92 pages · Printable PDF · Instant download
- Instant downloadYours right after checkout
- Secure checkoutCard (Stripe) or PayPal
- Read anywherePhone, tablet or computer, or print it
Paperback sold separately. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Buy 2 or more books and save up to 25% at checkout.
Johan Cruyff The Inspiring Story of a Genius in Farsi and English
Johan Cruyff: The Inspiring Story of a Genius in Farsi and English follows the Dutch star from the concrete houses of Betondorp to the Ajax stadium his mother cleaned, and on to the 1974 World Cup, where he showed the world the Cruyff Turn. Children also read about losing his father at 12, his farewell match, coaching Ajax and Barcelona, and Total Football. 92-page PDF.
The boy who played football with his head
Johan grew up kicking tin cans and sock balls with his older brother Henny in Betondorp, a modest Amsterdam neighborhood. His mother Nellie worked as a cleaner at Ajax, and Johan Cruyff: The Inspiring Story of a Genius pictures the small boy staring at the green field and asking whether real players ran there.
Sadness comes early, when his father Manus dies, and Johan pours his feelings into football. The book then follows his rise at Ajax, the 1974 final against West Germany, which the Netherlands lost 2-1, his farewell in 1978 and his second life as a coach who trusted young players and built the style taught at La Masia.
At a glance
What the book covers
Story chapters and fact pages, from neighborhood games to coaching.
Street football
Henny, the neighbors and a thin boy with fast feet in worn-out shoes.
The 1974 World Cup
The Cruyff Turn, the Golden Ball and a final the Dutch lost but fans never forgot.
Coach Cruyff
Ajax from 1985, the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1987, then Barcelona and Catalonia from 2009 to 2013.
Big idea
Total Football: every player moves, thinks and helps the team.
Johan’s brother, in Persian
From the chapter about Johan’s family:
| Persian | English |
|---|---|
| یوهان یک برادر بزرگتر به نام هنی داشت. | Johan had an older brother named Henny. |
| هنی سه سال از یوهان بزرگتر و همیشه مراقب او بود. | Henny was three years older than Johan and always looked out for him. |
بزرگ_تر (bozorg-tar, older or bigger) shows how Persian adds -tar to make a comparison.
Reading it with a football fan
- Read the English, then the Persian, and act out any move the book describes, such as the Cruyff Turn.
- Watch a short clip of the 1974 World Cup and commentate a minute of it in Persian.
- Make a list of football words from the book, like ball, team and coach, in both languages.
- Learn more sports words with Let’s Learn Farsi: Sports.
Who this book is for
A good fit if you
- have a child who lives for football
- want a sports story about teamwork and clever thinking
- need a reason for a reluctant reader to try Persian
Look elsewhere if you
- have a child under 6; Let’s Learn Farsi (11 Books) is a better first step
- want another football hero from South America; try Pelé: The Inspiring Story of a Genius
Use it with
- Ferenc Puskás: The Inspiring Story of a Genius: the Hungarian goal scorer of the 1950s.
- Diego Maradona: The Inspiring Story of a Genius: Argentina’s star, also told in this series.
Common questions
What age is it for?
About 7 to 11. The football scenes are easy to follow, and the sad moment of his father’s death is handled gently.
Is it in both languages?
Yes. Yes. Each page pairs an English passage with the same text in Persian.
Does my child need to know about football?
No. The book explains the game, the World Cup and the clubs as it goes.
Is the Persian Iranian Farsi?
Yes, standard Farsi of Iran, with Dutch names written as they sound.
What do I get after I buy?
A 92-page PDF, downloaded right after checkout, for a tablet or computer or printing at home, and a Cruyff paperback on Amazon if you prefer print.
Related Persian books
More Persian learning books on similar topics.
Albert Camus: The Inspiring Story of a Genius in Farsi and English
$12.99
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: The Inspiring Story of a Genius in Farsi and English
$12.99
Alexandre Dumas: The Inspiring Story of a Genius in Farsi and English
$12.99
Anna Akhmatova: The Inspiring Story of a Genius in Farsi and English
$12.99
Product Reviews
There are no reviews yet.