Johan Cruyff, the High Priest of Dutch Soccer, Dies at 68

Sad news, what a beautiful player he was.
As a child of the seventies I fell in love with all things soccer with the ascension of the Cosmos. My friends and I made our way from Sheepshead Bay Brooklyn (thanks Steve K for doing the drive) to Giants Stadium as often as we could. The Cosmos and the NASL brought to us live what PBS provided via tape delay (FA Game of the week, Soccer Made in Germany, Mario Machado, Toby Charles, and other wonderful football from Europe).

Upon seeing the wonderful player transplants from Europe and South America, Africa, etc,. it sent me scurrying to library (ah yes, the precursor to Google and YouTube) to learn more about these stars. Standouts were George Best and Johan Cruyff. I devoured all that the NY Public Library provided.
I was one of the 50+ thousand fans in attendance at the Cosmos vs. 1978 World Cup all stars. Johan played for the Cosmos for that game. My first time seeing him play in person. At that game of stars he shone brighter than most. He put on a move (combo Cruyff turn and stutter step dribble) which brought the entire stadium to the their feet in amazement and appreciation for his mastery with the ball. He did not score that game but had the game tying assist to Seninho of the Cosmos, a back heal beauty that was expertly converted. Close to 40 years later I recall it with appreciation.
Beautiful play, beautiful player, beautiful game.
RIP JC

Arguably the greatest player ever to come out of Europe.

People have no idea how much of an influence he has had on today's game, in particular, my beloved FC Barcelona.

Although he did not invent La Masia, Barca's cantera, he had enormous influence on Barca's youth development system and what it has become.

Pep Guardiola has stated that If Cruyff had not been his coach at Barca, he probably would have been a third division player all his life.

IMHO, there's two quotes from him that artfully state what his legacy has been and will forever be in world football.

“In my teams, the goalie is the first attacker, and the striker the first defender.”

“If you play on possession, you don’t have to defend, because there’s only one ball.”

I saw him play on telly a lot but live only, in the NASL and believe me he still had it.

RIP, Johan.

Condolences to his loved ones and to the people of the Netherlands.

He will be missed.

Soccer has seen many great players: Messi, Ronaldo, Zidane, Maradona, Beckenbauer, Pele, Di Stefano, Puskas.
What sets Cruijff apart from them all is that he changed the way the game itself is played. There is the pre-Cruijff era and then there is the new era that he, more than anyone else shaped. Before Cruijff, soccer, or more properly football, was played by 11 individuals who happened to be on the same side. Cruijff changed that. The Netherlands' national side wasn't called "The Orange Machine" for no reason. It was a smoothly operating engine, never stopping, slowing down perhaps and then suddenly accelerating, shaping its environment. Cruijff could make a mediocre team rise above its actual capabilities and a good team brilliant.
He was a superb coach too. One thing I learned from him was how to deal with rookies. Cruijfff's attitude was simple: "He cannot fail. All he has to do is to carry out the mission he is given. If he does that, failure is impossible." And so it is. If he is given a mission commensurate with his abilities, self-evident in the Cruijff universe, and things go pear-shaped, it is the coach's fault, not the young player's.

For those of us who grew up in the 70s in a soccer country, Cruyff and his Total Football will always have a special place in our hearts. Thank you, Johan! A true football genius!

Johan Cruyff gave us, the Netherlands so much hope to win a Championship. His way of playing soccer from an early age at Ajax and in the National team was heaven on earth for all soccer lovers and admirers. A huge void in our hearts. Tears welling up. His voice will be missed. He tried turning Ajax around, but money is more important for Ajax then soccer and youth. Mr. Cruyff will be missed. Rest in Peace, Johan. The Netherlands thanks you for all you have done and we Dutch love you.

I'll always remember a bicycle kick goal he made in 1972 that I saw on a grainy B & W TV in Paris.

A wonderful athlete. Happy to say I saw him play in Rochester against the Lancers in the old days. Also saw the greatest...Pele. Too bad Rochester never got an MLS franchise. While a "small city"" they would easily pack in 20,000 or more for each match today.

