Death is just beginning of immortality - Top 10 Johan Cruyff quotes that will live forever

Life and death are but one thread. In a world such as this, where misery is prevalent, death can be seen as freedom. Indeed, the people that shed tears for the lifeless body are the ones that truly die for a part of them just goes away with their beloved.Death, they say, is the end of life. But is it really? Today, the world bemoans the death of legendary Dutch former footballer and coach, Johan Cruyff. His soul might have left his body, but he is far from dead.The purpose of life is to make something of it—leave a legacy behind for others to follow. And Johan Cruyff has left something invaluable for us to cherish.Be it his total football style or wonderful displays of brilliance with the ball at his feet, the legend will forever be remembered. However, he will also be recalled for some brilliant quotes that came out from his mouth. And he are 10 of them…

#1 Money doesn\'t decide the winner

"Why couldn’t you beat a richer club? I’ve never seen a bag of money score a goal."

While his feet weaved magic, his mouth was no less either as with just this one rhetorical question, he reveals his belief that a lot of money doesn’t mean a team is unbeatable—and he exuded that philosophy during his time at Ajax.

#2 What is technique?

"Technique is not being able to juggle a ball 1000 times. Anyone can do that by practicing. Then you can work in the circus."

Almost every other kid in South America is an excellent juggler of the ball, but not every one of them is a Lionel Messi or Neymar. Johan Cruyff’s definition of technique always relied on the players’ ability to execute the right move before anyone else—something at which he was a master.

#3 Make best use of what you have

“The disabled people that do sport, they don't think about what they don't have but try to get better with what they do have. That is the same for me.”

People have the tendency of making a fuss about what they don’t have rather than appreciating what they do and make the best use of it. The former Barcelona legend gives us the perfect analogy to inspire this thought into the hearts of people.

#4 Begins with the goalkeeper and the striker

"In my teams, the goalie is the first attacker, and the striker the first defender."

This is the first thing one learns when studying in the Johan Cruyff school of thought--a system he so well preached at Barcelona. The Catalan clubs, and so many others, have followed this footprint with the Blaugranas making the best use of it as they are still reaping the rewards of this wonderful ideology.

#5 Secret to winning

"Without the ball you can’t win."

This might sound like a Sherlock quote, but it is so hard to actually follow it. The very first rule of possession tiki-taka football is to retain the ball as much as possible, eliminating the chances to concede by a significant margin. Something with Barcelona can relate to.

#6 Importance of street football

"Footballers from the street are more important than trained coaches."

We might have many sophisticated coaches in the world of football who get a lot of credit for the success of their teams. But at the end of the day, it is not the coach that scores the goals or wins you the game, it is the players. And only players who have played on the streets rise up to be brilliant footballers. Johan Cruyff knew that.

#7 Six times better

"Players today can only shoot with their laces. I could shoot with the inside, laces, and outside of both feet. In other words, I was six times better than today’s players."

This is so true. While synthetic footballs have proven somewhat detrimental to the beauty of the game, the other factor is the super advancement in boots. Players now get easier access to boots and hence rely on the laces. Very few players can actually fully use their feet--something at which the Dutchman excelled at.

#8 The importance of work-rate

“When you play a match, it is statistically proven that players actually have the ball 3 minutes on average … So, the most important thing is: what do you do during those 87 minutes

when you do not have the ball. That is what determines whether you’re a good player or not.”

This is perhaps the most accurate thing anyone has ever said on the game. What we do off the ball determines the outcome of the game and his total football approach had this embedded in it.

#9 Everything has to end

"I’m ex-player, ex-technical director, ex-coach, ex-manager, ex-honorary president. A nice list that once again shows that everything comes to an end."

All good things must come to an end, and it couldn’t have been put up better than how the legendary footballer said here. He, however, also admitted that he is...

#10 Immortal

"In a way I’m probably immortal."

Yes, you are, Johan Cruyff. Today, your body might be six feet under, but you legacy echoes in the universe of eternity--and it will keep doing so. Rest in peace, Johan Cruyff. You will forever be alive in the hearts of football fans.