The football icon and Cruyff Foundation ambassador Pep Guardiola attended the opening of this new space in Manresa, the town where he grew up.
Pep Guardiola returned to the school where he grew up, La Salle Manresa, to celebrate the opening of the new Cruyff Court Pep Guardiola together with local children.
The event was attended by Pep Guardiola, Cruyff Foundation ambassador; Susila Cruyff, president of the Cruyff Foundation Spain and Pati Roura, director of the Cruyff Foundation Spain; Jordi Massegú, director of La Salle Manresa; Marc Aloy, mayor of Manresa; and Philippe Levisse, regional director of Action.
Pep Guardiola, Cruyff Foundation ambassador: “I am very happy to have a Cruyff Court at the school I went to as a child. It is essential that the Johan Cruyff Foundation continues to promote social projects that foster values such as cohesion and social inclusion for children and young people through sport. I am very proud to be part of the social legacy of Johan Cruyff and to be able to continue what Johan started.”
Cruyff Court Pep Guardiola is located on the grounds of La Salle school, which has more than 800 pupils. The court will be used by the school and is also open to children from the neighbourhood.
Like all Cruyff Courts in Spain, this new space is linked to two youth projects that organise sports activities on the court throughout the year that promotes respect, teamwork, responsibility and social cohesion.
In partnership with Action
The Cruyff Court Pep Guardiola has been realised in partnership with the Municipality of Manresa and Action. Since 2022, Action and the Cruyff Foundation have been working together. Action supports various sports initiatives of the Foundation to encourage children to be active through sport by supporting different sports initiatives and developing Cruyff Courts across Europe.
The Cruyff Court Pep Guardiola is the fourth court opened together. More courts will follow in the coming years in other European countries where Action operates, such as Germany, France and the Netherlands.
Hajir Hajji, CEO Action: "This is a very special day for Action, because Barcelona and the Netherlands have shared a strong connection since Johan Cruyff played here in the seventies. As an active partner in the communities where our stores are, we want to give children from our neighbourhoods a safe space to have fun in the best possible way. Today in Manresa and soon in several other cities in Europe”.
