Cruyff was a genuine star ‘turn’
Recalling great moments in sport you have seen live is a constant source of enjoyment for most fans.
Even though now, in this digital age, websites such as YouTube can display those golden occasions at the click of a mouse.
Most of us don’t really want to watch those special moments over and over, perhaps because we want to experience the mix of awe, excitement, wonder and admiration for what we recall having seen live.
These include the likes of Gary Sobers hit t ing si x sixes, Liverpool coming back from 3-0 down to win the Champions League and the “Cruyff turn”.
Johann Cruyff, though, was no one-trick pony despite that famous moment at the 1974 World Cup.
He was a powerful, inventive, forward with both Ajax and Barcelona and became an equally capable coach.
Think of the phrase Total Football and it’s impossible not to picture Cruyff in his heyday.
He was a winner as a player then as a manager. He won 11 trophies in eight seasons in ch a rge of Barcelona, recruiting the likes of Rona ld K o em a n , Michael Laudrup, Gheorghe Hag i , Romario and Hristo Stoichkov. He also fast- tracked Pep Guardiola into the top team.
Guardiola was present at this book’s launch and said: “I knew nothing about football before knowing Cruyff” – a statement that adorns its orange cover.
The Ma n Ci t y b o s s acknowledges his mentor’s influence, not just on those who were lucky enough to see him play but on those he coached.
This is not a particularly well-written book. It’s style is clunky and laboured in parts, not charges you could ever level at Cruyff himself.
However, i f you want to wallow in the memory of a player many believe was better than Pele, then you should read
One thing, though, if you haven’t seen it already, watch the video on YouTube first.
We’ve teamed up with www. sportsbookofthemonth. com and have a copy of to give away.
To win visit the www.sportsbookofthemonth. com and answer this question: Against which team did Johann Cruyff famously execute his “Cruyff turn” at the 1974 World Cup?