#179: Professor Jordi Diaz Gibson on Johan Cruyff, the great leader and coach of Barca

In this session, we continue discussing the leadership of FC Barcelona (Barca), one of the great sports organizations in the world. Barca’s emergence as a leading club was deeply influenced by Johan Cruyff. In this conversation with Professor Jordi Diaz Gibson, we discussed:

1.     Cruyff’s background as a player and coach.

2.     “Cruyff created the DNA of the team … not only the way the team plays, but the way the organization flows.”

3.     Barca before Cruyff. Real Madrid as the main team historically. Dictator Franco as Real Madrid fan – the cultural importance and seeds of the rivalry with Barca.

4.     Cruyff’s vision. Intelligence. Space. Ball possession. “Total futbol.”

5.     Creating a learning academy: La Masia.

6.     Team culture, community investment. “He wanted to have the roots of the team in the values of Catalonia.”

7.     What was Cruyff like as a leader? 

8.     Cruyff’s key decisions and actions relating to the political and cultural context of the times. Grounding in Catalonian values. Arts, creativity, collectivity.

9.     The importance of knowing and understanding the context of where we lead. The values and strengths of the setting.

10.  The example of Pep Guardiola. Others in the Cruyff legacy.

11.  Cross-sport collaboration. Multi-sport influence. The exchange of ideas between coaches.

12.  Homophily (the tendency to spent time with people who are like us). Propinquity (the disproportionate influence of what’s nearest to us). Being purposeful about getting beyond our silos.