomats[edit]

After his career by Barcelona and a short retire in 1978, Cruyff and his family went to the United States.^[3] Where he signed a contract with the Los Angeles Aztecs where he played for one season, after a failed agreementv with New York Cosmos he joined the Washington Diplomats (from Washington D.C.), however, with a meager success despite commitment to the club.

Levante[edit]

After his career in the U.S. he moved back to Europe in January 1981, he has been joined the club Levante UD where plays in the Segunda División for one season.

Second career for AFC Ajax[edit]

After one season in Levente he returned to Ajax, his homeclub, on 30 November 1980 as assistant of trainer Leo Beenhakker. Partly of his responsibility he marked them league champions again in 1981-82 and in 1982–83 seasons. After the 1982–1983 season Ajax gived Cruyff not a new contract, which led that he switched to rival Feyenoord for one season.

Dutch national soccer team[edit]

In the Dutch national football team he played a total of 48 matches,^[4] and has been scored 33 goals. His debut as a national was at the UEFA Euro 1968 in Italy. The highlight was the 1974 FIFA World Cup, where he scored multiple goals, The Dutch national team reached the final of this league, but was defeated by West Germany with a score of 2–1. He leaved the national team in October 1977.

Coach[edit]

AFC Ajax[edit]

From 1985 till 1988 he coached AFC Ajax for three seasons, during his leadership he won the KNVB Cup in the 1985–86 and 1986–87 seasons.

FC Barcelona[edit]

From 1988 till 1996 he went to FC Barcelona as a coach, his most successful career led to making them 4x champion of the La Liga competition, his legacy is always a key issue in Barcelona.

Personal details[edit]

Cruyff himself was always an atheist,^[5] despite that his views were always pro-Israel and pro-Religion, he also founded the philanthropy organization Johan Cruyff Foundation. In addition to its work trace, he liked to play Golf.

Death and legacy[edit]

Cruyff died of cancer on 26 March 2016, This death came into the international news which was commemorated with a minute of silence in almost all football matches.^[6]

External links[edit]

• Official site of Cruyff Foundation

References[edit]