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EXCLUSIVE: Catalonia Coach Johan Cruyff Believes Football Can Cure Many Ailments
Johan Cruyff made his first public appearance as the new coach of the Catalan national team and spoke EXCLUSIVELY to Goal.com...
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Nov 9, 2009 7:47:32 PM
He dazzled as a player, and then as a manager and 13 years after retiring from the game, Cruyff is back to his best. Speaking for the first time since being appointed coach of Catalunya, he had the media eating out of his hands at his official presentation.
The Dutch maestro, despite having lived in Barcelona for 35 years, doesn't speak the Catalan language. When he was critically quizzed over this, his reply was as classic as a Cruyff turn on the edge of the area, followed by a shimmy past a dazed defender and an arching shot that rockets into the back of the net...
When the question was asked the whole media core expected the 62-year-old to crumble before the weighty expectations of a fiercely proud region.
"Listen," he said, "after 35 years I can just about speak Spanish. I would not wish to violate your Catalan language."
It was a moment of sheer brilliance, the opposition, as such, simply disintegrated before his eyes. It was something only Johan Cruyff could have produced out of thin air just like in his football heyday.
But why does Cruyff want to return to football, to be in charge of a team which will play, at best, two friendly games a year?
The answer lies in the hugely ambitious plans by the Catalan Football Federation to bring forward an education project to the Catalunya which will help all kids through football, as Cruyff explained to Goal.com.
"Football touches every part of society, so for instance if we talk about integration, well then through sports it's easy. If we talk about respect and education, then through football, learning the rules for example, then again it's very easy."
It might be educational, but eyebrows have to be raised over the issue of respect, which in the professional game at least, has been tested to the limit.
But where Cruyff is spot on once again is in his assertions that sport in general, and football in particular, can help when it comes to health issues.
" If you look at obesity, or say diabetes, then being involved in sports can really help. It has everything to do with the quality of life." He told Goal.com.
Cruyff's commitment to helping improve the lives of children through sport is well documented. His own Cruyff Foundation has been running now for over ten years as has the Cruyff University.
"Children need help from us. I educated myself on the streets. I went on a bicycle, played football, was running around doing whatever, but today it's always in a car, and there's no place to play on the street. So you have to create something different. It's the same body that you are born with that you die with. Okay you can change a few things but not too much! And today with cars, computers, internet whatever else, physical education is at a very low level and sport can do something about it."
The Catalan Federation is prepared to do something totally new in Europe. They've invited all the amateur clubs in Catalonia which is about 1400, and wants them to give some type of sport education in their areas, to help the children through schools or via local government or whatever means. Football is the biggest sport which makes it the easiest way to do so."
Such is the passion that Cruyff has for this project, that any question about football itself, ricochets back to the subject of helping children.
"What will it feel like to be back on the bench again?" he echoes the question back to himself.
"I suppose mine is a big name to have as a coach for just one or two matches a year. I have always enjoyed myself playing together with the players, talking to people in the game, watching, sitting on the bench. But it's at most two times a year, so that's not really a job. The other side of the role is the main thing. But to get attention for that, you have to do something for it."
It's a trade off, the name of Johan Cruyff is ideal for the project the Federation wants to start. Cruyff won't be paid in his new role, there simply isn't any money to do so. And he doesn't mind because he is more interested in the work the Federation wants to do.
Yet Cruyff's return to the game is timely. His beloved Barcelona have revived the 'Dream Team' of his era. Under the leadership of Pep Guardiola, who was his captain, Barca have rebranded the ethos of Cruyff, but under the name of Guardiola. And the Dutchman is simply flushed with joy at the way the team plays.
"If you ask me about Pep, what can I say? I am very happy, especially because he is a very intelligent person and is a good friend of mine. I think it's perfect what he is doing at Barcelona."
Last week there was a possibility that Argentina might organise a friendly against Catalunya after playing against Spain next Saturday. While that has now been quashed, the idea of Maradona and Cruyff being on opposing benches remains mouthwatering. And it's something that Cruyff is happy to tap into.
"I think for Maradona to come here with the national team and play in the city where he played, should be something... I mean for him to come back to Barcelona where he more or less started it should be a big party."
But he refuses to pass judgement on the Argentine's behaviour as a national coach.
"He is what he is and you either accept it or you don't accept it."
Cruyff clearly has his opinions on some of the best players in the world today. When asked what his thoughts are on the special talent that is Wayne Rooney, Cruyff's answer is interesting.
"Wayne Rooney has behaved himself perfectly. It was difficult... lets put it in those terms... when he came over from Everton to Manchester United. But they have created a good person, as far as I can see it from here. If you see his behaviour in the last few years on and off the field I think he is a good person with a good attitude for children."
