Kylie W
Who is the Father of Total Football?
The term “total football” was coined by Dutch coach Rinus Michels in the early 1970s, and it has since become a staple of the modern game. Total football is a style of play that emphasizes all-around skill, versatility, and creativity, and it has been adopted by many of the world’s top teams. So who is the father of total football?
Rinus Michels was born in Amsterdam in 1928 and began his career as a player in the Dutch league. He quickly rose to prominence as a manager, leading Ajax to three consecutive European Cup victories in the early 1970s. It was during this time that Michels developed the concept of total football, which revolutionized the way the game was played.
Total football was based on the idea that any player on the field could take on any role. This meant that players had to be highly skilled and versatile, and it also meant that teams had to be able to quickly switch formations and tactics. Michels’ teams were renowned for their fluidity and creativity, and his tactics were adopted by many of the world’s top teams.
In 1974, Michels led the Dutch national team to the World Cup final, where they were narrowly defeated by West Germany. The Dutch team’s game was dominated by total football, and Michels’ tactics have since been adopted by many of the world’s top teams.
Since then, Michels has gone on to manage some of the world’s top clubs, including Barcelona and Bayern Munich. He has also served as a technical director for the Dutch Football Association, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches of all time.
Today, total football is still a major part of the modern game. Teams such as Barcelona, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich all employ a version of total football, and it is still seen as one of the most effective ways to play the game.
Rinus Michels is widely regarded as the father of total football, and his influence on the modern game is undeniable. His tactical innovations revolutionized the way the game was played, and his teams were renowned for their fluidity and creativity. Michels’ legacy will continue to live on in the modern game, and he will always be remembered as the father of total football.
