Football is simple but the hardest thing to do is play simple football.
Johan CruijffRead
Someone who has juggled the ball in the air during a game, after which four defenders of the opponent get the time to run back, that's the player people think is great. I say he has to go to a circus.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True greatness in sports goes beyond flashy skills; it requires teamwork and a genuine contribution.
In this quote, Johan Cruijff critiques the appreciation of style over substance in sports. He uses the analogy of a player who draws attention for juggling the ball, suggesting that such actions might seem impressive but ultimately serve little purpose if they don’t contribute to the team's success. He advocates for valuing players who prioritize effective teamwork over individual theatrics, emphasizing that real greatness lies in contributing to the game's strategy rather than just entertaining the audience.
Themes
GreatnessTeamworkSportsStrategyContribution
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a sports seminar to emphasize the importance of teamwork.
More from Johan Cruijff
All quotes →Playing football is very simple, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is.
Johan CruijffRead
Choose the best player for every position, and you'll end up not with a strong XI, but with 11 strong 1's.
Johan CruijffRead
If you have the ball, you must make the field as big as possible, and if you don't have the ball, you must make it as small as possible.
Johan CruijffRead
Technique is not being able to juggle a ball 1000 times. Anyone can do that by practicing. Then you can work in the circus. Technique is passing the ball with one touch, with the right speed, at the right foot of your team mate.
Johan CruijffRead
I always threw the ball in, because then if I got the ball back, I was the only player unmarked.
Johan CruijffRead
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