In a week in which Wayne Rooney became a father, now one of the biggest players to ever grace the game, feels that the Englishman can be a perfect role model for young children worldwide.
Ashish Sharma, Goal.com
The Dutch maestro, despite having lived in Barcelona for 35 years, doesn't speak the Catalan language. When he was critically quizzed over this, his reply was as classic as a Cruyff turn on the edge of the area, followed by a shimmy past a dazed defender and an arching shot that rockets into the back of the net...
When the question was asked the whole media core expected the 62-year-old to crumble before the weighty expectations of a fiercely proud region.
"Listen," he said, "after 35 years I can just about speak Spanish. I would not wish to violate your Catalan language."
It was a moment of sheer brilliance, the opposition, as such, simply disintegrated before his eyes. It was something only Johan Cruyff could have produced out of thin air just like in his football heyday.
But why does Cruyff want to return to football, to be in charge of a team which will play, at best, two friendly games a year?
The answer lies in the hugely ambitious plans by the Catalan Football Federation to bring forward an education project to the Catalunya which will help all kids through football, as Cruyff explained to Goal.com.
"Football touches every part of society, so for instance if we talk about integration, well then through sports it's easy. If we talk about respect and education, then through football, learning the rules for example, then again it's very easy."
It might be educational, but eyebrows have to be raised over the issue of respect, which in the professional game at least, has been tested to the limit.
But where Cruyff is spot on once again is in his assertions that sport in general, and football in particular, can help when it comes to health issues.
" If you look at obesity, or say diabetes, then being involved in sports can really help. It has everything to do with the quality of life." He told Goal.com.
Cruyff's commitment to helping improve the lives of children through sport is well documented. His own Cruyff Foundation has been running now for over ten years as has the Cruyff University.
"Children need help from us. I educated myself on the streets. I went on a bicycle, played football, was running around doing whatever, but today it's always in a car, and there's no place to play on the street. So you have to create something different. It's the same body that you are born with that you die with. Okay you can change a few things but not too much! And today with cars, computers, internet whatever else, physical education is at a very low level and sport can do something about it."
The Catalan Federation is prepared to do something totally new in Europe. They've invited all the amateur clubs in Catalonia which is about 1400, and wants them to give some type of sport education in their areas, to help the children through schools or via local government or whatever means. Football is the biggest sport which makes it the easiest way to do so."
Such is the passion that Cruyff has for this project, that any question about football itself, ricochets back to the subject of helping children.
"What will it feel like to be back on the bench again?" he echoes the question back to himself.
"I suppose mine is a big name to have as a coach for just one or two matches a year. I have always enjoyed myself playing together with the players, talking to people in the game, watching, sitting on the bench. But it's at most two times a year, so that's not really a job. The other side of the role is the main thing. But to get attention for that, you have to do something for it."
It's a trade off, the name of Johan Cruyff is ideal for the project the Federation wants to start. Cruyff won't be paid in his new role, there simply isn't any money to do so. And he doesn't mind because he is more interested in the work the Federation wants to do.
Yet Cruyff's return to the game is timely. His beloved Barcelona have revived the 'Dream Team' of his era. Under the leadership of Pep Guardiola, who was his captain, Barca have rebranded the ethos of Cruyff, but under the name of Guardiola. And the Dutchman is simply flushed with joy at the way the team plays.
"If you ask me about Pep, what can I say? I am very happy, especially because he is a very intelligent person and is a good friend of mine. I think it's perfect what he is doing at Barcelona."
Last week there was a possibility that Argentina might organise a friendly against Catalunya after playing against Spain next Saturday. While that has now been quashed, the idea of Maradona and Cruyff being on opposing benches remains mouthwatering. And it's something that Cruyff is happy to tap into.
"I think for Maradona to come here with the national team and play in the city where he played, should be something... I mean for him to come back to Barcelona where he more or less started it should be a big party."
But he refuses to pass judgement on the Argentine's behaviour as a national coach.
"He is what he is and you either accept it or you don't accept it."
Cruyff clearly has his opinions on some of the best players in the world today. When asked what his thoughts are on the special talent that is Wayne Rooney, Cruyff's answer is interesting.
"Wayne Rooney has behaved himself perfectly. It was difficult... lets put it in those terms... when he came over from Everton to Manchester United. But they have created a good person, as far as I can see it from here. If you see his behaviour in the last few years on and off the field I think he is a good person with a good attitude for children."
In a week in which Wayne Rooney became a father, now one of the biggest players to ever grace the game, feels that the Englishman can be a perfect role model for young children worldwide.
Ashish Sharma, Goal.com
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
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| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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