Every generation has a footballer who stands out—not just for what they do with the ball, but for who they are off the pitch. For the Netherlands in the 1970s, that player was Johan Cruyff.
Cruyff wasn’t just a captain or a number 14; he was a symbol of Dutch football’s rise and of “Total Football.”
But in 1974, at the World Cup in West Germany, he did something that no other player could have gotten away with.
While the Dutch national team played in their iconic orange Adidas kit with three stripes on the sleeves, Cruyff walked out in a shirt with only two stripes.
Why? Because Johan Cruyff didn’t wear Adidas. He wore Pumas.
This is the story of why one of the greatest players in history became the only man to ever play in a “custom” national team kit.
Why did Cryuff only wear 2 stripes instead of 3
Adidas vs Puma: Brothers at War
To understand Cruyff’s shirt, you have to go back to Germany in the 1920s. Two brothers, Adolf Dassler and Rudolf Dassler, started a shoe company in their hometown of Herzogenaurach.
Together, they built a sportswear empire and even supplied gear for the German Olympic team in 1928.
But during World War II, things fell apart. The brothers’ relationship turned sour, filled with jealousy and mistrust. After the war, they split the company into two:
- Adolf (“Adi”) created Adidas.
- Rudolf founded Puma.
What followed was not just a family feud, but one of the fiercest brand rivalries in sports history.
Cruyff Stuck in the Middle
By the 1970s, Adidas was the official kit supplier of the Dutch national team. That meant every Oranje player had to wear the three stripes.
But Johan Cruyff wasn’t “every player.” He was personally sponsored by Puma, and the company made it clear—they didn’t want their star man advertising their biggest rival on the world stage.
Adidas, on the other hand, wasn’t happy either. They wanted their stripes on everyone.
Caught between his federation’s contract and his personal sponsor, Cruyff had a decision to make.
The Birth of the Two-Stripes Shirt
A Unique Solution
Neither Adidas nor Puma was willing to budge. Puma threatened to pull out of sponsoring Cruyff.
Adidas hinted at pulling support for the Dutch national team. The standoff could have exploded—but then came the compromise.
The solution? A special, one-of-a-kind kit made just for Cruyff.
Instead of the three stripes that Adidas made famous, Cruyff’s shirt and shorts carried two stripes.
It was subtle enough to keep him from breaching his Puma deal, but different enough to stand out every time the cameras zoomed in on him at the 1974 World Cup.
The World Watched
And of course, people noticed. The Netherlands was the most exciting team of the tournament, dazzling the world with Total Football.
Cruyff, the captain and star, wasn’t just leading with his vision and dribbling—he was making a statement with his kit.
It was as if the two stripes said: “I play for my country, but I still do things my way.”
Cruyff vs the Stripes: The Feud Continues
Retirement and a Failed Comeback
After retiring from international football in 1977, Cruyff nearly returned in 1981. But guess what blocked the move? Yep—the stripes.
Cruyff once again clashed with Adidas and the Dutch federation over what he would wear. Just like in 1974, he wasn’t willing to put on three stripes when he was a Puma man. In the end, the comeback never happened.
“Two Stripes Belong to Me”
Decades later, Cruyff still felt strongly about the issue.
When his own brand released an orange retro shirt in 2014—complete with two stripes and the number 14—Adidas immediately threatened legal action.
Cruyff’s response was as defiant as ever:
“Two stripes belong to me, especially in combination with the number 14. They’re part of my identity, and that doesn’t belong to Adidas, but to me. Two stripes don’t belong to Adidas.”
For Cruyff, it was never just about contracts. It was about principle. About individuality. About refusing to be just another player in the system.
Why This Story Matters
More Than a Kit Dispute
At first glance, this might sound like just a petty sponsorship squabble. But it was much bigger than that.
The two-stripe shirt represented everything Cruyff stood for: independence, confidence, and refusing to follow the rules just because everyone else did.
It also highlighted how football was changing. By the 1970s, the game wasn’t just about tactics and players—it was about brands, sponsorships, and image. Cruyff found himself right at the intersection of sport and business.
A Symbol of Cruyff’s Personality
Cruyff was a genius on the pitch, but he was also stubborn, outspoken, and strong-willed.
Just as he demanded freedom for himself as a player in Total Football, he demanded freedom off the pitch too. The two stripes weren’t just a compromise. They became part of his personal brand.
FAQ
Q: Why did Johan Cruyff wear two stripes instead of three?
Because he was sponsored by Puma, while the Dutch team wore Adidas kits. The compromise was a custom shirt with two stripes.
Q: Did Cruyff face consequences for refusing Adidas?
Not really—he kept his Puma deal, stayed in the Dutch squad, and became even more iconic because of it.
Q: What happened to the two-stripe shirt later?
In 2014, Cruyff’s own brand released a retro two-stripe orange shirt, reigniting the Adidas vs Cruyff feud.
Conclusion
Johan Cruyff’s refusal to wear Adidas stripes wasn’t just about fashion—it was about identity.
In an era when most players went along with whatever their federation or sponsors demanded, Cruyff stood his ground.
He chose his own path, just as he did on the pitch.
The two-stripe shirt remains one of football’s most fascinating symbols—a reminder that greatness isn’t only about winning matches.
Sometimes, it’s also about having the courage to say: “I’ll do it my way.”
