La Masia is 40 years old

La Masia is 40 years old. On this day, 20 October, back in 1979, the footballing residency opened its doors to young players Romà Albarrán, Betriu, Pep Boada, Òscar Lausín, José Fernández, Guillermo Amor, Esteve Castañer, Manuel Bautista 'Bata', César Redondo, Manolo Muñoz and Ricardo Arnal, the first to make La Masia their home. All of them were invited by the Club just a few days to return the former La Masia building situated alongside Camp Nou to begin the festivities to commemorate its 40th birthday. 

Also, the Club has prepared a programme of events that will take place over the season. A new logo has been designed specifically for the occasion incorporating the number 40. In the near future, the first team and the rest of the FC Barcelona teams will don a commemorative t-shirt before their games bearing the new logo.

The four decades of La Masia will also be remembered when the 2019/20 youth teams for professional sports have their presentation, which was programmed for Monday 21 October but has since been postponed. It will be the first institutional event that to cast light on the anniversary. 

The Club is also working on a commemorative video, short films including players from the youth set up and a documentary about the 40 years of La Masia as well as an official book that traces the history of the world famous centre. The president Josep Maria Bartomeu and the player Sergi Roberto. who has contribute the preface, will take part in the presentation on 7 November. An application and a website about the Masia that will complete the range of contents for the anniversary. 

Residence to symbol 

It was 40 years ago that the Masia de Can Planes opened its doors as the first footballing residence in Spain. Nobody could have imagined that four decades later la Masia would be what it is today: a symbol of identity, one of the pillars that identify Barça as 'more than a club' and a brand that is identified as the model for FC Barcelona's academic, personal and sporting development. A school for life and for sport that has created its very own way of doing things, a way that is reflected both on and off the field for the multidiscipline youth teams from the professional sports at the club which encompasses 641 sportspeople and those around them (family, coaches, tutors and teachers). 

Previously, la Masia was a building, a residency and it was only for football. Now, in line with the Club's sporting mission, the concept has grown and it currently covers both men's and women's youth football as well as the youth teams from the basketball, handball, roller hockey and futsal  sections, the integrated training that is on offer as well as those who live in the 'Masia, Oriol Tort Training Centre.' 

Life before La Masia 

Youth football at FC Barcelona existed before the creation of La Masia. Way back in 1901, the secretary of the board of directors and first team striker Lluís d'Ossó created the second, third and fourth Barça teams. During its time it has contributed many players who have made Barça what it is today, from Calvet and Seguer to Biosca, Aloy, Manchón, Bosch, Gràcia, Tejada, Brugué, Vergés, Estrems, Olivella, Rodri, Sadurní, Silvestre, Fusté, Rexach, Martí Filosia, Mora, Olmo, Tente Sánchez, Lobo Carrasco and Estella amongst others.