--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Choose the best player for every…" description: "\"Choose the best player for every position, and you'll end up not with a strong XI, but with 11 strong 1's.\" — Johan Cruijff" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/820/johan-cruijff-9968_best-players_choose-the-best-player-for-every-positio_269085.jpg" --- # Choose the best player for every position, and you'll end… ![“Choose the best player for every position, and you'll end up not with a strong XI, but with 11 strong 1's.” quote by Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/820/johan-cruijff-9968_best-players_choose-the-best-player-for-every-positio_269085.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/820/johan-cruijff-9968_best-players_choose-the-best-player-for-every-positio_269085.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/820/johan-cruijff-9968_best-players_choose-the-best-player-for-every-positio_269085.jpg) > “Choose the best player for every position, and you'll end up not with a strong XI, but with 11 strong 1's.” [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing on individual talent over team balance leads to a collection of strong players but a weak overall unit. **In simple terms:** Strong individuals don’t guarantee a strong team. Key Takeaway Prioritize balance and complementary roles. Themes teamwork balance strategy leadership Mood reflective strategic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - team selection - project staffing - building a sports lineup - organizational design Key Concepts systems thinking role complementarity collective efficacy Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure individual strengths serve the group goal? - What role does chemistry play in team success? A Different Perspective A team of stars can still fail without cohesion and clear roles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [11 Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/11-strong-2634403/) [Best Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-player-235493/) [Best players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-players/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Player Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player-position-2634402/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Strong Xi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-xi-2634401/) ## Related quotes > [I want to be the greatest player who has ever been at my position, the greatest player who has ever played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-garrett/i-want-to-be-the-greatest-player-who-has-ever-been-at-my-position-the/) [Myles Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-garrett/) > [It's a blessing to be an NBA player and to be in a position to help other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-horford/it-s-a-blessing-to-be-an-nba-player-and-to-be-in-a-position-to-help/) [Al Horford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-horford/) > [To be a contender in the Big Ten a squad must have a solid player at every position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-corso/to-be-a-contender-in-the-big-ten-a-squad-must-have-a-solid-player-at/) [Lee Corso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-corso/) > [If you take any player in their position, there's nobody better than Mookie Betts in right field. I'll take him over a short stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mendoza/if-you-take-any-player-in-their-position-there-s-nobody-better-than/) [Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/) > [I feel I should be valued as a player, not so much my position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-veon-bell/i-feel-i-should-be-valued-as-a-player-not-so-much-my-position/) [Le'Veon Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-veon-bell/) > [I'm not here to substitute Neymar. Barcelona needed a player in my position, and I'm here to help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ousmane-dembele/i-m-not-here-to-substitute-neymar-barcelona-needed-a-player-in-my/) [Ousmane Dembele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ousmane-dembele/) > [As a player you never want to be in a situation where you're trying to be someone else, or you're doing things that aren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jones/as-a-player-you-never-want-to-be-in-a-situation-where-you-re-trying/) [Daniel Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jones/) > [Messi on the World Cup 2014? He showed why he is the best player in the world. It was a pleasure to see him play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandro-del-piero/messi-on-the-world-cup-2014-he-showed-why-he-is-the-best-player-in/) [Alessandro Del Piero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandro-del-piero/) > [Messi is the best player in the world. If he's not already, he'll be the best footballer of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/messi-is-the-best-player-in-the-world-if-he-s-not-already-he-ll-be/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [We're not great friends, but I admire him. If he thinks he's the best player of the century, that's his problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/we-re-not-great-friends-but-i-admire-him-if-he-thinks-he-s-the-best/) [Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/) > [Messi doesn't have to do it in the Premier League to prove himself. The Champions League is the ultimate club competition. If he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/messi-doesn-t-have-to-do-it-in-the-premier-league-to-prove-himself/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [Lionel Messi is the best player ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-souness/lionel-messi-is-the-best-player-ever/) [Graeme Souness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-souness/) > [ The best player I ever played against was Paolo Maldini. We \[Arsenal\] played against Milan in the European Supercup \[in 1995\]. Maldini marked me… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-merson/the-best-player-i-ever-played-against-was-paolo-maldini-we-arsenal/) [Paul Merson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-merson/) > [I don't work this hard just to be the best player. I do it to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-mcpeak/i-don-t-work-this-hard-just-to-be-the-best-player-i-do-it-to-win/) [Holly McPeak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-mcpeak/) > [I have nothing but praise for the boy. He is easily the best player in the world. His contribution as a goal threat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-have-nothing-but-praise-for-the-boy-he-is-easily-the-best-player-in/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) ## More by Johan Cruijff > [If you play on possession, you don't have to defend, because there's only one ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/if-you-play-on-possession-you-don-t-have-to-defend-because-there-s/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [Playing football is very simple, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/playing-football-is-very-simple-but-playing-simple-football-is-the/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [In my teams, the goalie is the first attacker, and the striker the first defender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/in-my-teams-the-goalie-is-the-first-attacker-and-the-striker-the/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [Football is simple, you're either on time, or you're too late. If you're too late then you have to leave earlier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/football-is-simple-you-re-either-on-time-or-you-re-too-late-if-you-re/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [Actually I never make a mistake, because it takes a huge effort for me to make a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/actually-i-never-make-a-mistake-because-it-takes-a-huge-effort-for-me/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [Italians can't win the game against you, but you can lose the game against the Italians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/italians-can-t-win-the-game-against-you-but-you-can-lose-the-game/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [Someone who has juggled the ball in the air during a game, after which four defenders of the opponent get the time to run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/someone-who-has-juggled-the-ball-in-the-air-during-a-game-after-which/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [YOU NEED BOTH QUALITY AND RESULTS. RESULTS WITHOUT QUALITY IS BORING; QUALITY WITHOUT RESULTS IS MEANINGLESS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/you-need-both-quality-and-results-results-without-quality-is-boring/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [A counter-attack can only arise when you make a mistake. That's why there are rules. A horizontal pass? Prohibited. In my line-up there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/a-counter-attack-can-only-arise-when-you-make-a-mistake-that-s-why/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [Every trainer talks about movement, about running a lot. I say don't run so much. Football is a game you play with your brain.