Overview
Johan Cruyff was the outstanding player of Total Football, the Ajax and Netherlands system in which every outfield player could take any position. He won three consecutive European Cups with Ajax and three Ballons d'Or, and took the Netherlands to the 1974 World Cup final, where they lost to West Germany after leading inside two minutes.
His influence as a manager exceeded even his influence as a player. The Barcelona Dream Team he built in the early 1990s, and the youth structure he imposed at La Masia, produced the philosophy that Pep Guardiola, Xavi and Iniesta carried forward. The Cruyff turn, first seen against Sweden in 1974, is still taught by name.
Clubs
International record: 48 caps and 33 goals for Netherlands.
Honours
Major team and individual honours.
World Cup Appearances
Johan Cruyff was named in the squad for one FIFA World Cup.
Other Netherlands Internationals
Other players profiled for this national team.