Now I realize that most of you have no idea who this is, or care that he is a Soccer LEGEND. However, I am putting this here, b/c I feel if a man is sooooo instrumental in the revolution of something so popular as soccer, he deserves to be recognized. This is akin to Jerry West dying.

 

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Cruyff as a player, and later as a coach, revolutionized (and that is not an exaggeration) the sport. His teams in the Netherlands invented "Total Football" basically 10 players who could interchange positions and move freely over the field using quick short passes and filling open space. He won 3 European Championships in a row, was a World Cup Runner up, and World Player of the Year numerous times. He left the Netherlands to play at Barcelona b/c he hated Facism and wanted to stick it to Franco, whose favorite team was Real Madrid. He helped Barcelona win La Liga a couple of times. MOST importantly, he brought Total Football to Spain. The way that Barcelona plays now is taught from the earliest ages in their La Masia, which he improved. He coached them to the 1992 European Champions Cup, and laid the foundation for the style of play that has helped Barcelona pass its way through the world. It has also played a huge role in Spain's success, as the Tiki-Taka side.

 

Like I said, most of you don't care, but this is what a game's true legend looks like.

Guess if I followed premier soccer more closely I would have known who he was. I really only pay attention to International Soccer and had no idea who this was.

An absolute legend. I've read nearly every book I could get my hands on about those Dutch teams in the 70s. Much of what we like about the sport now, we owe to Cruyff's Dutch national and Ajax/Barcelona teams that triumphed over the grinding, defensive style of the dominant Italian teams of the era. And that was just as a player. Like Mex said above, he was a game-changer on the European club scene from when he took over Barca in 1988.

Wow. Had no idea he was sick. He was the catalyst for those Dutch teams that were so enjoyable (yet never won the World Cup).

 

There are some very interesting stories/theories as to why he sat out the 1978 World Cup. Here's a link: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2010/06/sports-legend-revealed-did-johan-cruyff-sit-out-the-1978-world-cup-as-a-political-protest.html

Guess if I followed premier soccer more closely I would have known who he was. I really only pay attention to International Soccer and had no idea who this was.

 

Imagine Jerry West dying, except he had been a top 5 all time player and just as good as an exec, while popularizing a style of play more effective than Phil's Triangle offense. Straight genius.