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FORWARD I11964-71
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Appearances - 369
Goals - 271
Eight Eredivisie titles -1965/66,1966/67,1967/68,1969/70,
1971/72,1972/73,1981/82,1982/83
Five-time KNVB Cup winner -1966/67,1969/70,1970/71,
1971/72,1982/83
Three-time European Cup winner -1970/71,1971/72,1972/73
Two-time Ballon d'Or winner -1971,1973
As manager (1985-1988)
Two-time KNVB Cup winner -1985/86,1986/87
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup -1986-87
A man who revolutionised the beautiful game perhaps more than
any other in the history of football, Johan Cruyff was a talent not
just on the ball but also from the dugout, transforming play from
both the centre of the park and the touchline during his esteemed
career. Born in Amsterdam, it was at the age of 10 which he began
his footballing journey at Ajax and by 17, he had made his debut in
red and white, scoring in a 3-1 defeat. From that moment, the world's
understanding of football began to change as, under coach Rinus
Michels, Cruyff turned the game on its head. It was his ability on the
ball which first grabbed the attention of onlookers as his neat control,
his swift, effortless turns and his physicality to evade a man, gave
him the ability to find a way through any defence.
His talents saw him twice awarded the Ballon d'Or while an
impressive haul of 13 trophies in his first nine years in Amsterdam
demonstrated the influence he had, especially considering the club
had won just three pieces of silverware in the 15 years prior to his
debut. The system of'Total Football' which Cruyff orchestrated as
the kingpin in Michels' armoury saw Ajax conquer Europe, claiming
three back-to-back European titles in the early1970s before he took
an eight-year hiatus, returningto Amsterdam first as a player, then as
manager. The 3-4-3 formation was the model that Cruyff moulded,
developed and implemented into not just his first team at Ajax, but
also the academy. While silverware was limited in his first managerial
role, it would lay the foundations at Ajax for generations to come.
It was in his next role at Barcelona where his methods gained their
greatest success and the legacy of his work is still interwoven in the
Catalan outfit today. One of the game's greatest, he sadly passed
away in March 2016, but it is testament to Cruyff that his footprint
on the game is as strong today as it was when he graced the pitch.
Appearances -153
Goals -153
Three Eredivisie titles -1981/82,1982/83,1984/85
Three-time KNVB Cup winner -1982/83,1985/86,1986/87
UEFA Cup Winners Cup -1986/87
Marco van Basten can be regarded as one of the greatest forwards
to ever take to the field. Making his debut at the age of just 16, he
followed in the footsteps of many Ajax greats as he scored on his
debut, after coming on for the final 10 minutes, replacing Johan
Cruyff in a 5-0 win. Limited to a bit-part role in his first full season,
he played 25 times and scored 13 goals but after the departure of
fellow striker Win Kieft at the end of the following campaign, the
youngDutchmenwasgiven the opportunity to take control of Ajax's
front line. He produced on an unrivalled scale for the team, hitting
a quite astounding148goals injustl33 league games. Goalscoring
appeared to be something he lived for and he seemed to revel in
his opportunities in front of goal. These strikes were not simple
tap-ins either as they would come from a variety of moves, sources,
directions and positions.
He was top scorer in the Dutch league for four seasons from 1983/
84 to 1986/87. In the 1985/86 campaign, he scored 37 goals in 26
league matches, including six against Sparta Rotterdam and five
against Heracles Almelo, and won the European Golden Boot. He
also scored the winninggoal in the European Cup Winners'Cupfinal
against Lokomotive Leipzig in 1987. Van Basten produced many
memorable goals, one of his best being an overhead kick against
Den Bosch in November, 1986, while his stunning volley for the
Netherlands in the European Championship Finalofl988will always
be remembered. After pickingup seven major honours with Ajax, he
left for Milan and won a host of trophies includingtwo Champions
Leagues, not to mention the Ballon d'Or on three occasions. He
moved into coaching after retiring from playing, managing the
Netherlands national team, Ajax, Heerenveen and AZ Alkmaar.