Maradona was the greatest player I ever saw, but johan Cruyff was my favourite and the greatest tactical player of his generation. The band leader of the great Ajax and Clockwork Orange Dutch National teams, he was the main contributor to the total football style of play, where everybody defended and attacked as a team. Back in the 1980's, he set the foundations for Barcelona's great junior teams that produced players like Iniesta, Xavi and Messi. One of the great players in the history of soccer.

Truly Teacher of Dutch Soccer. He will be missed. RIP Johna Cruijff. Rust Zacht

A genius on the pitch--a better player; much better coach and infinitely better person than Maradona, he made the sport more creative, complex and fun to watch.

One of my all-time favorite players. Truly a genius. Had the pleasure of seeing him live when he playedi n the old NASL, and saw him play for the Cosmos against a world all-star team after 1978 World cup at Giant Stadium. Changed the game forever.

One of my all time favorite players. I was fortunate enough to see him play in the old NASL. Even saw him live when played for the Cosmos against a world all star team at Giant Stadium after the 1978 World Cup. His ideas and philosophy changed the game.

RIP genius.

I always wore number 14 in honors of Cruyff. I became a fan after the 1974 World Cup even though I was rooting for Germany in the final. Cruyff had a canny resemblance to another idol of mine American Chess genius Robert James Fischer, a tortured soul who was just as demanding. RIP Johan

Attention all English speakers. It's pronounced CROWF. (Any native speaker of Dutch will confirm this. As with far too many other names in soccer, one broadcaster got it wrong and multitudes followed.)

As for Cruyff's legacy, perhaps his greatest gift to soccer - both as player and coach - was his attacking style. The game wouldn't be nearly as much fun without the talent and passion of him and his followers.

Cruyff was, I think, the greatest player in history, particularly if one takes into consideration not just his playing talents, but his vision of the how the game ought to be played, and his ability to make that real in the form of great teams.

Regarding this obituary/remembrance, I wonder how well the writer knew about Cruyff, for the article fails to capture his artistry and his unique, and now almost universally influential, understanding of how football. Rather, it leans on slightly disreputable stories - not wrong, but not worth giving so much weight to. Cruyff's eagerness for money was based on his childhood poverty and the fact that in his day, players were constantly ripped off by teams. Thanks to his father-in-law, he got some good advice, and learned to bargain with people who believed footballers were just more wage slaves, to be used up and tossed out when their usefulness was finished.

I normally don't comment on media like this and on such topics, but Cruyff is a legend a grew up with. A great lost for his family and friends, and for the whole world who love the beautiful game.
There will aways be discussions who is the greatest football player ever and I will not be as bold to state thas he is the One, but he will surely be remembered al one of the greatest.
What is very special, is that in my opion, there can be no discussions on who influenced the game the most on becoming what is known as the term "the beautiful game". And that is thanks to Johan Cruyff (El Salvador).
I must compliment the New Times on their surprising detailed but most of al knowledable article, it truly surprised me in a positive way (for an American based newspaper) to know such much about the game. Compliments!

R.I.P Johan.

I fell in love with the game as a kid watching him and his great Dutch team play in the 1974 World Cup. A true giant of the game.

As a Dutch woman growing up in Holland Johan Cruyff was a big hero. Wow what a joy we had watching him every Sunday evening on the local soccer program Studio Sport. Not only was he a genious on the field he was also a wonderful human being helping people in need. He created the Johan Cruyff Foundation supported so many young children. We will never forget him. Rest in piece Johan!

One of my few heroes. Had the immense pleasure of seeing him play in the stadium and on tv at the start of his career. True amsterdam style: lot of bravado and a touch of arrogance, which in his case was truely authentic. Apart from his contribution to soccer (I almost wrote the art of soccer) in Holland he will also be remembered for his use of the Dutch language. Although often enough not syntactically correct he enriched the dutch language with some phrases which have become part of the language: most dutch over 55 will recognize the phrase 'every disadvantage has an advantage' as a
cruyffism. He also had a stockpile of soccer trueisms like 'you can't score if you don't have the ball'. And lastly: he seemed to hold the conviction that he never was wrong, either on or of the field, most famously expressed as 'I never make mistakes, because before I make them I already corrected them'. One of the great, for us tge greatest.

