Farewell, Don Johan.

Barça fans and football fans across the world were saddened by the news of the passing away of Dutch master, Johan Cruyff. His influences on and off the pitch were significant in Barça becoming a world power. Barça fans will forever indebted to “El Mister” for all that he has done for Barça. Thank you Don Johan, you will be missed.

For many of the Blaugrana faithful, the sad news that Johan Cruyff was no longer with us was difficult to fathom. Cruyff was our modern father that paved the way for the club’s successful era. Who knows where the club would be if Barça president José Luis Núñez did not hire him as Barça’s new manager back in May 4th, 1988. Now, as the club dominates the football world, our father figure will no longer be there to enjoy it.

Cruyff, the Barça player was amazing. He brought hope and faith to the Blaugrana fans and he repaid those believers with the club’s first league title in 14 years. His performance at the Santiago Bernabéu where Barça demolished Real Madrid 5-0 will never be forgotten. Many felt that same hope and faith when he was appointed as Barça’s new manager.

He ushered in a new era where success was expected. He won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in his first season and the club would win at least one trophy for the following five years. He finally ended the wait for that elusive European Cup at Wembley in 1992. His “Dream Team” deserves its place in football history not just for their accomplishments, but for their unforgettable style of play that Rijkaard and Guardiola tried to duplicate with some minor tweaks during their successful eras.

Cruyff made us believe in this team and his pupils restored that faith when they were hired as Barça’s managers. We wanted to go back to that beautiful style that mesmerized us when we saw the great man coach from the dugout in his unforgettable rain coat while enjoying a lollipop in his mouth. He made it happen with reliance on homegrown talent and by signing some amazing world class players. That’s why I worry about the club when the likes of Iniesta, Messi and Busquets retire from the game and we are left to wonder who will replace them from La Masia.

Thank you, Johan, for relying on the likes of Chapi Ferrer, Sergi, and Pep from La Masia to be part of the first team. That’s why I always wanted to see the likes of Montoya and Bartra feature more for the club over the likes of Douglas and Vermaelen. Because that’s what Cruyff would have done. Those who grew up and breathed that system should be the ones getting rewarded by fighting for the team’s colors with the first team.

Thank you, Johan, for making football a work of art in motion on the pitch. Where it became more about entertainment than it was about results. That’s what differentiated Barça from Los Blancos. One team wanted to win by putting on a great show while the other seemed interested in just winning. Of course, there were some great results and some horrible results but it was best to lose playing this way than play not to lose.

Thank you, Johan, for showing us courage in the face of death. Cruyff underwent open heart surgery while managing the club. He recovered and then kicked his smoking habit while inspiring others to kick the habit with a clever television campaign of him kicking a box of cigarettes around and enjoying lollipops on the bench instead of puffing on a cigarette. So when we learned last fall that Cruyff was diagnosed with lung cancer, we hoped the tough, intelligent, and complex beloved legend would triumph yet again.

Sadly, his passing caught us off guard. In a way, it seems fitting that he would leave us at a time when Dutch football is regressing while no longer relying on “Total Football” that the Oranje was once famous for. He leaves us at a time when Barça have become successful without fully relying on La Masia and drifting from the entertaining style that we enjoyed for a more results oriented style. His vision and influence no longer appreciated in the two kingdoms where he was king.

In a 1977 interview with Dutch reporters Frits Barend and Henk van Dorp, Cruyff once said about playing for FC Barcelona:

“It is a challenge. But you know that when people cheer on a Sunday when you do well and you win, it means more to them than simply the pleasure of winning. It’s not just a game, football; it’s not just about the people on terraces. You know what struck me most when we won the championship? They didn’t say “congratulations”, they said “thank you”. That was really something. That will always stay with me.”

You will always stay with us, Johan Cruyff. Your memory and legacy will live on at FC Barcelona regardless of who is in charge. Thank you, Cruyff. You will be missed, Don Johan.

Spaniards Abroad: David Villa.

Spaniards Abroad: David Villa. The Night David Villa came to Saint Petersburg, Florida.

David Villa is a Spanish football legend. His accomplishments for club and country are exceptional. A winner with four different clubs along with a European and World Cup medal with Spain, David Villa has had a marvelous career. He is now in the twilight of his legendary playing career here in the United States with New York MLS side, NYCFC.

When I learned that David Villa would be playing with his club at a friendly in my hometown in Florida, I did not have to think twice about going. On February 17, 2016, NYCFC faced Montreal Impact in Saint Petersburg, Florida. The venue was Al Lang stadium, home of the NASL side, Tampa Bay Rowdies.

The grounds of Al Lang stadium used to host baseball games since 1923 and underwent many renovations and changes throughout the years. However, it became the home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies a few years ago and underwent a major facelift in late 2014 to become a soccer only stadium. It is a quaint stadium that seats over 7,000 fans and on this night, would be hosting David Villa.

It was a pleasant evening with a nice cool breeze blowing from the marina located next to the stadium. The fans were diverse in their allegiance with some there to see David Villa, some to see Andrea Pirlo while others were there for Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba. For this Cule, David Villa was the main attraction.

David Villa hails from the Asturias region located at the northern tip of Spain. He joins the small list of players from that region who would go on to play for Barça; Quini and Luis Enrique. Just like those two Barça legends, David would feature for Sporting Gijon. He made his debut in 2001, when Sporting were in the second division, and after two impressive seasons, he was sold for €2.7m to Real Zaragoza. His debut with Zaragoza was around the same time FC Barcelona had just elected Joan Laporta as club president and helped usher in the new era for the Blaugrana. That same season, David Villa won his first major club trophy when Zaragoza defeated Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey Final. He had scored from the spot to give his side the lead before halftime. The Final was held in Barcelona, at Espanyol’s old stadium, the Montjuïc so Cules took notice of this young scorer. He later earned his first cap for Spain in 2005 under Luis Aragones.

