Michels y Cruyff, two of the most influential figures in the history of football (Getty Images)
It is curious that the name Rinus Michels not so well known by the average football fan as other illustrious as Arrigo Sacchi, Alex Ferguson, Johan Cruyff or even Helenio Herrera. But nevertheless, for many, It was the best coach in football history.
The former player Ajax during almost all of his career, soon he began his journey in the dugout with an impact and influence on the hulking football. In fact, many believe was the great forerunner of modern football (in the good sense of the phrase).
Dutch coach took the reins of Ajax since 1965 until 1971 achieving possibly form the best team ever. that team, with Cruyff as top star, got 3 European Cups consecutively but only the first with Michels on the bench.
Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff pose with the first European Cup Ajax (Falso9sports)
Rinus Michels Y 'Clockwork Orange’
He went to FC Barcelona (with which proclaimed champion of League) before taking over the Dutch national team to face the World 1974. In that championship, known as 'Mechanical orange’ It caused a furor with his style of play based on ball possession, asphyxiating pressure rival combination game. The so-called 'total football'.
After that World Cup in the Netherlands lost the final against Germany, Rinus Michels He trains again Ajax Y Barcelona before starting an adventure through the US league and train the German Colony.
The Dutch national team again required his services to the mid of the 80. Michels would make history with this team of Van Basten, Gullit, moneybags, Koeman and company. Proclaimed tulips European champions 1988, the greatest success in its history.
BEST COACH OF FOOTBALL HISTORY BY FRANCE
As we said at the beginning of the article, We're probably looking at a technical somewhat forgotten at the media but it has been recognized by various institutions and has received awards consider him the best coach in history.
The FIFA I chose the best coach in the twentieth century in the year 1999 while the prestigious journal France Football he placed first on the list the 50 best coaches of all time in front of Alex Ferguson Y Johan Cruyff who took second and third place respectively.
But influence Rinus Michels It is not limited to his success as a coach but the legacy he left in football. His most outstanding student was Johan Cruyff, which we have already spoken repeatedly and continued his style of play both Ajax and again in the FC Barcelona.
At the same time, Johan was apprenticed to Pep Guardiola who he insisted on this model in his time as coach culé passing into history as one of the best teams of all time able to achieve a lot of titles.
