THIS STORY WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON 28TH OCTOBER, 2016
In the next few minutes, you will soak in just how important Johan Cruyff was to one of the most illustrious and powerful clubs in existence - FC Barcelona.
On this day, 43 years ago, Johan Cruyff made his Barcelona debut after the club paid a then world record transfer fee to sign him from boyhood club Ajax. At this point, Barcelona had failed to win a league title in 13 years. The club needed inspiration and fast.
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Real Madrid had overshadowed the Catalan side for decades, but the year 1973 was a very different one for both sides. Before he signed for Barcelona, rather ironically, Los Blancos had first approached Ajax and believed they had reached a deal for the player, but Cruyff was offended by having been omitted from the negotiations and chose a move to Barcelona instead.
The Spanish league withheld permission for his participation for long period but by the time he made his debut weeks later, Barcelona sat near the bottom of the table, having won just one of their first six games, losing three times.
Cruyff made his debut on the 28th October 1973 in a 4-0 win over Granada, establishing himself as a fan favourite early on. He went onto score 16 goals in the next 26 appearances as Barcelona lifted the league title for the first time in years.
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In one of Cruyff's most iconic year's in football, he went onto win his second Ballon d'Or trophy. and we all know he completed his hat-trick in 1974. A year after he joined the club, Cruyff was crowned European Footballer of the Year.
Not only did Cruyff live upto expectation but he was beginning to revolutionise the way Barcelona played. To this day, the influence of one of football's greatest.is very apparent.
The Dutch playmaker was testament to Barcelona's motto Mes que un club' (more than a club). His influence gave the team momentum which quickly turned to success. Not only did he make 143 appearances for Blaugrana but he went onto manage the 'dream team', winning four league titles, the European Cup, and the Cup Winners' Cup.
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Johan Cruyff's legacy at Barcelona is encaptured in La Macia, an organisation that is used by the club to house young footballers from outside of Barcelona. The idea was proposed by Cruyff in 1979 and has since nurtured the likes of Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique.
From 1979 to 2009, 440 youngsters have left their homes and families to stay at the academy. Without La Masia, who knows were the likes of Messi and Pique would be. Johan Cruyff even gave Pep Guardiola his debut and without him, the Manchester City manager said: "I would not be here without Johan Cruyff. He was the best, by far."
A New York Times journalist once uttered the infamous words: "Cruyff had done more for the spirit of Catalan people in 90 minutes than many politicians in years of struggle." - he gave his heart to FC Barcelona and the fans knew exactly that.
Proof that Cruyff was devoted to the Catalan way of life was when he managed the Catalonian national side between 2009 and 2011. His influence lead the team to their most historic result to date, a 4-2 win over Argentina at the Camp Nou.
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His decision to name his son Jordi, a Catalan name, was another tribute and expression of love for the city.
What a man, what a player.
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Thank you for everything, Johan.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: FC Barcelona, Football, Johan Cruyff