5 of football's greatest generational talents of all time

#2. Johan Cryuff

Cryuff was a true master in every sense of the word

One of a very select few of men who have dominated the global game as player and coach, the late Dutch master was in a league of his own.

A leader of men, scorer of great goals and a very stylish bloke whose name has become synonymous with beautiful football, Cruyff’s stardom is beyond questioning/reproach.

The biggest name of an era that featured many a great star (1964-1978), he shone above other greats like Gerd Muller, Mario Kempes, Franz Beckenbauer, Eusebio, Sir Jack Charlton amongst others.

Skillful on the ball with a devil-may-cry attitude, his ability to pick a pass, position himself to score and lead from the front saw him front and center for the legendary Ajax and Oranje teams of that era.

With him as the leader, Ajax aped the achievements of Real Madrid by winning the-then European Cup (now UEFA Champions League) thrice in a row (1971-1973).

Under the guidance of legendary manager, Rinus Michels, Cruyff led the Dutch national side that was by far the best team at the 1974 World Cup to the final. However, over-confidence saw them lose to a less technical but more committed West German side by 2-1.

He was also wildly successful as a manager and created the movement that has led to the emergence of superstar coaches like Pep Guardiola.