May 13 – Total Retirement
SUPPORTERS of Dutch second division club PEC Zwolle watch their football in the Johan Cruyff stand. Cruyff never played for the club but they did provide the opposition when he played his very last match, on this day in 1984.
When property developer Marten Eibrink took over Zwolle in 1982 he had the club’s stadium renovated and decided to commemorate the moment by renaming the stadium’s main stand after the Total Footballer.
Cruyff’s final season as a player was not at his beloved Ajax, but instead with Feyenoord. After leading Ajax to a league and cup double in 1982-83, Cruyff was incensed when the club decided not to offer him a new contract, presumably because they thought he was past it.
Cruyff responded to the snub by signing for arch rivals Feyenoord but initially he might have feared the worst: in the first meeting between the two clubs since Cruyff’s switch Feyenoord were absolutely hammered 8-2 – their heaviest ever defeat.
But Cruyff and Feyenoord responded brilliantly, dishing out a 4-1 defeat in the return fixture several months later. And just to prove the Ajax directors spectacularly wrong, Cruyff played 33 of 34 league games and led Feyenoord to the double – so much for being past it.
Ajax ended the season trophyless and with more egg on their faces than Edwina Currie (on this website even our jokes are historical).
So the Total Footballer played his last ever match at PEC Zwolle and the story of the most gifted and remarkable player to ever emerge from Europe was over. Oh, and he went out a high – Feyenoord won 2-1.
Take a couple of minutes out of your day to watch the video above of Cruyff at his best, and come back tomorrow for more from us. Or if you want more now, have a look at this story, also from this day in football history.
No related posts.
Loading ...
