Xavi Simons attended the opening of this new space in Rojales, Spain, the town where he grew up.
Today, the Tottenham Hotspur and Netherlands international footballer Xavi Simons returned to Rojales, Spain, to open his own Cruyff Court, a new space to promote physical wellbeing among children and youngsters.
The event was attended by the Tottenham Hotspur and Netherlands international footballer Xavi Simons; the president of the Cruyff Foundation in Spain, Susila Cruyff; the director of the Cruyff Foundation in Spain, Pati Roura; and the mayor of Rojales, Antonio Pérez.
For Xavi, who moved to Rojales at the age of three and lived there until he joined FC Barcelona’s La Masia academy at the age of ten, the event was deeply personal: “Being able to leave a legacy in Rojales is of the utmost importance to me. It’s a place that played such a pivotal role in my development as a child. As a proud Dutchman, this is a really special moment for me, especially being attached to the Cruyff name, so thank you to everyone that made this possible”.
The Johan Cruyff Talent of the Year 2023
The creation of this Cruyff Court was made possible after Simons was named the Johan Cruyff Talent of the Year in the Dutch Eredivisie in 2023. Since 2003, this prestigious award has recognised the most outstanding young talent in Dutch professional football.
Following Johan Cruyff’s philosophy, the award does not just aim to encourage young footballers in their sporting careers, but also to inspire them to give something back to the next generation. Thanks to the partnership with the VriendenLoterij, the vital support of ING, a long-standing partner of Dutch football and the collaboration of the Rojales Town Hall, Simons’ vision of building a Cruyff Court in his hometown became a reality.
