Biography

Johan Cruyff (or Cruijffie) is voted the best European soccer player of the twentieth century (and the second best worldplayer). He started his career with AJAX Amsterdam and led them to 4 European finals of which 3 were won (1971/1972/1973). In 1973 Cruyff joined Barcelona (for a the then record-fee of 6 million guilders), He became a very popular player

• also known as el salvador - and gave Barcelona (and Catalonia) their

pride back. One fan of the club was so pleased with Johan he gave him a bungalow in the mountains outside Barcelona. With the dutch national team he became the inventor of Total Football in 1974. The world finals were lost against the Germans, leaving the Netherlands with a lifelong trauma. After leaving Barcelona Johan played soccer in the States (Washington Diplomats) and then retired. Due to bad investments het was forced back to the pitch. He joined his first team on a highly profitable contract. In his first game against Harlem he scored a fantastic goal and thus silenced his critics. After two years with Ajax he then joined their great rivals, Feyenoord. Although he lost a game against Ajax 8-2, he made Feyenoord champion of Holland. He then retired as an active player.

After a few years he became involved again with his first love, Ajax. He coached them for a few years, winning the European cup winners cup, before he got fired after arguing with the president of the club. But he has not only a first love, but maybe he has an even greater second love, Barcelona. He coached them for a few years, winning the European Champions league for the first time and four times the Spanish league.

- IMDb mini biography by: jan

Johan Cruyff is a Dutch professional football player and coach.

As a player, he won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973, and 1974. Cruyff was an exponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football explored by Rinus Michels, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history. Cruyff led the Netherlands National Football Team to the final of the 1974 FIFA World Cup (1974) and received the Golden Ball as player of the tournament. At the 1974 finals, he executed a feint that subsequently was named after him, the "Cruyff Turn", a move widely replicated in the modern game.

At club level, Cruyff started his career at AFC Ajax, where he won eight Eredivisie titles, three European Cups and one Intercontinental Cup. In 1973, he moved to FC Barcelona for a world record transfer fee, winning La Liga in his first season and was named European Footballer of the Year.

After retiring from playing in 1984, Cruyff became highly successful as manager of AFC Ajax and later FC Barcelona; he remained an influential advisor to both clubs. His son Jordi also played football professionally.

- IMDb mini biography by: Tango Papa