Johan Cruyff marked an era with the Netherlands national team, where he made history by reaching their first final in the 1974 World Cup in Germany (West), receiving the Ballon d'Or as the best player. The curious thing was that he refused to play in the next World Cup.
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There are many stories about why Johan Cruyff decided not to play in another World Cup. From problems with the dictatorship in Argentina, but the most curious one is that his wife didn't let him participate in his second World Cup. The possible reason? We'll tell you.
Wife forbade him from playing another World Cup
According to the story, while the Netherlands was playing in the group stage of the World Cup, in the hotel in Hiltrup, a small town in Germany, the players enjoyed a little party by the pool where several women were present. Among the group of players was Johan Cruyff.
Everyone talks about the great World Cup that the Netherlands and Johan Cruyff had, but at home, his wife Danny Coster found out about the small party at the team's concentration and forbade him from participating in another tournament.
The decision was firm and no one could convince Johan Cruyff to represent the Netherlands in Argentina 1978. The version of the pool party was confirmed by German journalist Guido Frick, who stayed at the hotel incognito.
This version was denied by the Netherlands coach, Rinus Michels. "That was a campaign by the Germans against us, magnified by Bild and copied all over the world," he commented at the time.