Hero: Johan Cruijff

Johan Cruijff was a big footballer who played in the Dutch team. He was well known in Holland. He started playing football as a little boy.
One of the scouts of Ajax (the team of Amsterdam.) saw that he played very good. Ajax watched his matches and they signed him for the team Ajax.

When Johan Cruijff went of school ‘met de bijbel’ in 1959 his father had a hart attack. The father of Johan Cruijff died at home in the presence of his son Henry Cruijff. The father of Johan was 44 when he died.

Johan Cruijff played his first match with the Dutch team in 1966, 9 February.
They played against the Racing Strassburg. They won with 7-0. Cruijff scores 3 goals.

Cruijff gets married in 1968 with the daughter of Cor Coster, Danny Coster.

The Dutch club Ajax gets in the final of the Europe Cup in 1969. It’s the first time that a Dutch team gets in the final of that tournament. They had to play against AC Milan. But AC Milan was to strong for the Ajax team and they lost against AC Milan with 4-1.

On 16 November in 1970 a baby is born, it’s named Chantal and the father is Johan Cruijff. Cruijff had a match against another team but he refused to play to be at the birth of his daughter.

In the same year the Dutch team gives Cruijff the opportunity to be captain, they played against Scotland, they won with 2-1. He stayed captain for 33 matches with the Dutch team.


In 1973 Johan Cruijff leaves Ajax and signs in for the Spain team Barcelona.

Johan Cruijff in Barcelona shirt

After there second daughter, Johan Cruijff and his wife have a son named Jordi.

Cruijff plays his last match with the Dutch team in 1977. Many people try to change his mind but unsuccessful. He plays his last Match with the Dutch team against Belgium, they win with 1-0.

In 1978 Cruijff quits playing with soccer, he quits with Barcelona after one match with Ajax. They win with 3-1.
Cruijff played one match, his official Goodbye-Game with Ajax against Bayern Munchen. Bayern won with 8-0.

But one year later Cruijff returns to play soccer, he had signed with the New York soccer team in America, only they didn’t want him anymore so he signed a contract with the Aztecs in Los Angeles. He played so well that the mayor gave him a diploma of honour to Cruijff.

In 1980 Cruijff the Los Angeles Aztecs transfer Cruijff to the Washington Diplomats. After one season America names him the best American player of the year.

Johan Cruijff returned to Ajax. But the KNVB didn’t want American players to play in the Dutch clubs. But Cruijff did train along. At one game Cruijff walked from the stages to the field and stood next to the Coach. Ajax won 5-3.

Cruijff goes back to play with the Dutch team. The Coach of the Dutch team convinced him to come back.

Ajax goes back to the Washington Diplomats. He plays there 5 matches and then he quits playing at an American teams.

Cruijff again leaves Ajax to play with Feyenoord, also a Dutch club.
When Ajax and Feyenoord have a match against each other, it’s a tough game. But Ajax one with 8-2.

The last game for him was Feyenoord against FC Zwolle. Right before the game the referee blows his flute and gives Cruijff a symbolic red card.
Feyenoord won with 2-1.

That was Cruijff in his carrier where he PLAYED soccer. Now we’re going to look at his carrier of the field.

After Cruijff quitted, Feyenoord wanted him to be their Technical Director but he got signed at Ajax.

Cruijff quits Ajax and becomes trainer of FC Barcelona in 1988.

Cruijff made a deal with Barcelona that his son Jordi could play.
His first match against Racing Santader they won. Jordi scored a goal after 8 minutes.

Cruijff quits training Barcelona.

In 1998 the Cruijff University opens. It’s a University in Barcelona where the best sportsman can come and join. Its study mixed with sports. The university turned out to go well so they build more universities in many locations.

In 1999 Cruijff is chosen to be the best soccer player of Europe in the century.

One last game with the best players of Ajax in 1999. All the best players were there.
The match was played and the scores were 2-2.

In 2000 Cruijff breaks all his contacts with Ajax.
He quitted because Ajax ignored all his ideas.
He advised other men to take his job but Ajax ignored that to. It was very disappointing.

Johan Cruijff Welfare Foundation

The Johan Cruijff Foundation is made for the well being of people who are in to sports. It’s physically good and it’s mentally good. The Johan Cruijff Foundation also organises stuff for the mentally and physically handicapped.

The Foundation doesn’t only do sports and games but also project that involves teamwork and other things that also involve in sports.

The Johan Cruijff Foundation worked together with Terre de Hommes to do something in the poor countries. They both have the same ideas. Make sports a big deal there.

This was Johan Cruijffs life. I hoped you enjoyed it!