DUTCH MASTERS
DAVID DOCHERTY RECALLS WHEN THE DUTCH CLUB’S ‘TOTAL FOOTBALL’ RULED EUROPE

Party time: Ajax celebrate in 1973

THE recent return to the very top echelon of European football by the Ajax Amsterdam of Matthijs de Ligt, Donny van de Beek and Dusan Tadic brought to mind the early 70s when the Dutch masters were the undisputed kings of Europe playing their unique brand of ‘Totaalvoetbal’ (Total Football).
That was the team of Johan Cryuff, Johan Neeskens and Ruud Krol, which was managed between 1965-1971 by the major proponent of that tactical system...