The Dutch International was the complete player,great balance, electric acceleration and a tremendous vision ,which allowed the centre forward to pop up on the pitch almost anywhere.Cruyff epitomised the total football the Holland team presented to us in the 1974 World Cup. He had millions of people watching in amazement that year at the mesmerising "Cruyff turn"that left defenders spreadeagled.

He won his first football medals at the age of 19,but the consistent Cruyff would attain 21 football league and cup medals spanning three decades.

Football info.

Johan Cruyff kicked off his football career at Ajax making his debut in1964 ,and scoring as they were beaten 3-1 by Groningen.in his first full season for Ajax he scored 25 goals in 23 games and  he captured his first Eredivsie title.Cruyff top scored in the Eredivsie in the1966-67 season as he won his first Dutch league and cup double.With Ajax he won 8 Dutch championships and 5 KNVB Beker cups.Ajax and Cruyff dominated Europe in the early seventies as they won a Hat-Trick of European Cups,and the European Super Cup twice.After his transfer to Catalan giants Barcelona,further success ensued in Spanish football as he won the Primera Liga and Copa Del Rey.Cruyff's last season as a player was in1982-83,when he signed for bitter rivals Feyenoord,and inspired them to a league and cup double.

It was internationally that Cruyff was most recognised,his skills were brought to millions on television as the Dutch dazzled us with their total football in the 1974 World Cup.Holland beat Argentina 4-0 with Cruyff netting a brace,and Brazil 2-0.In the final against West Germany,Holland were a goal up before their opponents had touched the ball due to a Cruyff earned penalty.It Was only to be a runners-up medal however ,as they were overcome 2-1.The Dutch Maestro,and team captain was named the player of the tournament.

Top Football Awards

European Footballer of the Year (Ballon d'Or) 1971, 1973, 1974

Spain's Foreign Footballer of the Year  1977, 1978

Football highlights

Joined the Ajax youth system when he was 10 years old.

Scored for Holland on his International debut in a 2-2 draw against Hungary

Barcelona paid a then record fee of £922,000 for his services in 1973

Refused to play in the 1978 World Cup due to Argentina's military rulers,he subsequently retired from International football,with 48 International caps and scoring 33 goals.

Led Ajax to a European Cup Winners' Cup Final victory in 1987 beating Lokomotiv Leipzig 1-0, in his role as Technical Director.

Won four consecutive League titles as Barcelona coach between 1991 and 1994.

Led Barcelona to their first ever European Cup title when they beat  Sampadoria 1-0 at Wembley Stadium in 1992.