Johan Cruyff died today at the age of 68 after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was the kind of man whom you mentioned in the same breath as words like legend, revolutionary, and inspirational. You did so casually, because that’s how closely related to greatness he was. He was the embodiment of what any person with ambition, a dream, a struggle strives to be, the greatest version of himself.
Cruyff earned his reputation by being the father of modern day football, the greatest iteration of the greatest game to every be played. In a fantastic article put together by The Guardian in honor of Cruyff’s death, a multitude of quotes speak to this.
From The Guardian:
“As a player he turned football into an art form. Johan came along and revolutionised everything. The modern-day Barca started with him, he is the expression of our identity, he brought us a style of football we love” – the former Barcelona president Joan Laporta.
“He was at the heart of a revolution with his football. Ajax changed football and he was the leader of it all. If he wanted he could be the best player in any position on the pitch” – Eric Cantona.
“Johan Cruyff painted the chapel, and Barcelona coaches since merely restore or improve it” – Pep Guardiola on Cruyff’s work at the Nou Camp.
But one quote speaks louder than all the rest:
“The proudest moment of my career. I thought I’d win the ball for sure, but he tricked me. I was not humiliated. I had no chance. Cruyff was a genius.”
That quote is from Jan Olsson, the Sweden defender who was tricked by the Cruyff Turn at the 1974 World Cup: the first time anyone had seen Cruyff pull off the Cruyff Turn in a game.
Look at the gif above again. Do you see how hard Olsson bites on the fake? He bites so hard he straight up turns the complete opposite direction of Cruyff and then stumbles. With all due respect to Olsson’s opinion, he got absolutely embarrassed, and he says it was the proudest moment of his entire career.
Hold on, you really need to understand this: HE GOT ABSOLUTELY EMBARRASSED, AND HE SAYS IT WAS THE PROUDEST MOMENT OF HIS CAREER.
If anyone ever doubts the greatness of Cruyff, you slap them in the face, show them that gif, and explain to them that that was the proudest moment of that poor, practically nameless defender’s career.
Where’s Based God when you need him? Who does that?
Cruyff does that, and that’s the standard by which his whole career lived up to, as a player, and as a coach for FC Barcelona and AFC Ajax.
As we mourn the loss of one of the greatest to ever do it, understand what he gave to the game. As fans, we are all just disciples in the Cathedral of Cruyff, and that makes me pretty proud.
I’m gonna sign off with one last quote, from Johan Cruyff himself:
“We showed the world you could enjoy being a footballer; you could laugh and have a fantastic time. I represent the era which proved that attractive football was enjoyable and successful, and good fun to play too.”
RIP Johan Cruyff: 1947 - 2016
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