The mind of Johan Cruyff: Evolution of Tiki-Taka.

Johan Cruyff was and still is the most impactful mind to ever touch football. Still, as a player, Johan Cruyff had developed a general's mentality towards football. It was a tactical masterpiece for him. He combined his technique and his excellent mind to embody total football in the 1970s with the Dutch National Team. He danced through the 1974 World Cup, quite literally, coining the Cruyff turn and embarrassing Swedish defender Jan Olsson. But he also became the face of total football through him and his team's collective, elegant, almost telepathic style of football. This was the birth of Tiki-Taka football.

After his illustrious playing career which cemented him as one of the most influential players but also skillful players of all time. However, as Cruyff closed one incredible door he opened an arguably as incredible door into the managerial world.

Although it could be argued that teams in the 1930s were beginning to play a total style of football the genesis of the modern version of tiki-taka came through Johan Cruyff's influence in the 1990s. He began to play a style of football with Barcelona and great players such as Pep Guardiola, someone I doubt I need to introduce, as well as others like Ronald Koeman. This style of football began to introduce the one-touch elegant passing style of teams, some under Pep, which were renowned for this style. It could be argued that without Johan's tactical influence Pep Guardiola may never have been the man he is today.

However, before Pep Guardiola came Louis Van Gaal and Frank Rjikaard who attempted to follow in their fellow Dutchman's footsteps, but also developed the notorious La Masia and its talents. This allowed for players like Xavi, Pique (despite a short hiatus in Manchester), Iniesta and the one and only Lionel Messi to be waiting for Pep as he took over his old teacher’s reigns. In just 4 years Peps incredible teams were able to win 14 honors one year even winning 6 in their famous sextuple. These teams were star studded with players like Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, David Villa and Busquets. In fact Barcelona once had Xavi, Iniesta and Messi sitting as the top 3 of the Ballon D'Or race. The three best, most creative and influential players in Europe. One team. One incredible style of play.

This style of play was also utilised by Spains national team where it was coined Tiki-Taka and a period where they won 3 international trophies back-to-back. Something almost unheard of. The basis. Cruyff's total football. Barcelona and La Masia. In the 2010 world cup, the last of the 3 wins, there were 7 Barcelona players in the squad the majority in the starting lineup. Pique, Puyol, Xavi, Busquets and Iniesta played in the defence and midfield as well as Pedro in attack, they were the most key players to build up and creativity. TIKI-TAKA. Its impact is even seen today due to the explosion of all of Pep Guardiola's teams and his emphatic style of play.

But without one man, Johan Cruyff, where would we be. Yes, probably in a similar position but it was Johan Cruyff who allowed us to do it.