Since 1956, France Football and L’Equipe Group organize the presentation of the world-famous and well-known BALLON D’OR football award.
As part of the Ballon d’Or ceremony in 2024, two new trophies were introduced: the Men’s and Women’s “Coach of the Year” trophies, both named the “Johan Cruyff Trophy.
The Johan Cruyff Coach of the Year Trophy will celebrate the legacy of one of football’s greatest innovators, whose «Total Football» philosophy revolutionized the game. By naming the Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year Trophies after Johan Cruyff, we aim to reflect both Cruyff’s vision and the Ballon d’Or’s shared commitment to a style that prioritizes creativity, fluidity, and the joy of the sport.
Johan Cruyff was a Dutch professional footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most outstanding players in the history of football and won the Ballon d’Or three times in a row, in 1971, 1972 and 1973. After his football career he became a successful coach and is unanimously considered as one of the greatest and most influential football coaches in history, thanks to a footballing philosophy which still shapes today’s game. His coaching career, particularly at FC Barcelona and Ajax, left a lasting legacy in today’s football. He died on 24 March 2016.
