Unveiling Bordalás’ Untold Anecdote with Cruyff: “I Visited His Hotel…

More than 30 years have passed, yet José Bordalás vividly recalls the day he met his idol, Johan Cruyff. In an exclusive interview with SPORT, the Alicante-born coach shares this hidden story and his thoughts on facing Barcelona this afternoon at Montjuïc while hosting us at the heart of the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. In Getafe, Bordalás is not just a coach but a spiritual guide for the azure fans.

Bordalás’ Doctrine: “Johan Cruyff is the figure that has influenced me the most. I’ve always been a ‘Cruyffista.’ He was a role model, both as a player and a coach—a person who transformed the concept of the game. However, you can’t always interpret football as you’d like because you have to adapt to your resources. Coaches survive on results, and I try to extract the maximum from my players based on their abilities while adjusting my philosophy, which can’t always be applied at 100%,” shares Bordalás. His coaching journey began with youth teams, spanning nearly all categories of Spanish football.

Meeting Johan: Bordalás reveals a unique anecdote: “There’s a curious story I’ve never shared. I had a friendship with Marcial Pina, a legendary player and Johan’s teammate. He lived in Elche. They had a great relationship. When Barcelona played a match in Alicante, we visited Johan at the Melià Hotel. Marcial introduced me, and we chatted for an entire afternoon before their evening game. It was a pleasure, and I remember a phrase. I hadn’t started coaching yet; my son was very young. I went with him because he was already a big fan of Cruyff and Barcelona. There was a phrase that struck me. Having just completed the coaching course, he asked, ‘Do you want to dedicate yourself to coaching?’ I said yes. He replied, ‘Unless you have good players, forget it…(laughs).'”

Discussing locker room management, the former Valencia coach emphasizes its significance: “It’s fundamental. It’s crucial. It’s about managing not just egos but different personalities, veterans, and youngsters. Handling that is key. They face the same issues as anyone, even if the fans don’t perceive it. Some lack a bit of affection, understanding, and explanation. You have to understand everyone’s personalities.”