Johan Cruyff as a football player and especially as a coach, was an artist, visionary, innovator, and wise man. He created two legendary teams, Ajax and Barcelona, which left an indelible mark on football history, playing for the spectators and putting entertainment above practicality.

Not every team that wins titles is considered classic, but those for which fans rush to the stadium or stay up late to watch their games on television, knowing they will enjoy a work of art.

The short stint on the sidelines proved enough to be recognized as the theorist who left a lasting impact on the history of the sport with his ideas. The thoughts he expressed, which state that football is a simple game played with the head and that a good player is defined by his movements during the 87 minutes he does not have the ball, form the essence upon which modern football is now built worldwide.