Johan Cruyff was destined for Barcelona. He was enamoured by the strong identity of FC Barcelona and the history of its progressive Catalonian movement. He was not afraid to adopt the movement and integrate with the Blaugrana identity. Johan instantly became a Catalan favorite when he named his son Jordi.
Soon after joining, Cruyff led Barca to its first league win in 14 years. He influenced the Barca identity with his background of Total Football, while he was influenced by the strong values required from the football played by Barca. While the setting changed, Johan's football remained. He reunited with Rinus Michels and transformed the FC Barcelona team. Cruyff kept developing the team and himself, reaching ever closer to the idealistic and pure football he envisioned. And then… And then he retired.
Stints in the US and back in the Netherlands followed his return from retirement, where he shone once again, but they were all tinged in the shade of the twilight of his career. However, what followed was the rise of a brighter star: Johan Cruyff, the Coach.
Cruyff returned to football as a youth manager at Ajax. He learnt, failed, and relearnt as he reached ever closer to fulfilling his footballing philosophy. Then, he made his inevitable return to Catalunya. In Barcelona, Cruyff found his haven. In Cruyff, Barcelona found its saviour. Together, they changed football forever.
Cruyff remodelled the entire club, from the youngest teams to the main team. The entire youth system of Barcelona began to play attacking, possession-based, total football. Every player attacked with the ball and defended without it. They created their own spaces with delicate passes and aesthetic intent. All this, Cruyff achieved with a Barca struggling with financial and political problems. Much as he did as the beloved player, Coach Cruyff took unprecedented risks that led to the most wonderful of rewards.
Johan Cruyff brought in players like Romario, Ronald Koeman, Hristo Stoichkov, and, most importantly, Pep Guardiola to create the Dream Team. This Dream Team went on to win 4 consecutive league titles along with a European Cup.
Before their European Cup win at Wembley, Johan Cruyff's words to his players personified his brand of football —
"Go out there and enjoy yourselves!"
Cruyff left Barcelona as its most decorated manager, only to be surpassed by his protege, Pep Guardiola. He capped his footballing career in the most poetic of manners by coaching the Catalan team from 2009 onwards.
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Johan Cruyff left a legacy that did not just affect the way the entire world played football, but also influenced many pillars of football.
Pep Guardiola, one of the greatest managers of all time.
Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets, one of the greatest midfield of all time.
Lionel Messi, the greatest footballer of all time.
And now, Jordi Lloret, the boy who would reign over football.