SYDNEY – The Cruyff turn, the infamous spin after a faked pass made famous by Johan Cruyff at the 1974 World Cup was actually invented by former Tampa Bay Rowdies player Adrian Alston, according to a recent interview he gave to Australian soccer podcast Shim, Spider and so much Moore.
Alston was also playing at the 1974 World Cup, representing Australia in its first appearance on the big stage while playing his club football at Luton Town in England. He made the exact same move for the Socceroos in a match against East Germany five days prior to Cruyff infamously used it against Sweden.
“He might have practiced it before but he didn’t actually do it until he saw mine to perfection and then you can really see how someone does it properly. He was in his hotel room apparently, watching our game against East Germany and he said to his roommate, ‘I think I can do that’.” Said Alston in the podcast episode.
That move has remained one of the most common dribbling maneuvers to beat a defender since 1974. But all the credit goes to Cruyff despite Alston being the first player to use the move in a competitive match, leading to calls that he should receive credit.
What most frustrated Alston wasn’t so much that Cruyff gets credit but that Cruyff wasn’t kicked at by his defender.
The Alston Turn would grace the hallowed turf of Tampa Stadium just three years later when the Socceroos veteran signed for the Rowdies. He played 1977-78 with the Rowdies playing 19 matches and scoring eight goals.
Photo: FIFA
Florida Soccer Report 