Leicester City have had some true legends line out for them over the years, but none quite as big as Johan Cruyff.
Generally regarded as one of the greatest players to ever grace a football pitch, Johan Cruyff won the Ballon d’Or three times in 1971, 1973, and 1974.
Scoring 294 career goals, the Dutchman dominated with the likes of FC Barcelona and Ajax as both a player and a manager.
Cruyff won nine league titles, countless domestic cups, and three European Super Cups as a player before transitioning into management.
On May 13th, 1984, the forward ended his playing career with Feyenoord, but had things gone differently just a few years before, he may have done so with Leicester City.
Leicester City nearly signed Johan Cruyff
In 1981, Cruyff terminated his contract with Washington Diplomats as he looked to return to Europe and play regularly ahead of the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
33 at the time, the former Barcelona man was aware he would not get straight back into a top European team, and this is where Leicetser came in.
In February 1981, as per The Gurdian, the player had offers from the Foxes, Levante and a German side that was not named.
Then, a few weeks later, on February 25th, a story emerged in England that ‘Johan Cruyff is today set for a sensational move to First Division strugglers Leicester City. The Dutch Master has lined up a deal worth £4,000-a-game for 11 matches and, if everything works out, he will make his debut against reigning European champions Nottingham Forest on Saturday.’
Leicester manager Jock Wallace said at the time: “Johan and I have already agreed terms. He has one or two problems to sort out, but I am very hopeful he will join us on Thursday. I would like to think that part of Johan’s interest is down to our personal friendship.
“I have known him since 1973 when he scored a fabulous goal for Ajax against Rangers when I was at Ibrox in the first European Super Cup. The negotiations have been going on by telephone over the past three to four weeks and now I think I have my man. He would teach my kids so much and be a great advert for Leicester City.”
However, just days later, Cruyff was lining out for Levante and revealed that he did indeed have an offer from Leicester.
He stated: “I am convinced that with Levante in just 13 days we can be raised to first [in the league]. I live for each day. I am only worried about the current season. During the past two months I have had offers from Leicester, Arsenal and a German club, but I want to be free. Next season we’ll see if I renew with Levante or if I’m in the dolce vita.”
Leicester City legend Gary Lineker wasn’t wanted by Johan Cruyff
While Cruyff never made it to the Midlands, another top forward, Gary Lineker, did go down in history as a Leicester legend.
He scored 95 goals in 194 appearances for the Foxes before leaving for Everton in 1985 and eventually linking up with Barcelona, who Cruyff became manager of in 1988.
However, as per Linkeker on X/Twitter, ‘Cruyff wanted me out from day one’.
He wrote back in July 2020 when quizzed on his exit from Barca: “Cruyff wanted me out from day one. You could only have two foreign players back then so I totally understood he wanted his own.
“He should have just told me, but instead played me out of position so I’d get —— off and ask to leave. I just got on with it, but had to go really.”