Johan Cruyff Biography

Hendrik Johannes Cruijff (often spelled Cruyff outside the Netherlands); born April 25, 1947 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football trainer/coach and former star player, regarded as one of the greats of the game. Named three times European Footballer of the Year (1971, 1973, 1974) and European Player of the Century by the IFFHS in 1999, he was a silky exponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football, developed by his trainer Rinus Michels.

Cruijff played successively for Ajax, FC Barcelona, Los Angeles Aztecs, Washington Diplomats, Levante UD and Feyenoord. As a player, Cruijff was known for his technical ability: his mesmeric ball skill, speed and acceleration, the ability to change direction at will and his tactical insights make him one of the most gifted footballers of all time.
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He has been named as one of the best football players of his generation, alongside George Best, Garrincha, Pelé and Franz Beckenbauer, although he did not win a cup or tournament with his national team. As a Dutch international he played 48 matches, in which he scored 33 goals.

The highlights of his football career as a player include winning the European Cup three times (1971 - 3, with Ajax), the Ballon d'Or (European Player of the Year) thrice (1971, 1973 - 4), and leading the Netherlands to a runners-up medal in the 1974 World Cup. In 1978 he refused to participate in the World Cup that was held in Argentina because it had suffered a military coup only two years before the cup; the Netherlands emerged runners-up again that year.

At the age of 32 Johan signed a lucrative deal with the Los Angeles Aztecs of the North American Soccer League (NASL). He had previously been rumoured to be joining the New York Cosmos however, the deal did not materialise. He did however play in a couple of exhibition games for the Cosmos. He stayed at the Aztecs for one season, finishing as the NASL's Most Valuable player of 1979. The following season he moved to the capital to play for the Washington Diplomats, he played the whole 1980 campaign for Washington, leaving soon after the start of the '81 season.

Johan Cruijff has managed two football clubs after his active career as a player, Ajax and Barcelona. As a manager he led Ajax to victory in the European Cup Winners' Cup (1987) and Barça to four league titles (1991 - 4), as well as FC Barcelona's first European Cup (1992). This record made him the most successful coach in FC Barcelona's history. His open support helped candidate Joan Laporta to victory in FC Barcelona's latest presidential elections. He continues to be an adviser for him, although he holds no official post at FC Barcelona right now, sparking controversy about his real role and influence.

Cruijff used to smoke 20 cigarettes a day prior to undergoing double heart bypass surgery in 1991, after which he quit smoking forever and began chain-sucking Chupa Chups lollipops instead. He also led the anti-smoking campaign developed by the Health Department of the Catalan government.

In November 2003 Cruijff invoked legal proceedings against the publisher Tirion Uitgevers, over its photo book Johan Cruijff de Ajacied, which used photographs by Guus de Jong. Cruijff was working on another book, also using De Jong's photographs, and claimed unsuccessfully that Tirion's book violated his trademark and portrait rights.

The Dutch Supercup is named after him: Johan Cruijff-schaal.

His son, Jordi Cruyff, has played for teams such as FC Barcelona, Manchester United and Alaves. Cruijff was his manager at Barça.

JOHAN CRUYFF PICTURES

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JOHAN CRUYFF BIOGRAPHY