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Great Lives

Pat Nevin on Johan Cruyff

Great Lives

BBC

History, Documentary, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.21.2K Ratings

🗓️ 2 August 2022

⏱️ 28 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Pat Nevin chooses Johan Cruyff who was part of the Dutch revolution of the 1970s. He burst onto the international stage at the 1974 World Cup with an incredible piece of skill against Sweden later dubbed the 'Cruyff turn'. Cruyff went on to play for Barcelona before retiring young only to be forced to return after some poor business investments wiped out his fortune. He played in the States before returning to coach at his beloved Ajax and Barcelona where he amassed more trophies, steadfastly sticking to his brand of 'total football' and changing how the game was played. Pat Nevin remembers the gasp of the crowd who witnessed the 'Cruyff turn', and still admires how this thin, intelligent footballer used speed and guile to outwit opponents. But the former Chelsea and Everton great says that it's Cruyff's imprint on the way that football is now played that impresses him most, an influence, Pat says, that can be seen at the top of the Premier League table today with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City playing a version of Dutch 'total football'. As Pep himself said about his former Barcelona coach, "Johan Cruyff painted the chapel, and Barcelona coaches since merely restore or improve it." The Dutch journalist and author of 'Johan Cruyff: Always on the Attack' Auke Kok, sheds light on Johan's childhood, his early years as an Ajax player, and how Cruyff's stubborn attitude was both a strength and a weakness throughout his life. Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Toby Field Other guests in the new series include the UK government vaccine taskforce head, Kate Bingham; chef Romy Gill; and BAFTA winner Holly Walsh who has picked the cult sixties writer, BS Johnson.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Before you listen to this BBC podcast, I'd like to introduce myself.

0:03.7

My name's Stevie Middleton and I'm a BBC Commissioner for a Load of Sport Podcasts.

0:08.4

I'm lucky to do that at the BBC because I get to work with a leading journalist, experienced

0:12.2

pundits and the biggest sport stars.

0:14.3

Together we bring you untold stories and fascinating insights straight from the players'

0:18.5

mouths.

0:19.5

But the best thing about doing this at the BBC is our unique access to the sport world.

0:25.0

What that means is that we can bring you podcasts that create a real connection to

0:28.8

dedicated sports fans across the UK.

0:31.2

So if you like this podcast, head over to BBC Sounds where you'll find plenty more.

0:41.2

It's the 19th of June 1974 and we're in Dortmund, Germany.

0:47.0

The Netherlands, clad in their famous orange jerseys, are playing a World Cup group game

0:52.1

against Sweden in blue.

0:54.6

The score is Neil Nill.

0:57.1

As the clock ticks round to the 24th minute, a high ball is floated across the pitch from

1:02.8

right to left.

1:04.6

It's target, the Dutch number 14.

1:07.8

He brings the ball under control and as he does so, turns so that he has his back to both

1:13.7

the goal and the Swedish defender.

1:16.5

He waits a moment and then shifts his body weight and fains to push the ball away with

1:21.8

his right foot, instinctively the defender moves with him and as he does, this

1:27.0

Mercurial Dutch player uses his right foot to drag the ball back behind his standing leg

...

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