Another of his signature moves while dribbling was to drive at a defender, kick the ball against the defender's shins, recover the rebound, and then race past the defender, who was left rooted to the ground. I saw Pele and Beckenbauer in person many times with the Cosmos, but regrettably never saw Cruyff in person. The three of them are truly the best there ever was.

He was the only one who faced an opponent and dribbled past him without looking at the ball as if he were telepathically connected to it. His way of moving around the field with apparent arrogance as if he were all alone on it, as if he were provoking the opponents to face him, was unnerving and paralyzing to them, mesmerizing to us. He was the most spectacular of them all. In five decades of following world soccer I never saw another one who elicited such admiration and applause, entertainment and goals. In an interview in the early 70's he said "my name is Cruyff" - he preferred it to Cruijff.
It was ... Johan Cruyff.

In 1976 Pele played a game at Franklin Field which I drove down from NY to see. 4 years later as a 20 year old I drove down again to see Cruyff and the NASL Diplomats. Still remember as he came on to the field with a ball, dribbling like no other. Never saw a player so good and so entertaining...it was joy to watch.

Over the years I have watched the abridged version of the 1974 Brazil-Holland WC game in Germany. His goal that sealed the game, leaping forward and batting down the ball at shoulder height into the net as he flew through the air. Each time I see it reminds myself of the day I saw Johan Cruyff play a game.

Wonderful player, father, mentor and ambassador for the beautiful game.

RIP Johan Cruyff.

R.I.P. Johan! Cruyff was one of my 1st soccer heroes. My Dad took me to see the 1974 World Cup games on closed circuit tv at Madison Square Garden (That was the only way you could see them live back in the early 70s) and I was totally transfixed by the way Holland played. They were the best team by playing its "total football" style. Cruyff and Neeskins stood out for me and I loved them. Was very sad when they lost in the final.

Pele and Johan Cruyff are generally considered the two greatest footballers of all time and in that order. Between both of them though, only Cruyff was also a highly successful team manager (http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/how-johan-cruyff-reinvented-modern-f.... Learning more about him evokes a childlike enthusiasm for soccer which I inherited from my father who passed away last month. Cruyff will always be the sport's most brilliant mind. Thank you, Johan.

The man changed the game, for the better, in the past and for the foreseeable future. A true, tortured genius (are they are other kinds?).

Whole era. Very sad. Thank you Johan.

My childhood hero, still one of the best. RIP.

He was the best footballer Europe has produced and the main reason millions f us love so much the game. RIP, Johan.

He ( along with George Best) was the greatest player I ever saw.He ( like Best) possessed a grace,speed and balance which was simply astonishing.Others in the mix for greatest player might have scored more goals but for sheer athleticism and beauty, he ( alongside Best) was without equal.

Johan Cruijff was probably the best player ever, and surely the most exciting and important player. As the mastermind of Dutch 'total football', he changed the game forever.
His death also marks the end of an era, and I am not just talking about football now. As a young man, Cruijff was the symbol of the success of Holland's social democracy in the 60s and 70s. With Johan gone, it feels as if that proud and happy country -- which has been under neoliberal rule for decades now -- has become something from the past.

In the 70s, when the only real football an American kid could see on television was when PBS would broadcast some German league games and lots of highlight clips of notable European players, Cruyff stood out. He made an impression on me as a pre-teen, and with my older brother, was a reason I developed a lifelong love of this game, as a player and a coach. Now my son loves it too. Johan Cruyff and his peers at that time truly had a hand in the beginnings of a massive change in U.S. attention to football. It's a sad day.

RIP. Legend of a generation.

