Johan Cruyff On Technique, Skills, Coaching Courses
‘TODAY’S FOOTBALL IS: completely different especially when it comes to the physical aspect – the players are in better physical shape, which is probably the result of all these coaching courses. There’s nothing wrong with having fit footballers, but their technical and ball skills have not grown at the same pace, and that’s all too apparent when you watch the game these days.
Coaching Courses: Too Theoretical
‘These coaching courses are much too theoretical and this is what you see reflected in the basic technical skills of the average player. My generation put in a lot more hours playing football after school than kids today. These days all the football kids play is at their clubs, so the clubs need to work seriously on basic skills. You hardly ever see a young player who can use both feet, for example.
Mostly, It’s the Ball that Dominates the Player
‘I watch all football but rarely find it interesting. I see way too much pinball football. The ball just goes to and fro, with teams unable to hold onto it. There are very few players who can dominate the ball – mostly it’s the ball that dominates the player. The coaches and trainers ought to take that to heart, as they are the ones responsible.’
QUOTE SOURCE: Johan Cruyff European Player of the Century UEFA Magazine, March 2004
