Jordi Cruyff
Johan Jordi Cruijff (anglicised to Cruyff; born 9 February 1974) is a Dutch-Spanish professional football manager and former player who last worked as the sporting director of professional football at Barcelona. He is the son of famous footballer Johan Cruyff.
|
Cruyff in 2009 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Johan Jordi Cruijff | ||
| Date of birth | 9 February 1974 | ||
| Place of birth | Amsterdam, Netherlands | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1981–1988 | Ajax | ||
| 1988–1992 | Barcelona | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1992–1994 | Barcelona B | 47 | (14) |
| 1994–1996 | Barcelona | 41 | (11) |
| 1996–2000 | Manchester United | 34 | (8) |
| 1999 | → Celta Vigo (loan) | 8 | (2) |
| 2000–2003 | Alavés | 94 | (8) |
| 2003–2004 | Espanyol | 30 | (3) |
| 2006–2008 | Metalurh Donetsk | 28 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | Valletta | 17 | (10) |
| Total | 299 | (56) | |
| International career | |||
| 1996 | Netherlands | 9 | (1) |
| 1995–2004 | Catalonia | 9 | (2) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2009–2010 | Valletta (player-assistant manager) | ||
| 2010–2012 | AEK Larnaca (sports director) | ||
| 2012–2017 | Maccabi Tel Aviv (sports director) | ||
| 2017–2018 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | ||
| 2018–2019 | Chongqing Dangdai Lifan | ||
| 2020 | Ecuador | ||
| 2020–2021 | Shenzhen | ||
| 2021–2023 | Barcelona (sporting director) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
As a footballer, Cruyff played from 1992 through to 2010, including periods with Barcelona and Manchester United. He earned nine caps for the Netherlands national team, playing at UEFA Euro 1996, and he won the Premier League title in 1997 while at Manchester United.
Cruyff played mainly as an attacking midfielder, although he could also perform as a second striker. In his later years, notably with Metalurh Donetsk, he also played as a centre back. After starting his career with Barcelona and playing for the Netherlands aged 22, Cruyff's career stalled while at Manchester United, as he appeared just 36 times in the league over four years largely because of injuries. His most successful period was arguably with Alavés, which he helped reach the 2001 UEFA Cup Final. He also played for Celta Vigo, Espanyol and finished his playing career with Valletta in the Maltese Premier League.
Under his stewardship as Maccabi Tel Aviv's sporting director, the club regained its dominance in Israeli football. The team won consecutive league titles from 2012 to 2015, as well as regularly qualifying for the Europa League and Champions League.