One of the times where "genius" is not at all overstated. And he was never boring, that's for sure.
He's the playmaker on my all time World XI.

Rest in peace Johan Cruyff. While I never saw him play soccer, thank goodness for youtube videos of his amazing talents and for giving us all the joy of the 'cruyff' - a move my own daughter did amazingly well on the pitch :)
A legend who has left this world much too soon.

I remember his brief NASL stint (including exhibition games for the Cosmos). Quite a player even in the twilight of his career. Rest in peace Johan.

A legend of the game and Captain of the best team to never win the World Cup. RIP.

Even before he arrived to FC Barcelona, which was already my favorite team, Cruyff was my idol. I was a a young soccer player living in Spain, and some of my teammates nicknamed me "Cruyff" not because of my ability or agility as a soccer player, but more likely because I had a similar haircut and blue eyes and was also a foreigner. Of course, it was too me such a great compliment! Today my ten year old son is an avid soccer player and devours world stats and soccer history like there is no tomorrow . . . Often, he asks, as boys his age often do " Dad, who is the best soccer player in history?"
My answer is always the same, as he oftens asks the same question perhaps, hoping that I'd change my mind and choose Messi or Cristiano, maybe Neymar . . . But, no, I remain steadfast and loyal to the greatest, most influential and smartest soccer player who ever lived.

Regardless of team colours, all of us, soccer fans around the world mourn the passing of Johann Cruyff, and today I like to think that the Elysium Fields are specially green with goal posts at either end, for today one of the greatest has arrived. Di Stefano smiles and welcomes him with a soccer ball and ready to play . . . never mind that one was a Real Madrid legend and the other one an FC Barcelona and Ajax legend . . the rivalry, not important now . . just brothers sharing their love for the greatest and most beautiful game. We shall miss you.

A true genius. We will not see his like again.

Sure, it's something of a footnote in Mr. Cruyff's great career, but I didn't see even a mention here about the time he spent later in his career as a player in the previous iteration of America's North American Soccer League. This is a notable oversight on the Times's part that should be corrected, please.

Thanks,
Bram Weiser

I was very fortunate to spend five weeks in Switzerland during the summer of 1974 where I as able to watch the World Cup. Here was my introduction to the beauty of Holland's "Total Football" as executed by Cruyff, Neeskens, Rijsbergen, et al. I was also lucky enough to see Cruyff in person from the second row of Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands during the big years of the Cosmos. Cruyff, if not the greatest footballer ever, has every right to be mentioned at the same time as other greats like Pele and Beckenbauer. If you never had a chance to see him play, YouTube has many videos that exhibit his skills including the legendary "Cruyff Turn". RIP Johan, the beautiful game is far more beautiful thanks to you.

Quite simply, a genius. RIP.

The most influential player in the world's game's history.

A truly great footballer. RIP.

Aside from 'total football', he will also be well remembered for building an extensive amount of football pitches in deprived urban area's throughout the Netherlands, and promoting sports in general for children through his Cruijff Foundation. Rust zacht!

He was one of the game's greatest; DiStefano, Pele, Cruijff, Maradona, Messi

A terrible loss. He was the embodiment of total football and in one of, if not the, greatest players ever.

Rust in vrede.

One of the few truly great soccer players and a good man. Rest in Peace, Johan.

My main memory of Cruyff was formed in a smoky Washington Arena in 1974, watching the final of the World Cup on closed circuit televsion with a crowd, judging from the limos outside, heavy with diplomats. He was magical and charismatic, clearly an inspiration to the entire Dutch team. At one point, a German player had the ball and the screen was filled with over a half dozen orange jerseys headed for him. Total Soccer indeed! The solid Germans won the game, but Cruyff and the Dutch won the hearts and minds of all who watched, affecting soccer for decades to come. Cruyff played soccer like Bobby Orr played hockey and,unfortunately for both of them, their knees payed the price. But when he was healthy, there were few better in the history of the beautiful game.

Rust in vrede. Rest in peace.