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This article was published March 24, 2016 at 15:01.
the only dribbling that succeeded was not the one against the disease, fought long and with the tenacity that was characteristic. It thus leaves to 68 years too early for the world of today teeming with brilliant and sprightly octogenarians. But basically Johann Cruyff has always done things well, too early than the others.
No one would ever have thought of finding a phenomenon of world football in a small fruit and vegetable shop in the suburbs Amsterdam. But anyone who has seen chasing a ball in the street, at the age of five years, he took little to bet on a future superstar to the little Dutchman who worked miracles with both feet.
His father passed only 12 years old, he found a job for the mother as a cleaner. Where? At Ajax, of course, because he militated for a couple of years in the youth of the company with which it would grow up to become its symbol.
Elegant, indeed elegant, yet powerful, very powerful indeed . And fast, of course, able to leave with the ball and chain of overcoming opponents shot that had no escape while running without hindrance from the ball to control. True prototype of the modern player, born with characteristics that anticipated times of at least thirty years. It was the 70s, he played in the third millennium.
Forwards, sure. But midfielder, attacking midfielder, defender when he needed: nell’impossibiltà to define it in one word we could speak of him as the “player anywhere.” And Ajax took these characteristics, those of the total game, making the business card of the team. The coach was Rinus Michels, the interpreter number one Johann Cruyff. Many of his comrades, years later, they admitted candidly that without seeing how he played he would have never understood how to apply directions Michels.
At club level, between Ajax and Barcelona, has won a lot: 9 Championships Dutch, 6 cups of Holland, a Competition and the Spanish Cup. To combine three European Cups, one Intercontinental Cup and one UEFA Super Cup. And three times Ballon d’Or, just to accept, when the Golden Ball for the altolivello rivals numbered in bunches and was not a two-horse race like today, in the age of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
With the Dutch National had the great regret of having reached the final of the World without being able to lift the Cup. Stuck at the climax, in 1974, by German hosts with the help of an arbitration least complacent. His heirs, four years later, they would have found even worse in Argentina’s home, but that’s another story.
Throughout Johann Cruyff played 662 games and 369 goals with mesh clubs, including the small American brackets with the Washington Diplomats, and 48 scoring 33 goals with the orange jersey of the national team.
Equally successful path as manager: a Dutch Cup, a Spanish Cup, four Spanish championships and three Spanish Super Cups. And one more European Cup, two Cup Winners’ Cups, one UEFA Super Cup. Along with the Golden Ball of the coaches, the title of “Coach of the Year” that the World Soccer magazine awarded him in 1987. In short, a champion with the ball at his feet and a champion when he had to teach others what to do.
his rivals were older, including our Mazzola and Rivera who remained fascinated by how the blond almost caressing touch the ball. And enchanted here two was not easy. Death puts an end to his earthly life, not to his legend. Of him, of his total football Ajax and Holland will speak forever. And Cruyff will always have pride of place.
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