The legend that is Johan
I
EUROPEAN CUP FIRST ROUND - CELTIC v AJAX
EUROPEAN CUP FIRST ROUND - CELTIC v AJAX
TONIGHT sees the appearance at Celtic Park
of a footballing legend. Johan Cruyff is one of
those very rare talents about whose ability
there can be little disagreement. For since he
made his league debut for Ajax at the age of
16 his performances at the highest level of
club and international football have been of
such a consistently brilliant standard that he is
universally acclaimed as one of the world's
greatest players. His class is such that he is
regarded alongside such great names as Pele,
Beckenbauer, Eusebio, Puskas and Di Ste-
fano.
Of course it is easy to point out that at the
age of 35 he is clearly past his best and that
even great footballers can't last for ever. Yet
the influence Cruyff has exerted in the trans
formation of the present Ajax side since his
return nine months ago, and the crowds he
manages to draw wherever he plays, would
dispute any such assumptions. Indeed Ajax
are very fortunate to have a player of unri
valled experience in modern football encour
aging their young players.
Cruyff's association with Ajax extends back
26 years to when he was only nine years old.
Four years later the club officials were so
excited by his potential that they were eager
for the day when he should make his first team
debut. This date was delayed by only three
years and by the time he was 19 he had not
only established himself in the Ajax side but
had also won full international honours.
His attributes; a deceptive pace, extraordin
ary ball skills, tremendous vision and a natural
goal-scoring ability, belied his slight build. On
top of these exceptional qualities, Cruyff is
also a natural leader and he was soon captain
ing Ajax and Holland. He played 400 times in
his first speil at Ajax and has gained 60 Dutch
caps throughout his career.
Cruyff's rise to world tame coinciaea wnn
the great Ajax and Holland teams of the
seventies. He epitomised the concept of total
football. He was and remains a dedicated
player, alert and decisive he scored 150
goals in his initial term at Ajax, including 19 in
the European Cup - who always gives every
thing. Over the years he has suffered the
inevitable, but unfortunate, treatment handed
out to such men. Close marking of Cruyff
resulted in hard, often illegal, challenges and
this accounted for his many injuries.
This was part of the reason for Cruyff's
disillusionment with Dutch and international
football. After '74 Cruyff moved to Barcelona
for a fee of £1,000,000. This shock for Ajax
fans was soon to be followed by another which
disappointed football fans throughout the
world. This was the announcement that alth
ough Holland had qualified for Argentina and
Cruyff would obviously be an automatic selec
tion he did not wish to be considered.
From Spain, Cruyff joined many other great
players coming to the close of distinguished
careers in taking the trail to America. He
played first with Los Angeles Aztecs, then the
New York Cosmos and then the Washington
Diplomats. Cruyff rejoined Ajax for a short time
as a Technical Adviser', before being attract
ed back to Spain early last year to play for
second division Levante (to the disappoint
ment of Dumbarton!!)
Cruyff's return to Ajax occurred when the
club arranged a £100,000 sponsorship deal for
him and also offered him a share of the gate
receipts. The results have been well docu
mented with the club gaining a league cham
pionship as well as dramatically increased
crowds and Johan is once more the darling of
the Dutch press and fans.
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