It's like everything in football - and life. You need to look

Hear the voice of Johan Cruyff, master of the beautiful game, philosopher of the pitch, who declared: “It’s like everything in football—and life. You need to look, you need to think, you need to move, you need to find space, you need to help others. It’s very simple in the end.” These words are not only instruction for players of sport, but wisdom for all souls who seek to live with clarity, awareness, and generosity. For in Cruyff’s vision, the field of play becomes a mirror of existence itself.

The meaning is clear: in both football and life, one cannot stumble blindly. One must first look, opening the eyes to what is before them—the movements of others, the opportunities, the dangers. Then one must think, for sight without thought leads to chaos. But thought alone is not enough; one must move, acting with courage and decisiveness. In the midst of motion, one must also find space, the freedom to breathe, to create, to make choices. And above all, one must help others, for no victory in football or in life is ever won alone.

The origin of these words rests in Cruyff’s life as one of the greatest players and thinkers of football. He was not merely a man of talent, but a man of vision, who birthed the philosophy of “Total Football” with Ajax and Barcelona. To him, the game was not about individuals chasing glory, but about a collective rhythm, where every player saw, thought, moved, created space, and supported the team. From this truth, he drew his wisdom: that the same principles that govern a team on the field also govern the way a person must live in the world.

History, too, offers confirmation. Consider the tale of Alexander the Great, who, in battle, did not rely only on strength, but on vision, awareness, and movement. He saw the battlefield with keen eyes, he thought with strategy, he moved swiftly, he created space where enemies faltered, and he helped his companions achieve victory. Or think of Florence Nightingale, who on a very different field—the hospitals of war—looked with compassion, thought with wisdom, moved with determination, created space for healing, and helped others beyond measure. Both, though far removed from football, lived the very truth Cruyff declared.

The danger lies in forgetting this wisdom, in complicating what is simple. Many in football seek endless tactics, many in life chase endless complexities. Yet Cruyff insists that the truth is straightforward: see, think, move, create, and support. It is when people neglect these fundamentals—when they refuse to look beyond themselves, when they think only of their gain, when they stop moving forward, when they fail to give others room to grow—that both games and lives fall into disorder.

The lesson for us is profound: do not be blind, do not be idle, do not be selfish. Open your eyes to the world around you. Use your mind with clarity and discipline. Take action with courage. Guard your freedom and seek space, for without it, creativity dies. And above all, extend your hand to others, for life, like football, is a team endeavor, and no one wins alone.

Practical action flows naturally. In your work, look carefully before deciding. In your relationships, think before speaking. In your personal growth, move forward daily, even if only in small steps. In the chaos of demands, create space for rest, reflection, and creativity. And wherever you are, help others—for in their flourishing, you will find your own.

Take this as a guiding flame: “In football and in life—it is very simple in the end.” Do not be deceived by the noise of complexity. Return always to the basics: awareness, thought, action, freedom, and service. In these, Cruyff teaches us, lies not only the key to victory on the field, but the key to living a life of purpose, beauty, and harmony.