Ajax, Barcelona, Cruyff

This book is a collection of several interviews the authors made with Johan Cruyff troughout the years. They followed his career from the beginning as a football player and later as a coach.After reading the whole book, i discovered a man with a very rare sense of reality. It's not easy to understand what Johan says, his speech is puzzling and sometimes daunting.He's a man scarce in words, but sometimes one word says it all. In some points i got confused because it seems the English translation is not natural enough.This might be attributable to the fact that the answers of Johan Cruyff are so enigmatic even in his mother tongue, that they become difficult to translate in English.I recommend it for the football lovers and the Dutch fanatics.

Good approach to writing about this famous footballer. Would recommend

great

Super read about Europes greatest footballer & the worlds greatest manager and coach!

Not a bad book and I have been pleasantly educated and converted to Cryuff's mantra of total football.Insights to his relationships with Ajax, the Dutch FA and Barcelona are intersting to read...and yet this is one of the two areas where the books potential remains truly untapped. What actually happened at these clubs, when did it all go wrong and what was he thinking at the time. How bad was Barcelona when he turned up? Did he leave or was he sacked? Why has he never managed any teams since then (I'd love to see him take control of a sleeping giant like Blackburn)The other area that requires attention is the linkages between the interviews. Some of the chapters just launch into narrative and you're never quite sure if this is part of the introduction or the actual interview. Neither is there any scene setting in some instances.Still...a good read on its own but if you're a true academic of the game and it's history this is more a 15 minute five a side than a full on 90 minutes with eleven men

The book is little more than a collection of interviews with Cryuff by two Dutch journallists over a period of some 30 years, but a fascinating character emerges. When Cryuff speaks in English (as last seen at Euro 2000) he appears to be a very enthusiatic expert in the game: in Dutch (translated here, thank God!) he comes across as by turns philosopher, coach, cynic, family man and occassionally a real grumpy, old git.His insights into football (especially as manager of the great Barcelona side centre round Koemans) are enlightening. His pieces as a player give a flavour of a different era that seems almost as far away now as that of Stanley Matthews - did players really play in finals with injuries?Scarely less controversial than Brian Clough, but technically more perfect. I thought I'd just read through each interview now and then but I ended up devouring it in one sitting. A good read.

This book is fantastic for any body who plays footie or is interested in the game itself. It is so enlightening as to the reason cryuff was so great not only did he have skill but he had tactical acumen too. It shows a young player that the key to being a good footballer is not just how fast u can run, dribble or how many kick ups u can do but also understanding the game with its ebbs and flows and everything else. If you have even a hint of what i'm saying its the book for you!

Anyone who thinks they understand the mechanics of football will have to think again having read this book. Cruyff's views on the game and how it should be played approach genius at times; in fact there are times when it is almost comical how much he thinks about football. There are some duller moments dealing with the frankly tiresome politics of Dutch football, but these are amply compensated by Cruyff's fascinating insights. There is also an unintentionally very funny description of a groin injury and a revelation about how Cruyff would deliberately aim for the crossbar that will amaze anyone who has ever kicked a ball. Should be required reading for any football coach.