The Cruyff turn (also spelled Cruijff turn
in the Netherlands) is an evasive
dribbling
In sports, dribbling is maneuvering a ball by one player while moving in a given direction, avoiding defenders' attempts to intercept the ball. A successful dribble will bring the ball past defenders legally and create opportunities to score.
A ...
move used in
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
, and named after Dutch player
Johan Cruyff
Hendrik Johannes Cruijff (, internationally known as Johan Cruyff; 25 April 1947 – 24 March 2016) was a Dutch professional football player and manager. As a player, he won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973 and 1974. Cruyff was a ...
.
In the 24th minute of the game against
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
in the group stage of the
1974 World Cup, while Cruyff had control of the ball in an attacking position but was facing his own goal and being guarded tightly by Swedish defender
Jan Olsson, Cruyff feigned a pass before dragging the ball behind his standing leg, turning 180 degrees, and accelerating away. With its simplicity, effectiveness and unpredictability, the Cruyff turn remains one of the most commonly recognized
dribbling
In sports, dribbling is maneuvering a ball by one player while moving in a given direction, avoiding defenders' attempts to intercept the ball. A successful dribble will bring the ball past defenders legally and create opportunities to score.
A ...
moves in modern football.
["All-time Top 20: No. 3 Johan Cruyff"](_blank)
espnfc.com; retrieved 17 November 2013.
The fact that the feint was named after Cruyff, however, does not mean that Cruyff was the first to perform this move. Just like with most evasive dribbles, feints and tricks, the first footballer to perform it, is almost always impossible to trace down.
See also
*
Marseille turn
*
Pelé runaround move
The runaround move is a football move designed to get around an opponent,Roger Kenneth Macdonald, Scientific Soccer of the Seventies, Pelham: 1971, pp. 8-47 made famous by Pelé in the 1970 World Cup. The move involves letting a dribble or a p ...
References
External links
BBC Guide to the Cruyff turn
{{Association football terminology
Association football skills
Association football terminology
Johan Cruyff
it:Glossario calcistico#G