14 quotes capturing the essence of Johan Cruyff

The pivotal player of the all-conquering early 70s Ajax side, he was nicknamed El Flaco (the skinny one)

When you saw Cruyff off the pitch he was like a thin boy. But on the pitch, he was from another planet. Without Cruyff, I have no team.

– Rinus Michels, Cryuff's Ajax manager

Always leading from the front

Cruyff’s genius transcended even the most heated rivalry in European football, considering what the iconic Real Madrid striker, Emilio Butragueno, has had to say about him

I always told everyone that Cruyff was my idol. I'm not being disloyal to Madrid by saying that. You would have to be narrow-minded and short on insight to think like that.

— Emilio Butragueno