Cruyff Makes it.... 3 FIFA Tenors

Johan Cruyff

The Sepp Blatter duo of Henry Kissinger and Placido Domingo are to be joined by a third wise man, John Cruyff, a man who did most of his talking and singing on the pitch. Although there are many referees around the world that will no doubt attest to his on field negotiating tactics.

However in the sport of football there are few that have left such a legacy as to how the game is played than the Amsterdam born player. His selection for the FIFA "Wise men" role is an interesting one as he tends not to suffer fools that easily, with an off the field record that suggests he is not that political on issues that matter to him.  

At Club de Futbol Barcelona Cruyff has been a huge influence over the past three decades, with is still strong even today as the current manager, Josep Guardiola, became a first team regular under the Dutchman in the 1991-92 season – winning La Liga and the European Cup. It was part of a legacy that all started when Rinus Michels arrived at the club back in 1971. 

After establishing a successful Ajax side that won the national championship four times and the KNVB Cup three times, as well as reaching the European Cup final in Madrid where they were defeated by Milan, Michels joined Barcelona. Then in the summer of 1973 Michels brought Cruyff to the club and the two Dutchmen made an immediate impact winning la Liga that season. 

The following season they were joined after the 1974 World cup final by a third Dutchman, midfielder Johan Neeskens, and the club went on to win a Copa del Rey and then in 1979 UEFA Cup Winners Cup. After leaving the club in 1978 Johan Cruyff returned to Barcelona as the manager a decade later. 

During his eight years he mixed Catalan players with international stars adding Ronald Koeman, Michael Laudrup, Romário, Gheorghe Hagi and Hristo Stoichkov to the playing roster winning La Liga four times between 1991 and 1994. In Europe Barcelona beat Sampdoria to win the 1989 European Cup Winners' Cup, and then the 1992 European Cup final at Wembley. The same squad also won the Copa del Rey in 1990, the European Super Cup in 1992 and three Supercopa de España. 

Known as a player's coach with deep convictions, Johan Cruyff was considered a visionary on the game and his presence at Barcelona changed many things, and the fruits of that influence are now very visible.