After two seasons with Zaragoza, he was sold to Valencia for €12 m. He managed to score 28 goals in all competitions, 25 of them coming in the league, in his debut season. That strong performance earned him a spot in Spain’s 2006 World Cup roster where he would go on to score three goals. He won his second Copa del Rey trophy in 2008 when Valencia defeated Getafe in the Final, while scoring against FC Barcelona in the Semi-Finals at the Camp Nou.

That summer of 2008 would be special as Luis Aragones did not include Raul in his Euro 2008 roster, thus allowing David Villa to become the new Spanish number 7. It was a controversial decision that was soon forgotten when Spain finally ended their long wait of winning a major international trophy by defeating Germany in Euro 2008 Final. He scored four memorable goals in the tournament but missed the Final after suffering an injury in the Semi-Finals against Russia. Two years later, he would help steer Spain to World Cup glory over Holland in World Cup 2010 by scoring five of Spain’s eight goals in the tournament.

Barça had attempted to pry him away from Valencia in 2009 with Real Madrid hot on his heels. Ultimately, the transfer never went through but Barça managed to sign him a year later, just before president Laporta’s tenure concluded. David, Messi and Pedro formed the “MVP” trident scored 98 goals, with David scoring 23 goals in all competitions, including a memorable brace in the 5-0 win over Real Madrid, which helped the club win the league title and their fourth Champions League title with David scoring a spectacular goal in the final against Manchester United at Wembley. It was during his first season with Barça that Villa also surpassed Raul to become Spain’s all-time goal scoring leader.

His second season with the club saw him suffer a broken tibia during the FIFA Club World Cup and cause him to miss the second half of the 2011-2012 season and Euro 2012 with Spain. His third and final season at the club would see him score 16 goals in all competitions as he had to fight Alexis, Tello and Pedro for minutes. He would then be sold to Atlético Madrid for €5.1 m where he would go on to score 15 goals in all competitions and help Atlético win the league title, at the Camp Nou against Barça, and play in the Champions League Final where his side fell to their derby rivals Real Madrid.

He would represent Spain one final time during in their dreadful 2014 World Cup campaign. David indicated that this was going to be his final appearance for La Roja. He would score his 59th and final goal for Spain in their final group match against Australia. It was not the fitting end that many had wished for one of the greatest Spanish players ever.

Many, including myself were surprised to see Villa leave La Liga for the MLS after his lone season with Atlético. He was going to cross the Atlantic and play for the new MLS club in New York, NYCFC. Prior to joining his new club, he had to travel all the way to Australia for a short loan spell with Melbourne City and then headed back to New York. His was the club’s first ever captain during NYCFC’s inaugural season in MLS that saw him score 18 goals. Although that was an impressive tally, his club though failed to qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs.

So here he was, David Villa, in my hometown in Florida. NYCFC were part of the teams taking part in the Rowdies’s Suncoast Invitational along other MLS teams as they prepare for their upcoming season. While I watched him warm up with Pirlo and the rest of the team, I managed to chat with an older gentleman from the Asturias region who happened to live in the area. Just like me, he came to see Villa. Villa hasn’t changed much in appearance from when he signed with Barça. He rocks has the same haircut and soul patch that we have accustomed to seeing over the years. What was I noticed was different was that, for once, Villa looked fit during warm-ups and did not resemble the player we had seen these past few seasons in Spain who appeared in pain and sluggish while recovering from injuries.

I took my seat near the field without knowing what to expect from David Villa. Was I going to see a David Villa treating this friendly without interest as he nears retirement? Any doubts towards his professionalism were quickly put to rest when, early into the match, he showed that he still had his powerful shot after he tested the Montreal keeper from distance. In the 20th minute, Villa showed that he still had his pace when he managed to chest the ball down before bursting towards the goal with the ball at his feet. His attempt was wide, but flashbacks came flowing back to his Valencia and Blaugrana playing days. Nevertheless, he showed scent for the goal like a shark that smelt blood. He came close to scoring in the 31st minute when Pirlo delivered a free kick from just outside the box to him but Villa’s effort struck the crossbar.

Villa would start the second half and in the 54th minute, Pirlo whipped a pass into the box, and Villda headed the ball to down to his teammate Diskerud, but his effort was stopped by the Montreal keeper. A few minutes later, Villa had a chance to score from close range but mishit the ball and the keeper had an easy save to make. In the 63rd minute, after a short corner kick, Villa had another attempt from outside the box but was off target.

David Villa’s night came to an end in the 68th minute. He gave Pirlo the captain’s armband and headed for the bench while receiving a warm embrace from his manager, Patrick Vieira and a nice round of applause from the fans in attendance. I was in a state of disbelief that David Villa actually played in my hometown and he did not disappoint.

I have to admit that I was impressed by both, David and Pirlo’s attitude on the pitch. Many might assume that these world class players came to the U.S. to cash it in and take it easy. You cannot make that assumption about these two. Both were leading the charge and demanding the ball from their teammates and urging them on. Their competitive fire still burns and they expect the same from their teammates.

After the game ended, the fans started to leave the small but lovely stadium of the Tampa Bay Rowdies. He made his way to some fans and signed some autographs before heading off to the locker room. I waited outside the stadium to get one final glimpse of David Villa as he was the first player to board the team bus. The legendary Spanish player was leaving my hometown and he still looked like he still had something to offer to the football world. The fans in New York are sure lucky to have him.