General
cruyff turn
What does cruyff turn mean?
A skill move where a player fakes a pass or cross, then drags the ball behind their standing leg to spin away from a defender.
"He froze the full-back with a Cruyff turn and crossed first time."
Origin
Named after Johan Cruyff, who famously used it at the 1974 World Cup.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Cruyff turn?
It is a skill move where a player fakes a pass or cross, then drags the ball behind their standing leg to turn 180 degrees and escape a defender.
Who invented the Cruyff turn?
It is named after Dutch legend Johan Cruyff, who famously performed it at the 1974 World Cup.
How do you do a Cruyff turn?
You shape as if to pass or cross, then instead of striking the ball you drag it back behind your standing leg with the inside of your foot and spin away in the opposite direction.
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