CRUYFF, JOHAN

born April 25, 1947, Amsterdam, Neth. byname of Hendrick Johannes Cruijff Dutch association football (soccer) player who won numerous honours in the game, including European Footballer of the Year (1971, 1973, and 1974) and World Cup most valuable player in 1974, even though The Netherlands lost to West Germany in the finals. Cruyff joined the local Ajax Juniors soccer club when he was 10 years old and was given the number 14, which he retained throughout his career. After helping Ajax to win six league titles, four national cups, and three European Cup championships, he was transferred to Barcelona in 1973. As captain, he led Barcelona to win the Spanish League championship in 1974, and they were runners-up in 1976 and 1977. After 1978 Cruyff played with several U.S. teams, including the Los Angeles Aztecs and the Washington Diplomats, and he was named the North American Soccer League's Most Valuable Player in 1979. He returned to the Ajax team in 1982, first as a player, then as manager. In 1987 Cruyff coached the Ajax team to a Cup Winner's Cup and won the same cup in 1989 as manager of Barcelona.