10 Famous players who became managers of their clubs 

Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff

An influential figure both as a player and as a manager to many world-class coaches as well as players of today. A pioneer in bringing forth the idea of "total football" along with his mentor Rinus Michels, the inventor of the much-replicated move, "Cruyff Turn" and one of the greatest players ever not win the World Cup. The list of accolades both as a player and as a coach put the Dutch international amongst the pantheons of world football.

Johan Cruyff started his playing career with his boyhood club Ajax and was part of the first golden generation of Ajax as well as Dutch football. The attacking midfielder in his first spell with the club spent 9 seasons and won 6 league titles 4 League Cups. The Dutch international also helped Ajax to win their first ever European Cup in 1971, a feat that was repeated in 1972 as well as 1973.

Cruyff was then sold to Barcelona in 1973 for a then-record transfer fee and he immediately made an impact at the Camp Nou. The Dutch international helped Barcelona win their first La Liga title in 14 years, breaking Real Madrid's wise grip on the league title. Cruyff spent 5 seasons with Barcelona before joining Los Angels Aztecs and Washington Diplomats in consecutive seasons.

A return to Spanish football soon followed when Cruyff signed for Levante in 1981. Injuries and disagreements meant Cruyff was on the move again, this time returning to his roots, joining Ajax. Cruyff helped Ajax to two more league titles in his two seasons with the club and won his third straight league title with Feyenoord after Cruyff moved to Ajax's arch-rivals in 1983 after the Amsterdam outfit did not offer a new contract to him.

Cruyff retired from football after winning his eighth Erediviese with Feyenoord in 1984. The international career of the great Dutch was short but impressive. The attacking midfielder was the main man for Rinus Michels when they reached the 1974 World Cup final but lost to West Germany after going 1-0 in the first five minutes. Till date, the Netherlands team of 1974 are said to be one of the greatest teams to never win a World Cup.

Cruyff started his managerial career with Ajax in 1985 and led them to two KNVB Cups and a UEFA Cup Winners Cup. Cruyff only spent three seasons as a manager with Ajax but he sowed the seeds that helped the club win their fourth Champions League, the first since 1973 when Cruyff led them to three successive titles.

In Barcelona, Cruyff enjoyed his biggest moments as a manager. His Barcelona team was considered to be the dream team with Pep Guardiola, Roald Koeman, Michael Laudrup, Hristo Stoichkov and Romario in it. Under the legendary figure, Barcelona won four La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, three Spanish Super Cups, one UEFA Cup Winners Cup, one UEFA Super Cup and the Champions League.

Johan Cruyff was sacked in 1996, following two trophyless seasons but the Dutch left Barcelona as their longest serving manager as well as the most successful manager with 11 trophies, a feat that would be later surpassed by his pupil Guardiola.

The legendary Dutch figure also had a small spell as the manager of the Catalonia national team between 2009 and 2013.

Cruyff is credited for turning La Masia into a world-class academy that produces world beaters today.

Sadly, Cruyff passed away on the March 24, 2016.