Johan Cruyff is often celebrated as the philosophical foundation of Dutch football, but his teammate, Johan Neeskens, played a significant role in that legacy as well. When reflecting on the iconic 2-0 win over Brazil during the second group phase of the 1974 World Cup, Cruyff described it as the ultimate showcase of Total Football. The match was fiercely contested, and Neeskens suffered an injury after being knocked out by Brazil’s captain, Marinho Peres. This moment perfectly embodied Neeskens’ playing style as a tough, angular midfielder, known for his striking blue eyes. While the Dutch team was famous for its technical skill, Neeskens provided the vital muscle, always ready to engage physically when the situation called for it.
In that crucial game, Neeskens was the player who opened the scoring. He executed a well-thought-out play by receiving the ball just inside the Brazil half, passing it to Cruyff, and then making a surge towards the net to finish with precision. Some might argue there was a hint of luck involved when the ball sailed over goalkeeper Émerson Leão, but it was Neeskens’ keen understanding of the game and impeccable timing that really made the goal happen. In a match that showcased both brilliance and brutality, Neeskens was a standout performer.
He later scored a vital penalty in the final and was instrumental in the aggressive pressing style that characterized both Ajax and the Dutch national team. Coach Rinus Michels frequently tasked Neeskens with marking the opposing playmaker, driving deep into the opponent’s territory. Bobby Haarms, Ajax’s assistant manager, compared him to “a kamikaze pilot.” Initially, Neeskens’ teammates were hesitant to embrace this aggressive strategy, but they eventually saw its value, learning to position themselves to exploit offside traps.
After enjoying a remarkable career with Ajax, including three consecutive European Cups and an appearance in the 1974 World Cup final, Neeskens joined Cruyff at Barcelona. That summer, Barcelona also signed Marinho, and both players forged a competitive but respectful relationship. Marinho voiced his confusion about adapting to the Dutch style of play, noting, “Defenders in Brazil would never be able to push up like that.” He highlighted how Michels encouraged center-backs to advance, creating offside traps—a tactic that raised eyebrows in Brazil.
Neeskens’ dynamic approach showed that pressing could serve as both a defensive and offensive strategy. Marinho recalled a training session where they successfully trapped multiple players offside, only to realize that Michels wanted them to press forward and attack the player with the ball, leaving others out of play. This signified a key shift in how offside rules and game strategy were understood.
Michels stressed that Total Football was an organic evolution, shaped by the unique chemistry of Ajax’s players—many of whom had played together since childhood. While Cruyff was the brilliant strategist with unmatched game awareness, Neeskens was the engine that fueled the team’s relentless pressing with his extraordinary stamina.
Nonetheless, after the glory days of their playing careers, Neeskens, like many of his teammates including Cruyff, found life after the spotlight less glamorous. Although he took on roles as an assistant manager with the Netherlands and clubs like Barcelona and Galatasaray, his most significant success as a head coach came with NEC Nijmegen, leading the team to the UEFA Cup while operating on a tight budget.
When I had the opportunity to meet him in 2003, I was impressed by his openness to talk with me, a young freelancer. A few weeks later, he called me back to follow up on a minor question I had sent to the press office, and we ended up having a half-hour conversation about the 70s, making me late for work. His humility and willingness to reflect on the past embodied the spirit of that legendary team.
Neeskens was undeniably tough, composed under pressure, and extraordinarily talented. He may not have claimed the spotlight—because the team’s ego largely belonged to Cruyff—but it’s clear that without Neeskens, Dutch Total Football might have mirrored the more calculated and less aggressive West German style of that era: innovative yet lacking the intensity that defined its legacy. Total Football needed both Cruyff and Neeskens to thrive.