--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: According to the principles Johan Cruyff…" description: "\"“According to the principles Johan Cruyff introduced to Barcelona, coaches should lead by example: play football, be on the field during training and t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/743/guillem-balague-2956_football_according-to-the-principles-johan-cruyff_2711224.jpg" --- # According to the principles Johan Cruyff introduced to… ![“According to the principles Johan Cruyff introduced to Barcelona, coaches should lead by example: play football, be on the field during training and teach, because there is nothing better than stopping the game, correcting and instructing, explaining why someone needed to pass to a certain player…” quote by Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/743/guillem-balague-2956_football_according-to-the-principles-johan-cruyff_2711224.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/743/guillem-balague-2956_football_according-to-the-principles-johan-cruyff_2711224.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/743/guillem-balague-2956_football_according-to-the-principles-johan-cruyff_2711224.jpg) > ““According to the principles Johan Cruyff introduced to Barcelona, coaches should lead by example: play football, be on the field during training and teach, because there is nothing better than stopping the game, correcting and instructing, explaining why someone needed to pass to a certain player, move to a particular position or change an element of their technique. That’s how Carles Rexach, Cruyff ’s assistant for eight years at Barcelona, explains it: ‘One word from Johan during a training drill is worth more than a hundred hours of talks at the blackboard.”” [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective coaching requires demonstrating tactics in practice rather than relying on theory alone. **In simple terms:** Teach by doing, not just talking. Key Takeaway Show, then explain. Themes coaching leadership practice communication Mood inspirational practical reflective Type advice philosophical instructional When to use this quote - training drills - team meetings - player development - skill correction - game analysis Key Concepts Pedagogy experiential learning football tactics Questions to Reflect On - How can you incorporate more on‑field teaching in your coaching? - What barriers exist to coaches leading by example? A Different Perspective Theory alone cannot convey nuance; without demonstration players may not internalize concepts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barcelona Coaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barcelona-coaches-2810537/) [Coaches Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaches-lead-2810535/) [Cruyff Assistant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruyff-assistant-2810538/) [Cruyff Introduced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruyff-introduced-2810536/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Johan Cruyff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/johan-cruyff/) [Lead by example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead-by-example/) [Mentorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentorship/) [Play football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-football/) [Principles Johan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles-johan-2810539/) ## Related quotes > [“Before heading out on to the pitch, Johan Cruyff gave his players a simple instruction: ‘Go out there and enjoy yourselves.’ It was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/before-heading-out-on-to-the-pitch-johan-cruyff-gave-his-players-a/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“anxiety to become good enough for Johan Cruyff to notice us cannot be put into words. Without that desire, none of us would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/anxiety-to-become-good-enough-for-johan-cruyff-to-notice-us-cannot-be/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [Guardiola only wants to win games with beautiful football, just like his teacher Johan Cruyff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/guardiola-only-wants-to-win-games-with-beautiful-football-just-like/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [Everybody knows Johan Cruyff. And everybody knows the impact he had on the football world and on Amsterdam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/everybody-knows-johan-cruyff-and-everybody-knows-the-impact-he-had-on/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Pele wasn't as gifted as George Best and I would definitely put George above Johan Cruyff because he had more heart,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-giles/pele-wasn-t-as-gifted-as-george-best-and-i-would-definitely-put/) [Johnny Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-giles/) > [...and then there was Johan Cruyff, who at 35 has added a whole new meaning to the word Anno Domini.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-macpherson/and-then-there-was-johan-cruyff-who-at-35-has-added-a-whole-new/) [Archie Macpherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-macpherson/) > [I think now Messi is probably done more than most players. But he is in the same class as Alfredo de Stefano, Johan Cruyff,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-charlton/i-think-now-messi-is-probably-done-more-than-most-players-but-he-is/) [Bobby Charlton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-charlton/) > [I'm a footballing romantic just like Johan Cruyff. We like football that is attractive, attacking and easy on the eye. When you win playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavi/i-m-a-footballing-romantic-just-like-johan-cruyff-we-like-football/) [Xavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavi/) > [Arsene Wenger was talking about comparisons with Johan Cruyff, a player who only comes around every 10 years and Thierry Henry is definitely one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-strachan/arsene-wenger-was-talking-about-comparisons-with-johan-cruyff-a/) [Gordon Strachan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-strachan/) > [When I was a teenager, my idol was the Dutch footballer Johan Cruyff. He's the only person I've ever asked for an autograph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferran-adria/when-i-was-a-teenager-my-idol-was-the-dutch-footballer-johan-cruyff/) [Ferran