From the publisher:
'I knew nothing about football before knowing Cruyff.' - Pep Guardiola.
Johan Cruyff is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history. Throughout his playing career, he was synonymous with Total Football, a style of play in which every player could play in any position on the pitch. Today, his philosophy lives on in teams across Europe, from Barcelona to Bayern Munich and players from Lionel Messi to Cesc Fabregas.
My Turn tells the story of Cruyff's life starting at Ajax, where he won eight national titles and three European Cups before moving to Barcelona where he won La Liga in his first season, in 1973, and was named European Footballer of the Year. He won the Ballon d'Or three times, and led the Dutch national team to the final of the 1974 World Cup, famously losing to West Germany, and receiving the Golden Ball as the player of the tournament. Off the field his life was more turbulent, surviving a kidnapping attempt and bankruptcy.
This honest and unflinching autobiography also explores his life after retirement, when he became a hugely successful manager of Ajax and then Barcelona when he won the Champions league with a young Pep Guardiola in his team. My Turn is the inspirational account of a legendary football hero, voted European Player of the Century, in his own words. In March 2016 Cruyff died after a short battle with lung cancer bringing world football to a standstill in an outpouring of emotions.
A brilliant teacher and analyst of the game he love, My Turn is Johan Cruyff's legacy.
The author:
Considered to be one of the most influential figures in football history, Johan Cruyff's style of play and his football philosophy have significantly influenced many notable managers and players, including Pep Guardiola, Arsene Wenger, Eric Cantona and Xavi. Spanish football's recent successes at both club and international level have been cited by many as evidence of Cruyff's impact on contemporary football. My Turn is the full story of Cruyff's unparalleled career and the philosophy that shaped not only his game but that of generations of footballers, managers and the fans who followed them.
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