Johan Cruyff’s debut 52 years ago today: Inventor of Total Football whose philosophy influenced Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola
Ajax and Barcelona genius was a maverick who changed the game — and transferred his ideas to management
EXACTLY 52 years ago today, the football landscape changed forever.
Johan Cruyff was introduced to the world, as he made his professional Ajax debut on November 15, 1964 — scoring a 3-1 defeat to Groningen.
And his philosophy would leave an indelible mark in the game.
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Prior to Cruyff’s debut, Ajax had won just two league titles in 19 years.
But they would win six of the next eight until their most famous name left for Barcelona — as well as three successive European Cups.
Under the guidance of famous manager, Rinus Michels, Cruyff was the spearhead behind the revolutionary ‘Total Football’ style of play.
The belief was that the team would be full of 11 talented players who could play all over the pitch.
And they would make the pitch as wide as possible with the ball — and close it off to their opposition when they conceded possession.
Cruyff reinvented the game.
His belief was that there was no such thing as winning if it wasn’t done in style.
Even as far as penalties.
It was Cruyff who famously passed a penalty to Jesper Olsen before the Dane returned the pass for the No.14 to score past the bamboozled goalkeeper.
His philosophy was adopted by the Holland national team which is commonly regarded as the greatest side never to win the World Cup.
The Lost Final — capital L and capital F — against West Germany in 1974 is seen a national travesty.
Holland had swept all beside them and, after taking the lead inside a minute, were pegged back by the Germans.
Cruyff eventually retired in 1984 — after winning a league and cup double with Ajax’s great rivals, Feyenoord — and he took his philosophy into management.
He would the Cup Winners’ Cup with the Amsterdam giants in 1987 as well as two Dutch Cups.
But it was at Barcelona where excelled.
Cruyff delivered the Holy Grail and club football’s first Super Team in almost half a century.
Not since Real Madrid in the 1950s had a side been so well revered as the Barcelona ‘Dream Team’.
They won four league titles in a row and the club’s first-ever European Cup in 1992.
His philosophy is still influencing modern football, with Michael Laudrup, Eric Cantona and even Arsene Wenger learning from the great Dutchman.
While Pep Guardiola admits his style is based on Cruyff’s principles.
November 15, 1964. The day football changed forever.