A brilliant if tempestuous star, Johann Cruyff's goals helped Holland into the 1974 World Cup final, although the man who played a great part in "total-football" eventually finished with a loser's medal. Cruyff, one of the all-time greats, was born in Amsterdam in 1947 and at 19, and in his first season in Ajax's first team, was the Dutch league's top scorer and helped destroy Liverpool in the European Cup. In eight years, he won many domestic honours, a hat-trick of European Cup medals and was European Footballer Of The Year three times.

     In 1973, Cruyff joined his old Ajax boss Rinus Michels, for £922.000, and helped Barcelona win the Spanish league and cup. In 1981, after three years in the NASL, with Los Angeles Aztecs and Washington Diplomats, he signed for Spanish second division club, Levante, but returned to Ajax in 1982, winning another leaguetitle with them and another with Feyenoord, whom he joined in 1984. As manager he took Ajax to a 1987 European Cupwinner's Cup final win. In 1988 he rejoined Barcelona and led them to four Spanish leaguetitles and a European Cup triumph as well. His 48 games for Holland (33 goals) would have been more, but for disputes with the Dutch FA and also his refusal to play in the 1978 World Cup.

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