Last update 1 July, 2022 por Alberto Llopis

Johan Cruyff is one of the best players in history. When you talk about who is the best footballer in the world history there are often discrepancies between choosing Maradona, Skin o Of Stefano. Sin embargo, those doubts dissipate when wondering what it is about who is the best European player of all time: There is no doubt say that this honor belongs to him Johan Cruyff.

This lanky Dutchman born in 1947 in the city of Amsterdam it represents the quintessential footballing excellence. El fútbol rápido, veloz, associated with touch and movement, pressure on the opponent, dribbling by career and skill personified. That is to say, Total Football.

And is that if something can be classified to the “Skinny” He is the creator of a style, both on the bench as technical, like playing on grass. Con él, the art, talent and creativity, always have a place, even at the cost of losing defensive capacity. What counts is the imagination. Some of that already sensed when with only 10 years managed to join the ranks of Ajax Amsterdam. Step largely facilitated by the mother of Cruyff, cleaning of the club, which it served to meet a guy who would break the mold at the time.

So fast was his rise in the tulip club, that only 17 he made his debut in the Dutch league in a match against Groningen, game where you left already evident class with several changes of rhythm and remarkable goal scored. It was a premonition of what was to come. That same season, Cruyff began to gain a foothold in the first team coming to play 10 matches and scoring four goals.

One of the best players in history

Pero, the greatness of “flying Dutchman” was going to have a turning point with the arrival of Rinus Michels to the Ajax bench the following season. A man who would revolutionize the existing concept of football and where Cruyff would be in your best ally. Supporter constant innovations, Michels created a system where the players all attacked and defended together.. Además, there was a constant change of positions that aimed to give greater freedom to the players.

That was how Cruyff developed all his virtues. From his natural position of 9, bands are dropped in order to scramble the defense allowing the arrival on the second line of comrades. With such freedom of movement, el “Skinny” exploded qualities of speed and overflow race, and impressive dribbling ability.

In fact, he perfected a movement now known as the "Cruyff Dribble".which it was to look to pass or cross the ball. Sin embargo, instead of hitting the ball, he dragged the ball behind his foot planted inside her other foot and giving a return 180 degrees and accelerate away from the reach of defender. Además, all this, its performance was excellent for goal and his vision, where his passes and assists were a luxury.

El resultado, como no podía ser de otra forma, It translated into success both collectively and individually. 6 diseases, 4 Dutch Cups, 3 European Cups (en la del 72 with two goals against Inter), 1 Intercontinental and European Super Cup were his conquests in the near 10 Atletico years. A golden ball (1971) and four-time top scorer in the Dutch championship were his personal records with Ajax.

The signing of Cruyff by Barcelona

Success in the Dutch club led to the interest of the great European teams for. In fact, en el verano de 1973, after being almost tied Real Madrid, finally he managed to join FC. Barcelona in exchange for 60 million pesetas and 12.000 dollars a month, which it achieved consecrated as the European Footballer of all time.

In the Catalan club arrival he caused a real shock. Despite being immersed in a profound crisis of identity results, Things changed a lot in Can Barça of overnight. After making his debut in a match against Granada in October with the team in last place in the table and where scored twice, Cruyff managed to reverse the trend.

The team finished the season with the title under his belt and a style, which it earned him to leave unforgettable images like thrashing 0-5 Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on 17 de febrero de 1974 one he heeled goal Atletico Madrid, which earned him the nickname Dutch “flying”. Successes which helped her win consecutive gold balls 1973 y 1974.

El Mundial del 74 raised Johan Cruyff as a footballer

En la temporada 74, Cruyff finally achieved his debut in a World Cup. Rinus Michels with the command, Clockwork Orange stunned the world with that total imports Ajax football. En el Mundial de Alemania, 74, the Dutch team managed to curdle his best performance so far managing to play the final against the Germans, to finally lose by 2-1. This would be his only contribution of relevance to the selection after his refusal to play the World 78 as a result of fear of a possible kidnapping and forms of protest to the Argentine dictatorship country. A kind of rebellion that would accompany him throughout his career and would be a controversial character in more than one occasion.

The success of the national team was in the “skinny” some of the biggest culprits, It is achieved as key player in the Argentina win (marking two of the 4 goals for his team) or in the win over Brazil 2-0, where he scores another goal achieved. His next years in Barcelona would not be as good at collective level (which would only Cup 78 at the expense of Las Palmas), which it did not prevent the dramatic quality technical and saw Cruyff.

His signing for Levante UD

Finally, already with 31 años, el “14” Football took a step in his career and funneled its way to American LFS where he spent two years. En 1981, Levante witnessed the return of Johan Cruyff to the Spanish League, these if, with very special conditions. Sin embargo, solo 10 granota set matches with Johan ended returning to the club he loves: el Ajax.

His return to the club with ajacied 34 años, It earned him for two leagues and go into the annals of history by creating a play: indirect penalty, which it was to give the ball to a teammate before pulling a goal. It would not however, this his last season, For even he would be a step in a year by Feyenord, where a surprising conquer League-Cup double and the award for best player Eurodivisie. A happy ending for a total player. Años después, Cruyff would take the reins of the club to create the “Dream Team” a team that made history for his full football game. But that, It is another story that we tell aquí.