Johan Jordi Cruyff, born Amsterdam, Netherlands, February 9, 1974. An Amsterdam native, Jordi Cruyff started out at the Ajax Academy before he teamed up with Catalan club Barcelona where his father, Johan Cruyff, was manager. The midfield player quickly settled down at Barcelona and made his first La Liga appearance for The Blaugrana in a narrow 2–1 defeat against Sporting Gijon at Estadio El Molinon on the 4th of September 1994.
Unfortunately, Jordi Cruyff´s spell at the Camp Nou Stadium came to an abrupt and bitter end when flamboyant and outspoken Barcelona President Josep Lluis Nunez suddenly gave his famous father the sack in 1996. The Dutchman was eventually transferred from Barcelona to Manchester United for an estimated fee of around £1.4 million in the summer of 1996 and debuted for his new employers as a second half replacement for Paul Scholes in a 4-0 FA Community Shield victory against Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on the 11th of August 1996. The all action midfielder went on to make his Premier League debut in a 3-0 triumph against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park on the opening day of the 1996-97 season, and scored his first Premiership goal for the club in a 2-2 draw to Everton at Old Trafford on the 21st of August 1996. While at Manchester United, he found it increasingly hard to satisfy the expectations of the supporters of the club and was shipped out on loan to Spanish side Celta Vigo midway through the 1998-99 campaign. Young Cruyff rejoined United in the summer of 1999, but he only managed to make eight Premier League outings for the Old Trafford team during the 1999-2000 term. After having notched up a total of 58 first team appearances for Manchester United, the disillusioned playmaker decided to try his luck at Basque club Deportivo Alaves, whom he helped reach the UEFA Cup Final in May 2001. A much traveled player, Jordi Cruyff also appeared for Espanyol, Metalurg Donetsk, and Valletta before he announced his retirement from the game of soccer at the end of the 2009-10 season. On the international stage, he was handed his senior debut for the Netherlands by Guus Hiddink in a 1–0 friendly defeat against old rivals Germany at the Feyenoord Stadium on the 24th of April 1996 and proceeded to play nine matches for The Flying Dutchmen. Jordi Cruyff Playing Career: Barcelona, Manchester United, Celta Vigo, Alaves, Espanyol, Metalurh Donetsk, Valletta. Managing Career: Maccabi Tel Aviv.