through – graduates of last year’s under-20 side who
won the South American title and went on to finish
third in the World Cup at that level. And Cruyff has
been pleasantly surprised by the quality of Ecuadorian
players, seizing onto a defining characteristic.
“They have great physical potential,” he says. “They
are athletic and dynamic.”
Indeed, this has been a defining trait in Ecuadorian
football, where for all their financial problems, the
country’s clubs have regularly punched above their
weight in continental competitions. In the last five years
a total of six Ecuadorian clubs have made it out of the
WORLD SERVICEgroup phase of the Copa Libertadores. Only Brazil,
Argentina and Paraguay can boast better.
The Ecuadorian game is based on quick transitions
to athletic wingers. Some of this has to do with the
characteristics of the players; some with altitude and the
desire to force opponents to run as much as possible.
This, of course, is a very different style of play from
that which is so associated with the Cruyff name – and
it is hard to see how Jordi would have landed the job if
his surname was different.
But opportunity has come his way and it will be
fascinating to see what he does with it.
Learning curve...new boss Jordi Cruyff