When Johan Cruyff joined Ajax on his 10th birthday in 1957, few could have predicted what would follow for the Dutchman.
He scored close to 200 league goals during his first spell with Ajax, helping the Dutch club win six league titles and three European Cups, before returning in 1981 to claim another two Dutch championships.
Barcelona came calling in 1973 with a then world-record bid and the Spanish side won La Liga during Cruyff's first season at the Camp Nou, while the attacker was named European Footballer of the Year. In total, he scored 48 goals in 143 league games for the Catalan side – not bad for a player that was not technically a striker.
At international level, Cruyff scored a stunning 33 goals in 48 caps for Netherlands, but could not inspire his country to the World Cup. He came close in 1974, but Oranje lost out to West Germany in the final.
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Cruyff also won the Ballon d'Or three times – 1971, 1973 and 1964 – a record that is jointly held with Michel Platini, Marco van Basten and Lionel Messi. The Dutchman had some career, but where did it all begin?
The answer is November 15, 1964. That was the date that a young Cruyff made his professional debut for Ajax, who were beaten 3-1 by GVAV in the Eredivisie despite a debut goal for the attacker. That season, Ajax finished 13th, which was their lowest position since the establishment of professional football.
However, despite the disappointment, Ajax knew that they had someone truly special. A player that joined at the age of 10 had the club's philosophy ingrained and it was only a matter of time before the Dutchman made his mark.
In the 1965-66 season, Cruyff, still a teenager, scored 25 goals in 23 games for Ajax as the Dutch side won the league title. It got better in the following season, when the youngster won his first domestic double.
After retiring as a player in 1984, Cruyff also enjoyed success in management, first taking charge of Ajax in 1985 and leading the club to two Dutch Cups and the 1987 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
Barcelona again came calling in 1988 and Cruyff spent eight years at the helm of the Spanish giants, winning four league titles and one European Cup.
Now, aged 67, Cruyff commands respect among his peers and can look back fondly on a career that has been matched by few. The European Cups and multiple league titles will be remembered, but perhaps his most memorable moment came on November 15, 1964, when he announced himself to the world.
Matt Law
