Total football system | sports | Britannica (original) (raw)

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Ajax

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  In Ajax
  …playing style, known as “total football,” soon became famous around the world. From 1966 Ajax won the Eredivisie six times in eight years, and in 1969 it became the first Dutch team to reach the final of the European Cup (now known as the Champions League). The club won…
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Cruyff

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  In Johan Cruyff
  …game was dominated by “total football,” a style of play developed by Dutch coach Rinus Michels that emphasized all-around skill, versatility, and creativity. Cruyff debuted with the Dutch national team when he was 19 and went on to score 33 goals in 48 international matches. In the 1974 World…
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history of football

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  In football: Strategy and tactics
  …early 1970s, the Dutch “total football” system employed players with all-around skills to perform both defensive and attacking duties but with more aesthetically pleasing consequences. Players such as Johan Cruyff and Johan Neeskens provided the perfect outlets for this highly fluent and intelligent playing system. Holland’s leading club—Ajax of…
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