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/every-trainer-talks-about-movement-about-running-a-lot-i-say-don-t/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [It is better to fail with your own vision than to fail with another man's vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/it-is-better-to-fail-with-your-own-vision-than-to-fail-with-another/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [If my forward arrives in a one vs one situation, I always say: 'let him work it out.' Then my players say: But we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/if-my-forward-arrives-in-a-one-vs-one-situation-i-always-say-let-him/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [After you've won something, you're no longer 100 percent, but 90 percent. It's like a bottle of carbonated water where the cap is removed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/after-you-ve-won-something-you-re-no-longer-100-percent-but-90/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [Football is about making mistakes. Who makes the most, loses the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/football-is-about-making-mistakes-who-makes-the-most-loses-the-game/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [I'm ex-player, ex-technical director, ex-coach, ex-manager, ex-honorary president. A nice list that once again shows that everything comes to an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/i-m-ex-player-ex-technical-director-ex-coach-ex-manager-ex-honorary/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) [Explore all 69 Johan Cruijff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) ## More Best players quotes > [The very best players, when they are practicing, put everything they've got into it. But then they leave it for a while. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-very-best-players-when-they-are-practicing-put-everything-they-ve/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [I have nothing but praise for the boy. He is easily the best player in the world. His contribution as a goal threat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-have-nothing-but-praise-for-the-boy-he-is-easily-the-best-player-in/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [Ruben Neves is by far one of the best players I've ever played with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-coady/ruben-neves-is-by-far-one-of-the-best-players-i-ve-ever-played-with/) [Conor Coady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-coady/) > [I liked starting. I liked matching up with the best of the best players who got the start. Taking on that challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-ingles/i-liked-starting-i-liked-matching-up-with-the-best-of-the-best/) [Joe Ingles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-ingles/) > [Obviously, at PSG, they have the best players in the world. Being with that group has really made me strong. I have watched the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-weah/obviously-at-psg-they-have-the-best-players-in-the-world-being-with/) [Timothy Weah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-weah/) > [To me, Messi, Neymar and Suarez are among the three best players in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-silva/to-me-messi-neymar-and-suarez-are-among-the-three-best-players-in-the/) [Thiago Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-silva/) > [One thing I think you have to do here at Wisconsin is maximize your personnel. From the standpoint of getting our best players out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-bielema/one-thing-i-think-you-have-to-do-here-at-wisconsin-is-maximize-your/) [Bret Bielema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-bielema/) > [I just want to play against the best players in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-hovland/i-just-want-to-play-against-the-best-players-in-the-world/) [Viktor Hovland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-hovland/) > [When you're a manager, we sometimes speak too much about tactics, but the most difficult thing for a manager is to get the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ander-herrera/when-you-re-a-manager-we-sometimes-speak-too-much-about-tactics-but/) [Ander Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ander-herrera/) > [I don't work this hard just to be the best player. I do it to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-mcpeak/i-don-t-work-this-hard-just-to-be-the-best-player-i-do-it-to-win/) [Holly McPeak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-mcpeak/) > [ The best player I ever played against was Paolo Maldini. We \[Arsenal\] played against Milan in the European Supercup \[in 1995\]. Maldini marked me… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-merson/the-best-player-i-ever-played-against-was-paolo-maldini-we-arsenal/) [Paul Merson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-merson/) > [Lionel Messi is the best player ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-souness/lionel-messi-is-the-best-player-ever/) [Graeme Souness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-souness/) > [At some point, everyone who is playing, their dream is to be in the NBA, because that's where all the best players are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-calderon/at-some-point-everyone-who-is-playing-their-dream-is-to-be-in-the-nba/) [Jose Calderon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-calderon/) > [I look at some of the best players around the world and sometimes I do try and bat like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-smith/i-look-at-some-of-the-best-players-around-the-world-and-sometimes-i/) [Steve Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-smith/) > [Personally, I've always got along great with Mesut, found him extremely pleasant as a human being. He always supported me and was one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-reus/personally-i-ve-always-got-along-great-with-mesut-found-him-extremely/) [Marco Reus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-reus/) [Browse all 434 Best players quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-players/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Choose the best player for every position, and you'll end up not with a strong XI, but with 11 strong 1's.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johan Cruijff" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/choose-the-best-player-for-every-position-and-you-ll-end-up-not-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Best players" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/choose-the-best-player-for-every-position-and-you-ll-end-up-not-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/820/johan-cruijff-9968_best-players_choose-the-best-player-for-every-positio_269085.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/820/johan-cruijff-9968_best-players_choose-the-best-player-for-every-positio_269085.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/820/johan-cruijff-9968_best-players_choose-the-best-player-for-every-positio_269085.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Choose the best player for every position, and you'll end up not with a strong XI, but with 11 strong 1's.” — Johan Cruijff", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Johan Cruijff", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Choose the best player for every...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/choose-the-best-player-for-every-position-and-you-ll-end-up-not-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/choose-the-best-player-for-every-position-and-you-ll-end-up-not-with/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```