Born within a stone’s throw of the Ajax stadium in the east of Amsterdam, John Cruyff’s mother was a custodian for the club. Cruyff joined Amsterdam’s Ajax when he was just 10 years old, and by 17, made his debut with the senior team. It seems he was destined for the sport.

Terms often used to describe Cruyff include professor, legend, icon, pioneer and master. His vision and implementation of game-changing strategies illustrates the career of one of the greatest minds ever to grace the sport of football. Although not specifically a number 10, his philosophy, passion, vision about the game thoroughly represents how we see the game. Cruyff was a self-aware and intelligent man. He was also arrogant, ideological, and brutally honest.