WE LOOK BACK ON A RARE OCCASION IN OCTOBER 1983,
WHEN THE LEGENDARY JOHAN CRUYFF WAS UPSTAGED ON A
FOOTBALL PITCH... BY OUR VERY OWN GLENN HODDLE.
MMS MM
MET GLENN
In two spells with AFC Ajaxbetweenl964and1983, the
late Johan Cruyff scored 271 goals in 369 appearances,
winning the Eredivisie on eight occasions as well
as five KVNB Cups, three European Cups and the
Intercontinental Cup. Such is the regard forthe iconic
Dutch winger at his home city club, they have retired
his famous number14 shirt and named their stadium in his honour.
In addition to 12 memorable playing seasons at Ajax, Cruyff also
shone at Barcelona, winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey during
his five years with the Catalan giants. The three-time Ballon d'Or
recipient also turned out for North America Soccer League (NASL)
sides Los Angeles Aztecs and Washington Diplomats as well as
Spanish team Levante towards the end of his career.
In what turned out to be his final season as a player, Cruyff played
44 matches and scored 13 goals for Ajax's arch-rivals Feyenoord
in 1983/84. One of those appearances came at White Hart Lane,
as we faced the winger and his new employers in a UEFA Cup
second round, first leg tie on October 19,1983.
The match saw Cruyff line up against usforjust the second time,
having played for Ajax in a pre-season friendly in Amsterdam in
August, 1973, but this was his first encounter at the Lane. It was
also his inaugural meeting with Glenn Hoddle, with pair never having
previously faced each other at either club or international level.
We raced into a 4-0 half-time lead against Feyenoord, with
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