The painting on the wall says it all. FourFourTwo are meeting Jordi Cruyff in uptown Barcelona and his father’s famous face is ever-present, staring across the room, providing inspiration forevermore.
We’re at the headquarters of the Johan Cruyff Foundation. Six years since the most important figure in Barcelona’s history passed away, it’s his son’s turn to carry the torch, and the 48-year-old takes his responsibility seriously.
Under his father’s management, Jordi spent two seasons as a player in the Barça first team between 1994 and 1996, before moving on to Manchester United. A quarter of a century later, he returned to the Camp Nou in 2021 as Barcelona’s sporting advisor, having gained experience in similar positions in both Cyprus and Israel prior to two spells coaching in China. He arrived in Catalonia shortly after Joan Laporta returned as club president. Xavi soon followed as manager, and together they have been tasked with rebuilding a team that was in disarray.
That has brought considerable challenges, and some controversy. Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Andreas Christensen were among Barcelona’s signings this summer but all faced lengthy waits to be registered, as the club looked for ways to comply with La Liga’s Financial Fair Play regulations.
However, Cruyff is determined to keep his father’s legacy going. The Cruyff Foundation is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and has helped to provide artificial pitches – ‘Cruyff Courts’ – in many different countries. In the Catalan capital, an educational facility called the Johan Cruyff Institute is still flourishing. Barça’s B team stadium is named after him, too (as is Ajax’s ground, in Amsterdam).
After winning three European Cups in the Netherlands, it was Johan Cruyff who finally delivered the trophy to Barcelona for the first time in 1992. Now, his son – full name: Johan Jordi Cruyff – is attempting to help return the club to those sorts of glory days.
You’re sitting in front of a picture of your dad. How often do you think about him?
People always ask me about my dad – older people who remember him as game. His name is everywhere: he has two stadiums named after him and Pep Guardiola speaks about how important Dad’s philosophy is to him.
