JOHANN CRUYFF
Cruyff brought a whole new dimension to the game with the way he played and Holland's Total Football team of 1974 was a joy to watch.
He could play wide on the left or drift in through the middle and run rings round defenders. Apart from that, he had a strong mind, two fantastic feet and was an out-and-out crowd pleaser.
He combined entertainment with a professional approach to the job at hand and I know many people were disappointed that he just missed out on a World Cup winners' medal against West Germany in 1974.
Cruyff also won the European Footballer of the Year award three times, so it's not just my opinion we are talking about here!
Cruyff only played in one World Cup, even though many assume he led Holland to a second final appearance in 1978. In fact, he refused to play in the 1978 World Cup despite huge financial offers and immense pressure from Dutch fans and officials.
