Al Sadd head coach and former FC Barcelona captain Xavi Hernandez believes the late Johan Cruyff was critical not only to the success of Spanish football but also to how the game is played around the world.
Xavi, who was part of arguably the Blaugrana's most successful side during his time with the first team between 1998 and 2015, has stated that the style Cruyff introduced when he arrived to manage the club in 1988, would go on to impact ideas regarding formations and disciplines that are still being practised today.
"It's an honour to be linked to Johan Cruyff's name," Xavi said in a video for the Cruyff Foundation, as per Marca.
"Johan was the most influential person in football's history.
"He was the key person in all the successes of the last 20 to 25 years at Barcelona and the Spanish national team. He came to Barcelona and changed the philosophy regarding the style of play.
"He introduced a very disciplined game system that is still practiced today. Both the Spanish national team and Barcelona have benefited from Cruyff's philosophy.
"He was an idol to me, not only at football level but as a human being.
"The way he adapted to another country when he came here, Johan was an example for all football players and all human beings."
