"The biggest reason I play soccer is to entertain the audience. Winning was not the only thing that mattered to me." (p. 151)
Johan Cruyff (1947-2016) transformed modern soccer as a player, coach, and administrator. He led Ajax in the Netherlands to eight league titles and three consecutive European Cup victories, and he ushered in a golden era at Barcelona both as a player and coach. Renowned for perfecting 'total football'—a tactical approach emphasizing fluidity, space, and teamwork—he is considered one of the most influential figures for contemporary soccer coaches, including Pep Guardiola.
His autobiography, Johan Cruyff (written by Johan Cruyff, translated by Lee Seong-mo, Knowledge Factory), reads more like a treatise on organization, leadership, and education than a typical sports memoir. It covers themes such as entertaining soccer, a culture of learning from failure, teamwork that supports one another, and the importance of placing the right talent in the right roles. His messages extend beyond soccer to all organizations.
For Cruyff, winning was a goal but not the sole focus. He envisioned a style of play that was technical, creative, and left fans wanting more. He constantly urged players to think critically: when in possession, create space; when losing the ball, close gaps and apply pressure. The key was not just to run a lot but to run smart. Soccer, he believed, is a sport where understanding space and team movement takes precedence over physical fitness.
This philosophy culminated in total football, where all players engage in both attacking and defending, and when one moves, all ten follow. He emphasized that creating the best combination of players is more important than simply gathering eleven talented individuals. His belief that "soccer is a game played with the head" was rooted in meticulous calculations of distance, spacing, and timing. A fan of numbers and mental math, he viewed soccer as an art of space and a sport of logic.
Cruyff's soccer philosophy also translated into his approach to life. He valued maintaining a clean dressing room, personally cleaning his soccer shoes, and managing his belongings. He believed one must be a good person before becoming a good player. He learned from coach Jack Reynolds not to fear mistakes, from coach Rinus Michels the importance of player protection and discipline, and from baseball the ability to read the entire game in advance. He stated, "My life has always been a process of doing better and improving," accepting even failures as assets for growth.
Notably, his leadership and administrative roles were equally impressive. Even after becoming a coach, he did not assume he knew everything. He brought in specialists, such as a goalkeeper coach, and emphasized that "a leader is someone who places the right person in the right position." After retiring, he sought to reform Ajax, aiming to change the structure where administrators without soccer experience dominated decision-making, advocating for a system where a committee of former players participated in decisions.
Cruyff's autobiography naturally evokes reflections on contemporary Korean soccer. Recently, Korean soccer has faced disappointment from fans due to underwhelming performances in the World Cup and ongoing administrative controversies. A principle Cruyff emphasized throughout his life was the importance of appointing the most suitable individuals rather than the most famous, and that those familiar with the field should determine the direction of soccer.
Of course, Cruyff is not the only answer. However, he demonstrated through his soccer career that tactics without philosophy cannot endure, and strong teams cannot exist without a system. One of Cruyff's statements resonates deeply.
"Winning is not everything. What matters more is how you win." (p. 106)
* This article has been translated by AI.
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