Total Football

Johan Cruyff revered as one of the greatest footballers of all time, the GOAT of Holland, the total footballer whose skills were harnessed by the iconic Dutch manager Rinus Michels who introduced new pioneering tactics and systems to football. Cruyff embodied the now termed ‘Total Football’, it was in the Cruyff DNA, greatness was to prevail.

Cruyff’s early years were harnessed on the streets with no props required just the football, Cruyff’s home was five minutes from the Ajax Stadium, the talent was spotted during youth matches and in 1957 aged 10, Johan joined the Ajax Youth Academy, it would compensate for the education Johan would not be getting at school. In 1964 Cruyff become only the second player in the Ajax history to get full time professional contract and at 17 years of age the journey to greatness was to begin, the Ajax debut to begin the riveting story under Rinus Michels to become the guiding light for the prodigious talent, an ill disciplined Cruyff was to be fast tracked into the authoritarian tactics of Michels to suit the team. Cruyff was disciplined more than any other player in the squad, but Michels could see some great passages of play from Cruyff who was placed in the second team on a regular basis as the manager slowly implemented his vision and to introduce the term Total Football to the Ajax DNA, each player on the field had to follow and it became clear to see that the mantra was being set, no Cruyff left Ajax with no invention, the leader was developing as the discipline improved, the genius was evident which comes with the inflated ego, at such a young age the Cruyff was breathtaking to watch.

At 19 years of age, Johan made his Holland debut v Hungary in a Euro qualifier. Johan’s domestic form followed through to becoming a national figure, 41 goals in 41 games became the bench mark for Ajax becoming champions in the 1966-67 season, the Rinus Michels philosophy was taking effect, Cruyff intrigued by his managers pioneering tactics became the second in command on the pitch to switch into the mindset of his teammates during match play the tactical switches, Michels concurred if the right messages were being sent. The Total Football philosophy outlined, players on interchangeable positions to press the opponent for a player to leave his position to be replaced by a fellow player into the slot of his vacated starting position, the theory to evolve around the team, kick start into practice evolving all the players within the team’s framework and to play and feel comfortable in any position. The Rinus Michels blueprint for Total Football, a concept of beauty brought to the beautiful game, the vision coming to life centred onto football’s universe, Michels the genius, the creator. The system was not afraid to play the long ball to the two wide wingers employed looking to create numerous goalscoring channels with breathtaking arrogance and fortitude set in stone, the master Rinus Michels on that plateau, he will prevail forever, no side or backward passes we will play to the badge ‘Total Football’ in Michels 4-2-4 formation or to switch to a 4-3-3 for European matches, transitions through the team, a passionate man, feel the passion of the great tactical mind.

In 1969 Michels needed to rebuild the team in part ageing limbs and father time being the confirmer, a great manager can evolve, can rebuild and the task at hand was delivered leading to Ajax winning the European Cup in the 1970-71 season v Panathinaikos at Wembley Stadium two to nil with Cruyff slotting in the second goal to sela and deliver the impact of the two footballing greats on Ajax’s fortunes. The 1971-72 season ended with Rinus Michels leaving the club on departure to Barcelona with the Michels Total Football blueprint to continue at the Barce but not before a second European Cup was delivered with the Ajax defeating Inter Milan in the final with a Cruyff brace to sit alongside the winning of the Dutch League to claim title number 13. The maestro Cruyff claimed the Ballon d’Or to be recognised as the world’s greatest footballer. Michels had departed the Ajax with the club’s standing elevated to being one the world’s best.

Michels replacement came with the Romanian coach Stefan Kovacs, but Cruyff’s influence at the club became ever more prominent, not the manager in name but the Michels legacy was to continue, and Ajax’s third European trophy was to follow in season 1972-73 with a one to nil win v Juventus in the final. The Ajax giants completed the quadruple adding the domestic league and cup with the season ending Inter Continental Cup to the trophy cabinet. Revered as the world’s greatest, Cruyff’s ego set the tone for the maestro to cut an isolated figure with the constant Cruyff eloping was irritating teammates and Cruyff was termed as the protagonist in the main to be highlighted with the Ajax documentary and Cruyff at the headliner, voted out as captain the exit door was looming large.

The catalyst was set for Cruyff to depart to the Spanish giants Barcelona for one million Euros, a record-breaking sum at the time, the Spanish borders had opened for the foreign players influx. The meeting of great minds was to take place with Rinus Michels as the Barce manager, the iconic partnership was to continue into part 2. The Football Column March 2024.