Jebolan La Masia

At La Masia, children are brought up to play the most beautiful version of the beautiful game. They are taught the skills that are necessary to make them into legends. And truly, many of these children are now household names in world football.

"The player who has passed through La Masia has something different to the rest, it's a plus that only comes from having competed in a Barcelona shirt from the time you were a child," says Pep Guardiola, Barcelona manager and La Masia graduate.

"[In the youth academy] you feel the colours, the club and its crest. Above all it's about values, not only in football but on a personal level. I think the fans feel more connected to the team because of all of the home-grown players," says Gerard Pique, another La Masia graduate.

Sporting director Txiki Begiristain sums up La Masia's importance by saying, "The kids here are brought up to demand victory even in friendly matches. Take a look at Lionel Messi, he's from Argentina but he comes with the stamp of La Masia; he was formed in our house."



* Defender Carles Puyol, 31, joined in 1995 at age 17.
* Midfielder Sergi Busquets, 21, joined in 2005 at age 17.
* Goalkeeper Victor Valdes, 27, joined in 1995 at age 13.
* Forward Lionel Messi, 22, joined in 2000 at age 13.
* Midfielder Andres Iniesta, 25, joined in 1996 at age 12.
* Midfielder Xavi, 29, joined in 1991 at age 11.
* Defender Gerard Pique, 22, joined in 1997 at age 10.
Cruyff created the "dream team" that won the club its first European championship, in 1992. The captain of that team was Guardiola, a gold medal winner for Spain at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and a player who had joined La Masia in 1984 at age 13



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Behind Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium stands a traditional, 18th century, Catalan stone farmhouse that has played perhaps an even more significant role in the club's history than the colossal soccer arena that dwarfs it.

Barca began using La Masia de Can Planes, built in 1702, as a residence for youth recruits on Oct. 20, 1979, and the list of young hopefuls who have passed through its wrought-iron gates on their way to the top of the soccer pile is long and impressive.

Pep Guardiola, champion of Europe both as a Barca player in 1992 and in his first season as coach last year, moved into La Masia in 1984 at the age of 13, leaving his home village of Santpedor around 70 kms from the city.

Former La Masia residents from his current, all-conquering side include midfielder Andres Iniesta, captain Carles Puyol, goalkeeper Victor Valdes and talented young forward Pedro, scorer of the only goal against Shakhtar Donetsk in the European Super Cup in August.

Some 450 young footballers have left their homes and families to live at La Masia in the past three decades, about half from Catalonia and the rest from Spain and beyond, including Brazil, Argentina, Hungary, Georgia, Cameroon and Senegal.

More than 40 have made it into Barca's first team and almost as many have played for other sides in Spain's top division.

La Masia has become synonymous with the club's famed soccer school, although not all of the leading players the academy has produced, including forward Lionel Messi, midfielder Xavi, defender Gerard Pique and Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, have lived there.

The secret of La Masia's success, according to Carles Folguera, director since 2002, is that as well as learning the club's special brand of stylish, attacking play, recruits undergo an intense and wide-ranging programme of education.

"What makes La Masia different is that the course is 24 hours a day, seven days a week," Folguera, a former Barca roller hockey goalkeeper who turned 41 last week, told Reuters.

"No stone is left unturned, in the sense that we have professionals who can meet all the needs of the youngsters who come here with a desire to triumph in their sport," he added.

"At no time are there any loose ends in the effort to make sure they can develop as normal kids."

There are currently just under 60 residents of La Masia, 10 of whom live in the farmhouse itself and the rest in rooms inside the adjacent stadium. As well as footballers, there are 11 basketball players and one roller hockey hopeful.

A typical day begins at 7 a.m. and recruits spend the morning in school lessons until lunch at 1 p.m.

After a short rest, they study for an hour-and-a-half and then at 6 p.m. train for two-and-a-half hours at the club's facility out at Sant Joan Despi. Dinner is at 9.15 p.m. and lights out at 11.30 p.m.

In the week that La Masia reached its 30th anniversary as the academy residence, Guardiola was asked at a news conference what his time there had meant to him.

He said he had very happy memories and the experience had helped him to grow and develop as a player and a person.

"I remember from the first day when my parents dropped me off that they gave me very good food," he said.

"La Masia is a vital part of the club - searching out talent, welcoming in those that cannot live in Barcelona and educating and training them is one of the most valuable things we can do.

"It's the cheapest investment over the long term and something the club should continue and develop."

La Masia's days as a residence may be numbered as the club has been building a new facility for youth recruits at its training ground, though the project is on hold due to budget restraints.