Adria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferran-adria/) > [Of course Lothar Matthaus is always going to be associated with the 1990 World Cup. But does everyone immediately remember what titles Gunter Netzer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ballack/of-course-lothar-matthaus-is-always-going-to-be-associated-with-the/) [Michael Ballack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ballack/) > [My origins are I was a massive fan of Johan Cruyff, massive fan of that Ajax team, and my father was. That sort-of led…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelos-postecoglou/my-origins-are-i-was-a-massive-fan-of-johan-cruyff-massive-fan-of/) [Angelos Postecoglou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelos-postecoglou/) > [If I was born again, I would like to be Pep Guardiola. And I say that only because I wouldn't dare to say that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-laporta/if-i-was-born-again-i-would-like-to-be-pep-guardiola-and-i-say-that/) [Joan Laporta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-laporta/) > [I have worked with Johan Cruyff, with Rinus Michels, with Arrigo Sacchi and with Fabio Capello.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/i-have-worked-with-johan-cruyff-with-rinus-michels-with-arrigo-sacchi/) [Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) > [This was how Johan Cruyff worked. He was demanding a lot, but when you got there, and you were in his team, he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/this-was-how-johan-cruyff-worked-he-was-demanding-a-lot-but-when-you/) [Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/) ## More by Guillem Balague > [“The German team became more German than ever. They used in their performance the ‘Mia San Mia’ motto that the players wear on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/the-german-team-became-more-german-than-ever-they-used-in-their/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“Before heading out on to the pitch, Johan Cruyff gave his players a simple instruction: ‘Go out there and enjoy yourselves.’ It was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/before-heading-out-on-to-the-pitch-johan-cruyff-gave-his-players-a/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“Ronaldo also dropped deep to receive the ball, turn round and run towards goal – and he always found space as the centre backs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/ronaldo-also-dropped-deep-to-receive-the-ball-turn-round-and-run/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“It is better for a player to lose the ball when he is dribbling, feeling over-confident, than for a blunder, a mistake due to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/it-is-better-for-a-player-to-lose-the-ball-when-he-is-dribbling/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“We have to transmit trust and security in all the decisions we make. ‘That trust, security and sincerity are the fundamental pillars for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/we-have-to-transmit-trust-and-security-in-all-the-decisions-we-make/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“On one occasion Guardiola explained that there are two types of coaches: those who think problems solve themselves and those who solve problems. Guardiola…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/on-one-occasion-guardiola-explained-that-there-are-two-types-of/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“He could live with them playing badly now and again, he told them, but he demanded 100 per cent on the pitch in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/he-could-live-with-them-playing-badly-now-and-again-he-told-them-but/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“The coach sat down with president Laporta, Beguiristain and Estiarte in the suite of the hotel in which the team were staying in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/the-coach-sat-down-with-president-laporta-beguiristain-and-estiarte/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“Failure is when a player does not have a good training session, when the coach relaxes and stops caring, when the team doesn’t care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/failure-is-when-a-player-does-not-have-a-good-training-session-when/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“Ingla and Txiki set out a plan for the rest of the season which saw them working and consulting simultaneously with both Rijkaard and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/ingla-and-txiki-set-out-a-plan-for-the-rest-of-the-season-which-saw/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“Searching for that flash of inspiration, that moment, the magical moment: ‘I’ve got it. I’ve got it. This is how we are going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/searching-for-that-flash-of-inspiration-that-moment-the-magical/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“The players who go through La Masía are taught to behave with civility and humility. The theory being that, not only is it pleasant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/the-players-who-go-through-la-mas-a-are-taught-to-behave-with/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“In future they must place themselves more cleverly to receive the pass, and to start pressuring their opponents more quickly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/in-future-they-must-place-themselves-more-cleverly-to-receive-the/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“I saw Guardiola as a mystical type of person. The way he dressed – always in black – he was sometimes very quiet, constantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/i-saw-guardiola-as-a-mystical-type-of-person-the-way-he-dressed/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“What you can’t do is study the talks, learn them by heart. Two or three concepts are all you need . . . and then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/what-you-can-t-do-is-study-the-talks-learn-them-by-heart-two-or-three/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) [Explore all 142 Guillem Balague quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) [Brendan Mundorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-mundorf/) > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. 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