Sports Portrait Photography: Behind the Scenes with Jordi Cruyff, The Nice Guy in Barcelona

Several UK newspapers commissioned me to photograph Jordi Cruyff, creating an opportunity to document this respected figure in Barcelona’s football history. Rather than remaining idle during the nearly hour-long interview session, I strategically used this time to capture compelling portraits that would complement the journalists’ narrative.

My technical approach involved setting up a single light source positioned to create dimensional side lighting on both the subject and the background. This lighting technique deliberately highlighted the colorful flags in the background, adding visual interest and context to the portraits while maintaining focus on Cruyff himself.

What immediately struck me about Jordi was his genuinely approachable nature and self-effacing personality—qualities that can transform a standard portrait session into something more authentic. These character traits allowed me to create images that revealed the person behind the public figure, an essential element in compelling portrait photography.

During the session, Cruyff shared fascinating anecdotes from his professional career, including playing alongside David Beckham during his Manchester United debut—the match where Beckham scored his legendary goal from the halfway line. With characteristic humility, Jordi mentioned attempting the same feat earlier in that very match, though without the same spectacular result.

His reflections on Sir Alex Ferguson’s tactical approach provided valuable context for the portraits. Cruyff explained how he now appreciates Ferguson’s strategic player rotation—how footballers might deliver outstanding performances only to find themselves benched the following match, not as punishment but as part of Ferguson’s meticulously planned long-term strategy.

Jordi also spoke warmly about Brazilian teammate Romário, describing him as universally beloved by fellow players for his exceptional personality. His complimentary comments about Eric Cantona and Roy Keane further demonstrated his positive perspective on former colleagues.

The story behind Jordi’s name carries significant historical weight. His father, Johan Cruyff, deliberately chose a Catalan name during Franco’s regime when such names were effectively prohibited—a political statement reflecting the elder Cruyff’s opposition to the dictator’s suppression of Catalan identity.

Johan Cruyff, who played for FC Barcelona during the 1970s under Franco’s authoritarian rule, frequently voiced support for Catalan autonomy. One particularly telling incident involved a heated exchange with customs officials when Johan refused to use the Spanish name “Juan” for his son on official forms. His legendary status ultimately allowed him to prevail in this cultural stand.

While perhaps less internationally renowned than his father, Jordi established his own successful career, playing for FC Barcelona and Manchester United, where he contributed to the historic 1999 treble-winning season. These personal connections to football history added depth and context to the portrait session, creating images that document not just a person, but a living connection to significant sporting and cultural narratives.