EXCLUSIVE: Here’s the first clip from Cruyff, Box to Box’s series about Dutch soccer legend Johan Cruyff. The four-part documentary from the Formula 1: Drive to Survive producers will feature contributions from some of soccer’s biggest names including Pep Guardiola, Xavi Hernández, Dennis Bergkamp and Ruud Gullit. The clip shows Guardiola, a Cruyff protégé, with his mentor.
Box to Box is producing with Dutch outfit Lusus. The filmmakers had unprecedented access to the Cruyff family’s private archives, including unseen home movies and a series of deeply personal audio recordings Cruyff made in the final months of his life. Previously unheard, these form a narrative thread throughout the doc, as the sports star reflects on his life.
The series also has Cruyff’s lifelong partner, Danny, and children Jordi, Chantal and Susila speak openly about his life beyond the pitch for the first time. Jordi Cruyff said: “For many years our family kept much of Johan’s private world out of the spotlight. This series gave us the opportunity to tell the story in a more complete way and to share the man we knew with the world.”
Cruyff, who died in 2016, is one of the greatest players the beautiful game has ever known. He also shaped the way the game is played. He won the coveted Ballon d’Or three times in a career that saw him turn out for European giants Ajax and Barcelona. Cruyff also captained the Netherlands’ national team. He returned to coach Ajax and Barca in a glittering managerial career.
“Cruyff changed the way football is played, but what fascinated us was the way his ideas extended far beyond the game, asking us to see the familiar in radically new ways,” said Sam Blair, series Director. “Through extraordinary access to his family, their private archives, and the recordings he made in the final months of his life, we were able to uncover the man behind that revolution, and tell a unique story about a visionary who challenged everything around him, and whose ideas continue to shape the world today.”
Box to Box’s previous sports biopics include Senna and Diego Maradona. Pubcaster NPO will air Cruyff in the Netherlands. There will be a premiere event at Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Arena, where tens of thousands will gather for a public screening.
Danny Goldman from Goldridge Media is distributing the doc series and discussions are underway with international broadcasters and platforms.

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