Football is simple but the hardest thing to do is play simple football.
Johan CruijffRead
Technique is not being able to juggle a ball 1000 times. Anyone can do that by practicing. Then you can work in the circus. Technique is passing the ball with one touch, with the right speed, at the right foot of your team mate.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Technique is about precision and skill, not just practice.
In this quote, Johan Cruijff emphasizes that true technique goes beyond mere repetition and practice; it involves understanding the nuances of the game, such as making precise passes with the correct speed and direction to support teammates. This highlights the importance of skillful execution in sports, where success hinges on teamwork and the ability to make quick, effective decisions.
Themes
TechniqueSkillFootballTeamworkPrecision
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can inspire athletes during team training sessions to focus on effective passing and teamwork.
More from Johan Cruijff
All quotes →Playing football is very simple, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is.
Johan CruijffRead
Choose the best player for every position, and you'll end up not with a strong XI, but with 11 strong 1's.
Johan CruijffRead
If you have the ball, you must make the field as big as possible, and if you don't have the ball, you must make it as small as possible.
Johan CruijffRead
Someone who has juggled the ball in the air during a game, after which four defenders of the opponent get the time to run back, that's the player people think is great. I say he has to go to a circus.
Johan CruijffRead
I always threw the ball in, because then if I got the ball back, I was the only player unmarked.
Johan CruijffRead
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