Barça pay homage to social legacy of club legend Johan Cruyff

Barça legend Johan Cruyff's legacy on the pitch is undisputed. His footballing philosophy lives on in the success and style of the men's and women's teams in recent years and decades. 

But ahead of the eighth anniversary of his death on March 24, it was Cruyff's social legacy that was celebrated by the Cruyff Foundation and FC Barcelona Foundation at an event at a special school in Barcelona on Wednesday. 

Social integration through football, especially for the most vulnerable children, is the aim of the collaboration between the two foundations – who have worked jointly on projects in Catalonia for twenty years. 

Club president Joan Laporta, the foundation directors, Johan's wife Dani, and hundreds of excited schoolchildren gathered at La Segrera special school to remember the Dutch icon, hear his voice again over loudspeakers, and, of course, play football. 

The football took place on the school's Cruyff Court, a small pitch with a surface made of artificial grass, a result of the school's collaboration with the Cruyff Foundation, which goes back to 2011. 

The Cruyff Court is also the venue for a 6v6 tournament for children in the local area, part of the 'Salid y disfrutad' program – named after Cruyff's legendary instructions as manager to the Barça players as they took to the Wembley pitch ahead of winning their first ever European Cup in 1992 – "Go out there and enjoy yourselves." 

'The best way to remember him' 

The event, playing football at a school specialized in helping children who are behind their peers, was the "best way to remember" Cruyff, Laporta said. 

"He hasn't left us. He is very present when we remember him, very present with we talk about him, and very present at gatherings like today." 

Cruyff believed in "sport as a tool of solidarity," the FC Barcelona president added. 

Pati Roura, director of the Cruyff Foundation, said Cruyff's social legacy was that "boys and girls can continue to enjoy sport, as is their right." 

Marta Segú, director of the FC Barcelona Foundation, said Cruyff "believed in the value of sport" to help all children, regardless of their economic situation, or any disabilities. 

That was clear in projects like the Cruyff Courts and 'Salid y disfrutad' in schools with complex social makeups, Segú said. 

Cruyff's words echo

Although all three of the speakers referred to Cruyff's preference for actions over words, the event featured a recording of him explaining that football can be a tool for integration.

"Children have the right to be young and enjoy themselves. Today there is a lot of immigration, and adaptation, integration is a lot easier if you play sport, if you play football." 

A legend for Ajax, the Netherlands and Barça, Cruyff is regarded as one of the best footballers of all time and one of the game's most influential managers due to his implementation of Total Football.  

At Barça, he is remembered for inspiring the club's first league title in 14 years as a player, before later managing the team to four league titles in a row and delivering their first European Cup. He died on March 24, 2016 in Barcelona.