Houston Dynamo defender Raúl Rodríguez knew Dutch legend Johan Cruyff in a way few other current players can—he was selected by the soccer legend for the Catalonia national team twice, beginning in 2011. Cruyff, a three-time World Player of the Year, passed away at age 69 on March 24 after a battle with lung cancer.
Many believe that no person has had more impact on the game of soccer than Cruyff, who followed a legendary playing career with a managerial tenure that was in some ways even more impactful. In addition to celebrated managerial stints with his boyhood club Ajax Amsterdam and his adopted home of FC Barcelona, Cruyff managed the Catalonia national team from 2009-13 and selected the Dynamo defender for two games, his first call in 2011 and again two years later.