Cruyff turn

Johan Cruyff and his only World Cup tournament (1974)
Hal Robson-Kanu used a Cruyff turn to score in Wales' historic quarter-final victory over Belgium at UEFA Euro 2016.[1]

The Cruyff turn is an evasive dribbling move used in football, and named after Dutch player Johan Cruyff.[2]

In the 22nd minute of the game against Sweden in the group stage of the 1974 World Cup, while Cruyff had control of the ball in an attacking position 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.[3] With its simplicity, effectiveness and unpredictability, the Cruyff turn remains one of the most commonly recognized dribbling moves in modern football.[4][5][1][6]

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. Pele, for example, performed the trick in 1960 (vs Juventus).

  1. ^ a b Majendie, Matt (6 July 2016). "Euro 2016: Wales striker Hal Robson-Kanu on that Cruyff turn and the years he spent perfecting technique". Standard.co.uk. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  2. ^ Sheehy, Finbarr; Murray, Scott (24 March 2016). "What is a Cruyff Turn?". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  3. ^ Brewin, John (24 March 2016). "Johan Cruyff: All-time Top 20: No. 3". ESPN. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  4. ^ "All-time Top 20: No. 3 Johan Cruyff", espnfc.com; retrieved 17 November 2013.
  5. ^ Murray, Scott (11 June 2014). "World Cup: 25 stunning moments … No25: the Cruyff Turn is born in 1974". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  6. ^ White, Mark (19 June 2020). "Simplicity matters: how did the Cruyff Turn become so iconic?". FourFourTwo.com. Retrieved 9 July 2020.