My Turn: The Autobiography

I really enjoyed this book. A great story, about a great man and football icon, written in a compelling and captivating manner. The book flows and tells the story of the life of Dutch football legend, Johan Cruyff. Cruyff talks a lot about his philosophy and his family and how this all shaped him. he also talks openly about his enemies and leaves no prisoners, another aspect I really appreciated about the story. Whether you love the sport of football or not this is a must read for anyone wanting to learn from someone successful.

No doubt about Cruyff's footballing genius as a player and coach but this book did not reveal too much about the man. He obviously had a very high opinion of himself, was stubborn and argumentative. I can't tell if he was a happy man or not, or if he had much fun in his life. He always seemed to be at odds with people and organisations. I'll remember him as one of the greatest players ever who, more than any other, influenced how football is played.

Provided a great insight into the world of football including coaching and playing and management

Johan Cruyff and Jaap De Groot have made this a very accessible read, so, if you are not particularly familiar with Johan Cruyff or with late twentieth century football, this is a good starting point. However, if, like me, you believe the best autobiographies are also good social and cultural histories, then you might be a little disappointed. Unlike David Winner`s superb Brilliant Orange, this book doesn`t set Cruyff`s life against the wider backdrop of post-war Dutch society and culture. I also slightly surprised to see that within My Turn, there is no attempt to place totaalvoetbal within football`s narrative structure i.e. there is no mention of the Austrian Wunderteam of the 1930s nor of the Mighty Magyars of the 1950s.I also thought it was poor that Dick Nanninga (scorer of the Dutch equaliser in the 1978 World Cup final) wasn`t mentioned by name during My Turn`s description of that particular match, nor that Robert Rensenbrink (a player regarded in some quarters as being Cruyff`s equal as a player) was mentioned as the player hitting the post at the death of the second half in the same match. Thus, for me, at some times during my reading of My Turn I did get the impression that Johan thinks he was the only player of note in the late twentieth century.

It is hard to understand the negative reviews on here. If you want funny stories, check out autobiographies by Jimmy Bullard or Ray Parlour. If you want histories, the likes of David Rosenblatt satisfy that need. But this is a compelling book, and encapsulating the thoughts and philosophies of one of the greatest thinkers in modern football. As a player and a manager, Cruyff was a true innovator, breaking new ground across four decades. And this book brilliantly reflects the thinking of this unique talent. An absolutely must read for any student of football.

An excellent biography but includes clear description of the revolution in soccer that started with Cruff and taken on with ingenuity by Pep at Barcelona and Manchester City.

If you are a football fan/anorak this is a must read. Cruyff was the most influential and innovative character in the game and has shaped the modern game. There is great insight into his philosophy and passion for total football and is written with a serious edge. The only issue that spoils it slightly is indulging in the boardroom politics of Ajax later in his life. RIP.

Great autobiography on one of the pioneers of the beautiful game and how his life experiences and influencers shaped his coaching career