The Dutchman Who Flew - Johan Cruyff (A Tribute)
Colour Television
The first colour television programme was introduced in Singapore on 1 May, 1974. I have just joined a soccer-crazy school where we have good soccer teams that featured in the schools soccer final played at Jalan Besar Stadium. The school would close and we would march over. This was a time that the Malaysia Cup was hot! And then the World Cup came on held by the then West Germany. It marked the end of the Jules Rimet Trophy last won in 1970 by that legendary Brazil team. It was Brazil's third win and they got to keep that trophy permanently.
The World Cup
Of course we knew the Germans won with a penalty by Paul Breitner and the winner came from the unspectacular but deadly Gerd Muller while the Dutch scored also from the spot by Johan Neeskens. The highlight of the competition was the Dutch led by their manager Rinus Michels and superstar captain Johan Cruyff and their "Total Football" system that captivated the world. With just a minute gone, Cryuff was brought down by Uli Hoeness after a solo run and English referee Jack Taylor awarded the penalty.
Dutch Total Football
The introduction of colour television brought out the excitement as we witnessed the elegant and simplicity of West Germany's black and white in contrast to the Netherland's Oranje. There were many interesting observations such as the style and culture of each footballing nation. For example, East Germany actually had West Germany beaten (1-0) and topped Group 1. The then Yugoslavia aka the Brazil of the East had newcomer Zaire thrashed 9-0! Poland surprised the world by topping their group with three wins and showed us their great stars like captain Deyna and top striker Lato and Poland came in third by beating Brazil 1-0 with a goal from Lato. Grzegorz Lato was top scorer with seven goals, Johan Neeskens and Poland's best young player in the World Cup Szarmach had five each, Johnny Rep and Gerd Muller had four with Cruyff, Rivellino and Deyna each having three. If all these names do not ring a bell or move a wind chime, you were either not born yet or do not know your soccer. Such names, besides their soccer skills were tongue twisters that added more fun.
Johan Cruyff
This is how I remembered Cruyff. When we play our soccer, each person wanted to play like their favourite stars. Some wanted to be Cruyff or Neeskens, others think they are Franz Beckenbauer or Rivellino. Some are totally confused, a friend of mine strutted around trying to act cool like Beckenbauer then when he lost the ball to me, he would push me with his fists to try to win the ball. Haha. Then when playing on the same side, once he tried to imitate Rivellino and instead of a cross, the ball came to me like a rocket of a shot!
In those days, players like Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, even Michel Platini bossed their teams like a conductor of an orchestra. Think of players too like Bobby Moore to Glen Hoddle to Paul Gascoigne. The elegance and class factor in soccer is almost gone as today's teams and players are mostly pure athletic, physical, methodical and certainly less instinctive and whimsical. They all look the same, run and play the same as compared to those above named.
Why Cruyff Is One Of The Greatest?
Pele was popularly known as the greatest footballer of all time. He was a complete footballer. Not a big guy but he has an awesome header. He could pass and shoot with either foot, dribble, feint, has solid control. Above all, he was very disciplined. That was why he had longevity, played a long time and amassed more than a thousand goals to his name.
Maradona was probably the best dribbler. Remember that England goal?
Maradona (World CUp 1986)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z-qm-Sb_4s&gl=SG&hl=en-GB
George Best was a genius altogether. Look a this goal for San Jose Earthquakes when he was already way past his best.
George Best Goal (San Jose Earthquakes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8wGN5uDaVg&gl=SG&hl=en-GB
Franz Beckenbauer won the World Cup as a player and as a manager.
Cruyff never won the World Cup as a player but why was he great other than the ''Cruyff Turn'' and his exciting run and style, vision, passes and goals? Rinus Michels who gave us Total Football brought it over to Barcelona as a manager and he brought Cruyff over as a player. Cruyff was his expression on a soccer pitch. When Rinus Michels left Barcelona, Cruyff took over as manager and he carried Dutch Total Football and married it with Spanish Flamenco. Now we have seen ''tiki taka''.
But like every hero, every Superman has their kryptonite. Maradona took drugs. Georgie Best was a womaniser and an extreme alcoholic. So was Paul Gascoigne. For Cruyff, he was a chained smoker. Not a smoker tied to a chain but one who would puff non-stop. His contribution to soccer was far greater than anyone in world soccer. It was his soccer philosophy and ideals that he epitomised, lived and breathed through his play, management and teachings.
RIP, long lived Cruyff! Thanks for the memories.
In those days, players like Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, even Michel Platini bossed their teams like a conductor of an orchestra. Think of players too like Bobby Moore to Glen Hoddle to Paul Gascoigne. The elegance and class factor in soccer is almost gone as today's teams and players are mostly pure athletic, physical, methodical and certainly less instinctive and whimsical. They all look the same, run and play the same as compared to those above named.
Why Cruyff Is One Of The Greatest?
Pele was popularly known as the greatest footballer of all time. He was a complete footballer. Not a big guy but he has an awesome header. He could pass and shoot with either foot, dribble, feint, has solid control. Above all, he was very disciplined. That was why he had longevity, played a long time and amassed more than a thousand goals to his name.
Maradona was probably the best dribbler. Remember that England goal?
Maradona (World CUp 1986)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z-qm-Sb_4s&gl=SG&hl=en-GB
George Best was a genius altogether. Look a this goal for San Jose Earthquakes when he was already way past his best.
George Best Goal (San Jose Earthquakes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8wGN5uDaVg&gl=SG&hl=en-GB
Franz Beckenbauer won the World Cup as a player and as a manager.
Cruyff never won the World Cup as a player but why was he great other than the ''Cruyff Turn'' and his exciting run and style, vision, passes and goals? Rinus Michels who gave us Total Football brought it over to Barcelona as a manager and he brought Cruyff over as a player. Cruyff was his expression on a soccer pitch. When Rinus Michels left Barcelona, Cruyff took over as manager and he carried Dutch Total Football and married it with Spanish Flamenco. Now we have seen ''tiki taka''.
But like every hero, every Superman has their kryptonite. Maradona took drugs. Georgie Best was a womaniser and an extreme alcoholic. So was Paul Gascoigne. For Cruyff, he was a chained smoker. Not a smoker tied to a chain but one who would puff non-stop. His contribution to soccer was far greater than anyone in world soccer. It was his soccer philosophy and ideals that he epitomised, lived and breathed through his play, management and teachings.
RIP, long lived Cruyff! Thanks for the memories.
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