Johan Cruyff Quotes

17 quotes from 14 authors

A handful of 17 voices captures how Johan Cruyff reshaped the game, from Ajax brilliance to coaching insight. Players, analysts, and fans recall his tactical genius, aesthetic vision, and the confidence he sparked on the pitch. For more on tactics or Dutch legends, see the Football Strategy and Netherlands History pages.

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If I was born again, I would like to be Pep Guardiola. And I say that only because I wouldn't dare to…

Joan Laporta

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These kinds of people, like Pep Guardiola and Johan Cruyff, they know very well football. They don't need the extended period maybe…

Joan Laporta

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“anxiety to become good enough for Johan Cruyff to notice us cannot be put into words. Without that desire, none of us…

Guillem Balague

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When I was a teenager, my idol was the Dutch footballer Johan Cruyff. He's the only person I've ever asked for an…

Ferran Adria

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...and then there was Johan Cruyff, who at 35 has added a whole new meaning to the word Anno Domini.

Archie Macpherson

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Pele wasn't as gifted as George Best and I would definitely put George above Johan Cruyff because he had more heart,

Johnny Giles

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Everybody knows Johan Cruyff. And everybody knows the impact he had on the football world and on Amsterdam.

Matthijs de Ligt

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Guardiola only wants to win games with beautiful football, just like his teacher Johan Cruyff.

Erik ten Hag

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I think now Messi is probably done more than most players. But he is in the same class as Alfredo de Stefano,…

Bobby Charlton

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My origins are I was a massive fan of Johan Cruyff, massive fan of that Ajax team, and my father was. That…

Angelos Postecoglou

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Of course Lothar Matthaus is always going to be associated with the 1990 World Cup. But does everyone immediately remember what titles…

Michael Ballack

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This was how Johan Cruyff worked. He was demanding a lot, but when you got there, and you were in his team,…

Pep Guardiola

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“Before heading out on to the pitch, Johan Cruyff gave his players a simple instruction: ‘Go out there and enjoy yourselves.’ It…

Guillem Balague

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“According to the principles Johan Cruyff introduced to Barcelona, coaches should lead by example: play football, be on the field during training…

Guillem Balague

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I'm a footballing romantic just like Johan Cruyff. We like football that is attractive, attacking and easy on the eye. When you…

Xavi

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I have worked with Johan Cruyff, with Rinus Michels, with Arrigo Sacchi and with Fabio Capello.

Marco van Basten

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Arsene Wenger was talking about comparisons with Johan Cruyff, a player who only comes around every 10 years and Thierry Henry is…

Gordon Strachan

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