Cruyff promises fireworks with Catalonia

Former Holland and Barcelona star Johan Cruyff promised footballing fireworks as he officially took over as coach of the Catalonia regional team in Spain.

The Catalonia Football Federation unveiled Cruyff as their choice and he promptly promised “seductive” football along the lines of the ‘Total Football’ which he and his generation served up with Holland in the 1970s.

“The way we will play will of course depend on the quality of the players we are able to call upon. We will try to serve up seductive football,” said Cruyff, who has spent more than half of his 62 years in the Catalan capital Barcelona, whom he played for and managed with great distinction.

He added he intended to “produce a competitive team.”

The Catalonia team is not affiliated with either FIFA or UEFA, but does play international and regional friendly matches.

Cruyff, a three-time European footballer of the year, started his career as a teenager at Ajax before going on to enjoy huge success with Barca, whom he coached to the 1992 European Cup.

He retains the ear of top club officials even today.

Cruyff takes over from Pere Gratacos.