Johan Cruyff Biography
Johan Cruyff Biography – Introduction – The dispute surrounding who the best soccer player of all times is usually hovers between Pele and Maradona, so the first two spots are clear. But who takes the Bronze medal then? Michel Platini? Franz Beckenbauer? Or the Dutch wonder, Johan Cruijff. And believe me when I say this, a lot of people that saw all three of these great players live during their career will choose the Dutchman.
Johan Cruyff Biography – Ajax Amsterdam – Same as with most young boys born in Amsterdam, the Ajax youth academies were Johan Cruyff’s first choice and he started playing for the club in 1957, at age 10. He played for 7 years throughout Ajax’s youth systems, standing out as one of the best players of his generation (and that’s not an easily obtainable performance, when you’re part of the best youth club system in the World).
In 1964, he was taken to the first team and had his debut in the Dutch first division short after, even managing to score on his first game for Ajax (Ajax lost to GVAV 3-1 though). Despite this, he didn’t have a first team place until the 1965-66 season, when he started catching the eyes of the press, and even the national squad staff. He scored 25 goals in 23 games that season and emerged surprisingly high in the Dutch top scorer competition, considering his young age.
But his best season at Ajax would be the 1966-1967 one, when Cruyff would score 33 goals becoming top goalscorer and helping Ajax to an amazing league-cup double. He would repeat this feat in the 1969-1970 season, but unfortunately 1970 also brought him a serious injury that kept him off the pitch for some time. All in all, in his first 9 years with the Dutch club, Johan Cruyff managed to win 6 league titles, 4 Dutch cups and 3 European Cups (today’s Champions League equivalent).
He was also named European Footballer of the Year twice while here, namely in 1971 and 1973. But in the summer of 1973, after winning almost everything he could have won with Ajax, Johan Cruijff decided it’s time for a move and accepted FC Barcelona’s offer, who was trying to get him for the past 3 years.
Johan Cruyff Biography – FC Barcelona
Cruijff was already an established player when he joined Barcelona and the pressure was high on his shoulders, but the Dutchman managed to cope with it perfectly. His first good move was winning the hearts of the Barca fans, saying that he chose Barcelona over Madrid because he could never play for a club that was associated with Spanish extremist leader Franco.
He also gave his son a specific Catalan name, Jordi, which further increased the Barca fans’ trust in him. And to top it off, he immediately made an impact at the team, helping it win the Primera Division for the first time in a long while, smashing their arch-rivals, Real Madrid, 5-0 on their home stadium, in the season’s derby. His 5 seasons with Barcelona brought him another trophy, the Spanish Cup in 1978 but otherwise it was a bit of a drought compared to what he won with Ajax.