Key Takeaways
Johan Cruyff revolutionized football with his innovative ideologies.
He played a crucial role in the success of Ajax and Barcelona.
His influence extends to top managers like Pep Guardiola and Xavi.
Cruyff led Ajax to multiple league titles and three European Cups.
He is regarded as the greatest Dutch player ever, winning the Ballon d'Or three times.
Johan Cruyff is perhaps the most influential figure in the history of football. The player’s ideologies have even played a huge role in the success of his former clubs Ajax and Barcelona over the years. Some of the greatest managers in Barcelona history like Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique were heavily influenced by Cruyff, and so are current top coaches like Xavi and Arteta. Cruyff was not only a legendary football, and his impact on the game spreads even more than on the football pitch. He is considered to be the greatest Dutch player ever, and has even won the Ballon d’or on 3 occasions. This article will be looking at Cruyff’s time at Ajax, which saw the birth of Holland's greatest ever player.
The beginning phase
Johan Cruyff joined the Ajax youth academy at the age of 10, with then Ajax youth coach Jany van der Veen being the one who noticed his talents. Upon joining Ajax, Cruyff initially preferred to play baseball until he was later urged to quit by his coaches.
It was on 15th November 1964 that he made his debut as a footballer in the Eredivisie. Cruyff scored in his debut match, but Ajax went on to lose 3-1 against GVAV. Ajax ended up finishing that season in 13th, which was their lowest ever position since the establishment of professional football.
Cruyff's rise
It was in the 1965–66 season that Cruyff began to establish himself as a regular first-team player. He scored 8 goals in the opening 7 matches, and went on to put on impressive performances for the team throughout the season. Ajax finished that season as League champions, and Cruyff ended up scoring 25 goals in 23 matches.
The 1966–67 season saw Ajax and Cruyff continue their success, as they again won the league championship, and the KNVB Cup as well. Cruyff ended the season as the leading goalscorer in the Eredivisie with 33 goals. A 3rd consecutive league title was won by Ajax in the 1967–68 season, while individual glory continued for Cruyff. He was named as Dutch footballer of the year for the second successive years during this period. On 28 May 1969, Cruyff played in his first European Cup final against Milan, but the Italians won 4–1.
European glory
The 1969–70 season saw Cruyff win his league and cup double with Ajax. He suffered a groin injury during the beginning of the following season. Cruyff was back to his goal scoring ways after returning from injury, and kept on scoring important goals for the club. One of his most brilliant performances came against AZ '67 on 29 November 1970, which saw the Dutchman score 6 goals in an 8-1 thrashing. Ajax won the replayed KNVB Cup that season final Sparta Rotterdam after beating them 2-1.
What followed after this was a historic achievement, as Ajax went on to beat Panathinaikos 2-0 in the European Cup to become European Champions for the first time ever. Cruyff was an instrumental part of Ajax's historic success, and was named both Dutch and European Footballer of the Year for 1971.
Golden period and eventual farewell
Ajax went on to have the greatest period in the club's history, as they won a second European Cup after beating Inter Milan 2–0 in the 1972 final. Cruyff scored both the goals. Cruyff also scored in the 3–2 victory over ADO Den Haag in the KNVB Cup final. His brilliance also continued in the league, as Ajax became the league champions and Cruyff was the top scorer as well with 25 goals.
Silverware and historic success kept on coming for Ajax and Cruyff, as they went on to win the Intercontinental Cup and European Super Cup.
The 1972–73 season was Cruyff's final with the club, which saw yet again become League champions and win a third consecutive European Cup title after beating Juventus 1-0.
That was the end of Johan Cruyff at Ajax, as he was eventually sold to Barcelona for a then world-record $2 million.
One final goodbye and a sweet revenge
Towards the end of his career, Cruyff came back to his beloved Ajax after 8 years for one last stint. It was yet another success period for the player and club, as they became league champions in both the 1981–82 and 1982–83 seasons. At the end of the 1982–83 season, Ajax decided not to offer Cruyff a new contract. Thus his second stint with the club came to an end.
An angry Johan Cruyff went on to join Feyenoord and played a huge part in the club's first league title win in a decade. Ajax were made to pay for their mistakes by the Dutchman. Johan Cruyff announced his retirement at the end of that season, and the game said goodbye to arguably the greatest ever Dutch player in history.
