March 27 – Barcelona will name their new stadium in the Ciutat Esportiva training complex after Dutch legend Johan Cruyff. The planned stadium is part of the redevelopment of the club’s famed La Masia.
Cruyff died in March 2016, aged 68. Between 1973 and 1978 he played 143 times for Barcelona, scoring 48 goals.
He returned to manage the club between 1998 and 1996, winning four La Liga titles in succession from 1991 to 1994 as well as the 1989 European Cup Winners Cup and the 1992 European Cup final.
With 11 trophies was Barcelona’s most successful manager until he was surpassed by his former player Pep Guardiola. Cruyff is accredited with laying down the foundations for the Barca academy and the tiki-taka style of play.
A three time winner of the Ballon d’Or (1971, 1973 and 1974), the 1974 trophy as well as his number 9 shirt have been donated to the club by the Cruyff family for display in the FC Barcelona Museum that will have a section dedicated to the life of Cruyff.
As well as naming the trining gorund stadium the Estadi Johan Cruyff, a commemorative sculpture will be created located in the future Camp Nou, the central part of the Espai Barça project.
Requests have also been made that Barcelona City Council name one of the streets or other spaces in the city after Johan Cruyff, somewhere in the vicinity of the Camp Nou stadium.
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