| 1947 |
(25 April) born in Amsterdam |
| 1957 |
(25 April) joins Ajax youth team |
| 1959 |
(8 July) father dies |
| 1964 |
(15 November) makes first-team debut for Ajax and scores his first goal in 3’1 defeat to GVAV |
| 1965 |
66 season: scores first hat-trick and 25 goals for the season; Ajax win Eredivisie |
| 1966 |
(7 September) makes debut and scores for Netherlands in Euro ’68 qualifier against Hungary (2’2) |
| 1967 |
(6 November) becomes first Dutch international to receive a red card |
| 1966 – 1967 |
is leading scorer in the league (33 goals) and Dutch Footballer of the Year; Ajax wins the Eredivisie and KNVB Cup |
| 1967 – 1968 |
named Dutch Footballer of the Year; Ajax are Eredivisie champions for third successive year |
| 1968 |
(10 December) marries Danny Coster |
| 1969 |
(28 May) Ajax lose European Cup final to Milan (4’1) |
| 1970 |
returns from injury wearing No. 14 shirt; he would wear the same number for the rest of his career |
| 1970 |
(29 November) scores six goals in 8’1 defeat of AZ ’67 |
| 1971 |
named Dutch and European Footballer of the Year; (2 June) Ajax win the European Cup final for the first time (2’1 vs Panathinaikos); signs seven-year deal with Ajax |
| 1972 |
(31 May) scores both goals as Ajax win second European Cup (2’0 vs Inter Milan); Ajax win Intercontinental Cup |
| 1973 |
(30 May) Ajax win European Cup for third successive season (1’0 vs Juventus) |
| 1973 |
(19 August) plays last match for Ajax before moving to Barcelona for world record fee ($2 million approx.) |
| 1974 |
(9 February) son Jordi born; birth registered in Amsterdam as name is illegal in Spain under Franco’s regime |
| 1974 |
(17 February) Barcelona beat Real Madrid 5’0 at the Bernabéu and go on to win La Liga for first time since 1960 |
| 1974 |
leads Netherlands to World Cup final, losing 2’1 to West Germany; named Player of the Tournament; first demonstrates the ‘Cruyff Turn’ during a group game against Sweden |
| 1974 |
(December) named European Footballer of the Year |
| 1977 |
(October) retires from international football |
| 1978 |
(19 April) Barcelona win Copa del Rey (3’1 vs Las Palmas) |
| 1978 |
Netherlands reach the World Cup final again, losing 3’1 to Argentina in extra time |
| 1979 |
Barcelona’s La Masia youth academy founded on Cruyff ‘s advice |
| 1981 |
moves to Los Angeles Aztecs; voted NASL Player of the Year |
| 1981 |
moves to Washington Diplomats |
| 1980 |
(November) rejoins Ajax, then in 8th place, as technical advisor; Ajax finish season in 2nd |
| 1981 |
moves to Levante after a transfer to Leicester City falls through |
| 1981 – 1982 |
signs as a player for Ajax |
| 1982 – 1983 |
Ajax win Eredivisie |
| 1983 – 1984 |
Ajax win Eredivisie and KNVB Cup double |
| 1983 – 1984 |
moves to rivals Feyenoord after Ajax fail to renew his contract; Feyenoord win the league and KNVB Cup double |
| 1984 |
named Dutch Footballer of the Year for a fifth time |
| 1984 |
(13 May) retires from competitive football |
| 1985 |
(June) joins Ajax as technical director (de facto manager) |
| 1985 – 1987 |
Ajax win KNVB Cup in two consecutive seasons |
| 1987 |
(13 May) Ajax win European Cup Winners’ Cup (1’0 vs Lokomotive Leipzig) |
| 1988 |
(Summer) joins Barcelona as manager |
| 1989 |
(10 May) Barcelona win European Cup Winners’ Cup (2’0 vs Sampdoria) |
| 1990 |
(5 April) Barcelona win Copa del Rey
(February) undergoes double heart bypass surgery |
|
|
| 1992 |
(20 May) Barcelona win European Cup (1’0 aet vs Sampdoria) |
| 1993 |
(February/March) Barcelona win European Super Cup (3’2 agg. vs Werder Bremen) |
| 1991 – 1994 |
Barcelona win La Liga four times in succession |
| 1996 |
(April) is sacked as manager of Barcelona |
| 1997 |
Cruyff Foundation established |
| 1999 |
voted European Player of the Century and comes voted second to Pelé in World Player of the Century poll |
| 1999 |
Cruyff Institute founded |
| 2004 |
named in FIFA 100 list of the world’s greatest living players |
| 2009 |
100th Cruyff Court opened |
| 2015 |
(October) is diagnosed with lung cancer |
| 2016 |
(24 March) dies in Barcelona, aged sixty-eight |
