Football is now all about money. There are problems with the values within the game. This is sad because football is the most beautiful game. We can play it in the street. We can play it everywhere.
Interpretation
The commercialization of football has overshadowed its essence as a beautiful and accessible game.
Johan Cruyff's quote reflects his concerns about the increasing influence of money in football, noting that it detracts from the game's fundamental values and its beauty. Despite these commercial pressures, he celebrates the simplicity and universal appeal of football, emphasizing that it is a game that anyone can enjoy, whether in a professional setting or informally in the streets.
In practice
During a sports conference discussing the future of football, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of preserving the sport's authenticity.
Ajax is a multicultural club, and we have found that many talented immigrant players quit when they reach puberty. So we wanted to tackle this problem with someone from the same background who had come through it. And that was Edgar Davids. During one of our fights, I pointed that out to him. But it had nothing to do with his skin colour.
It's disappointing to see how football, the world's No. 1 sport, is not No. 1 when it comes to development. It seems to me that a wealth of practical football knowledge is being squandered.
Football is not about suffering. It's about enjoyment. Control the ball, be friendly with it, try to attack, try to score goals. Of course defending is part of it, but you can defend in a lot of ways.
If you look at other countries, you see they have different values: defend more, pass the ball out more, winning is holy. In England, you could say that sport itself is holy. They say, 'Look, guys, it's about more than just winning.'
If you take golf, you have a teacher for the drive, a teacher for the approach play, and a teacher for the putt. That's three specialist coaches for one player. In football, one coach looks after 25 players.
The most important part are the fans, that people going home are happy. It's their time off, and you should give them something to enjoy.
Basketball may have been invented in Massachusetts, but it was made for Indiana.
Women are playing [hockey] because they love it, not because they’re trying to be a woman in a man’s game.
Not many people get that opportunity: cricket in India, playing against India in a World Cup semi-final is special, and something to appreciate and look forward to.
They invented the All-Star game for Willie Mays.
People on the outside see a Neymar on the pitch, but that's not him. People see him doing tricks and dribbles and think that he is only trying to enjoy himself, that he's selfish and only thinks about himself. But when you share a dressing room with him you realise that it's not the case.
We all understand football is entertainment. And people like high-scoring games. But you still have to play defense to win championships.
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