After his official retirement in 1978, Cruijff couldn't resist playing again. Not only because of financial reasons, but because he missed playing the game.

Johan Cruyff moved to Los Angeles to play for the Aztecs. In the North American Soccer League Cruijff and is fellow football stars Pel? and Franz Beckenbauer tried to bring soccer to the Americans.

After one year Johan Cruijff moved to the Washington Diplomats. At the end of the season he was chosen American player of the year for the second time in a row.