Fierce Genius

Cruyff's Year at Feyenoord

Andy Bollen

• Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd
• eBook ISBN:
  9781785319006
• Year: 2021

In 1983, aged 36, Johan Cruyff, one of the world's most iconic football superstars, guided Ajax to a league and cup double. Out of contract, most people, including the player, expected a valedictory final season and a one-year extension. Inexplicably, Ajax let him go. They grossly underestimated the fierce genius of Johan Cruyff. He signed for bitter rivals Feyenoord, leading them to a league and cup double, silencing his critics and thrilling football fans everywhere. Fierce Genius analyses this incredible season, as he evolves from player to coach. It is a fascinating insight into his professional and private life. Imperious on the park, off it, he dealt with kidnappings and bankruptcy after being defrauded by a conman. Bollen gets inside Cruyff's mind, helping the reader understand the mentality which made him a top player and successful coach. Fierce Genius: Cruyff's Year at Feyenoord is compelling, insightful and poignant. Written with a journalistic tone, by an accomplished comedy writer, this is a warm, affectionate and informative portrait of one of world football's greats.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Dedication
• Introduction
• 1. Even in his Youth … Love of Ajax
• 2. Season 1983/84: Matchdays 1–6
• 3. Feyenoord Forever Cruyff Never
• 4. Season 1983/84: Matchday 7 De Klassieker: 8-2 Defeat and Cruyff ‘We Will Win the Championship’
• 5. Betrayal, Brutal Coup and Heading to Barca
• 6. Best Match for Barcelona: at Bernabéu v Real Madrid, 1974
• 7. Reflection, the Early Years, and Jany van der Veen
• 8. Living in America, Road Trips with Wim
• 9. Season 1983/84: Matchdays 8–13
• 10. The Movie and Number 14
• 11. Ajax and the European Cup Finals
• 12. 1974 World Cup and That Turn
• 13. Cruyff Live in the Flesh, the Dutch Beatle
• 14. Season 1983/84: Matchdays 14–23
• 15. Total Football and Mindset
• 16. Season: 1983/84: UEFA Cup, St Mirren, Spurs, Hoddle and Hooliganism
• 17. What Makes an Icon?
• 18. Barca Coaching – Something in the Air
• 19. Season 1983/84: The KNVB Cup Run
• 20. Núñez v Cruyff
• 21. Dutch Legacy Influence … Yet Never Dutch Coach
• 22. Season 1983/84: Matchdays 24–28
• 23. Homage to Catalonia Part 1: La Masia
• 24. Here’s Looking at Euclid
• 25. Season 1983/84: Matchdays 29–34
• 26. Here’s … Johnny
• 27. The Next Chapter, Netherlands Demise and Coaching Badges
• 28. Johan Cruyff Technical Director
• 29. Homage to Catalonia Part 2: The efecto mariposa
• 30. The De Telegraaf Column
• 31. ‘So it was okay to end this way. It had been lovely.’
• 32. Acknowledgements
• 33. Notes on Sources
• Photos