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Challenges The Johan Cruyff Challenge - FMM18


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The Johan Cruyff Challenge

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The multifarious sphere of footballing history encompasses many greats. Some prove greatness via a trophy cabinet, some gain notoriety for a single goal or piece of skill, some are famed for their embodiment of a style or era, and on very rare occasions, a player might just be responsible for shifting tactical and technical approaches to the game itself. Impossibly, one Hendrik Johannes Cruijff achieved magnitude by all those virtues, and a few more.

Born in Betondorp, east Amsterdam’s post-modern experiment of concrete expressionism, Cruyff was the second son of a working-class family. By the time 10-year-old Cruyff signed for Ajax, he was already part of the club’s furniture.

The scrawny cleaner’s son was conveniently on-hand to make-up the numbers at first-team training sessions. Obvious ability and assured confidence, despite his tender years, gained him notoriety and accelerated his development. Ultimately, an Eredivisie debut came in 1964 and 17-year-old Cruyff scored Ajax’s only goal in a 3-1 defeat.

The following season brought about a relationship which would shift football’s tectonic plates. With Rinus Michels as coach, and Cruyff demonstrating an almost superhuman ability, intelligence and interpretation of Michels’ ideologies, Totaalvoetbal was born. Ajax rose from obscurity to European domination. They baffled, delighted, bewitched and dazzled in equal measure. The scrawny young kid called Cruyff epitomised it all. He, and Totaalvoetbal, became revered around the world.

After winning everything with Ajax, Michels and Cruyff would repeat the gloriously transformational process at Barcelona. Appointed in 1971, Michels signed his jigsaw’s most vital piece – Cruyff – two years later. Barcelona’s first league title in over a decade was the instant result.

If Cruyff’s understanding of Ajax was acquired over time, at Barcelona it was instant. Notwithstanding a La Liga title in his debut season, Cruyff was adored like a lost son after naming his own son Jordi, a significantly Catalan name. As at Ajax, an emotional connection combined with technical ability, tactical understanding and unerring confidence equalled trophies.

As within most forms of genius, the depths of Cruyff’s persona housed elements of the mad and the neurotic. There weren’t many lows during his career, but losing the 1974 World Cup final was a blow marred with obsessive and divisive in-house debates. With Cruyff the focal point, the Netherlands teams of the 1970s were amongst the world’s best, yet fell tantalizingly short of the ultimate prize.

If Cruyff wasn’t entirely to blame for World Cup final defeat, or missing the 1978 tournament due to fears of family kidnapping, he was to blame for an early retirement aged just 30. A subsequent and ill-advised investment in pig farming may have nearly bankrupt Cruyff, but it did lead to a return to football. Spells in Los Angeles and Washington provided a different perspective, and gentle rejuvenation. The North American Soccer League was good to Cruyff and heralded a shift in his thinking. Player became coach. Via a sojourn in Spain’s second tier, and after nearly joining Leicester City, Cruyff was back at Ajax combining duties of player and technical advisor.

The 1982/83 league and cup double appeared a fairy tale ending, yet with Cruyff there is always more than meets the eye. Upon Ajax refusing to offer a new contract, Cruyff departed, signed for rivals Feyenoord Rotterdam, and won another league and cup double in 1983/84.

Dare you even attempt to follow this football legends path around the globe?

RULES

  • Load up Holland, Spain, USA and one other country if you like.

  • Take control of Ajax and nominate an attacking midfielder/striker to become your new "Cruyff"

  • At Ajax you must win at least - 8 Eredivise titles, 5 Dutch Cups, 3 European Trophies, 1 Club World Cup Plus scoring 190 plus goals.

  • After achieving those you can move to Spain (Barca to be authentic) bring your new "Cruyff" with you and together you must win at 1 League title and 1 Copa del Rey Plus scoring 48 plus goals.

  • Next you are off to the USA for two seasons (LA/DC United to be authentic) scoring 25 plus goals.

  • Finally heading back to Holland to win one final Eredivise title and 1 Dutch Cup plus 25 plus goals.

  • BONUS - Can you match or better Cruyff's 3 Ballon d'Or Awards?

LEADERBOARD

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Cruijff. Legend. 

Will be very tough to leave Spain for USA and then complete the circle back to Holland. I'm guessing his value/demands will make it near impossible I'm afraid, but who knows with the right age someone might pull it off. 

Cracking challenge! 

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38 minutes ago, BatiGoal said:

Cruijff. Legend. 

Will be very tough to leave Spain for USA and then complete the circle back to Holland. I'm guessing his value/demands will make it near impossible I'm afraid, but who knows with the right age someone might pull it off. 

Cracking challenge! 

Ah yes, didn't think of that. You could of course miss this part out and head straight back to Holland?

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5 hours ago, danovic78 said:

Ah yes, didn't think of that. You could of course miss this part out and head straight back to Holland?

Or perhaps in any order? Keeping all "stages" really adds to the challenge tho. 

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