💙 Cruyff Foundation: the legacy that transforms lives and that at THE SUN PLACES we make our own
There are heroes who score goals, and there are heroes who change the world. Johan Cruyff did both. But beyond the number 14, total football and his indelible mark on Barcelona, there is a silent legacy that every day improves the lives of thousands of children: the Cruyff Foundation.
At THE SUN PLACES we not only admire this work. We share it, support it and invite you to be part of it.
Who is Johan Cruyff?
Johan Cruyff was a genius who transformed football forever. Born in Amsterdam in 1947, he revolutionised the game as the greatest star of "Total Football" with his elegant style and his ability to read the pitch. During his career as a footballer, he was awarded the Ballon d'Or on three occasions (1971, 1973 and 1974).
As a coach of FC Barcelona, he created the legendary "Dream Team" that won the club's first European Cup in 1992 and won four consecutive Leagues, laying the foundations for the playing style that still endures at Can Barça.
His philosophy went beyond titles. He believed in offensive football, in possession and in giving opportunities to young players, ideas that revolutionised the king of sports. His most human legacy is discovered through the Cruyff Foundation, which since 1997 has fought to create inclusive play spaces for children around the world.
🧡 What is the Cruyff Foundation?
The Cruyff Foundation was born on 8 February 1997 from a very personal experience of Johan Cruyff. During his time as a player in the United States, his neighbour was Jon Jon, a boy with Down syndrome who was often left unable to play with the others. Johan did not hesitate: he played with him, and from that little seed a huge idea was born.
"We must create spaces so that all children can play," he thought. And so he did.
Today, the Cruyff Foundation works in more than 20 countries, has helped more than 200,000 children and has built 266 Cruyff Courts (multi-sport play fields) in disadvantaged areas, 45 of them adapted for children with disabilities.
⚽ What the Cruyff Foundation represents for the world of football
For football, the Cruyff Foundation is proof that the most beautiful sport in the world can also be the fairest. Johan revolutionised tactics, the game and the way of understanding football. But the foundation is his masterstroke off the field.
FC Barcelona knows this well. They have been collaborating since 2004 on projects such as "Salid y disfrutad" (Go out and enjoy), a school tournament that has already brought together more than 4,000 children and young people from Catalonia, using football as a tool for inclusion and social transformation.
Every pass, every dribble, every goal celebrated on a Cruyff Court is also a living tribute to that man who believed that "sport can fix everything that is wrong".
💙 What the Cruyff Foundation represents for Barcelona
Barcelona is the city that adopted Johan Cruyff as its own son. And the Cruyff Foundation is the bridge that keeps that connection alive. That is why, when the foundation is the beneficiary entity of major events in the city (such as the El Corte Inglés Race in Barcelona), the whole of Barcelona gets involved.
The city's Cruyff Courts are small temples where children from all backgrounds learn to respect each other, to play as a team and to grow. In November 2025, these spaces were awarded at the Guardons de l'Esport for promoting coexistence, responsibility and respect.
For Barcelona, the Cruyff Foundation is living memory, but also the future. It is the promise that no child will be left without a place to run, jump and dream.
🏠 What the Cruyff Foundation represents for THE SUN PLACES
And here we come to the most important thing. What does a Luxury Apartment brand have to do with a foundation that builds playgrounds for children?
At THE SUN PLACES we believe that luxury is not just marble and sea views. True luxury is having the opportunity to give something back. That is why aligning ourselves with the Cruyff Foundation is not a marketing gesture. It is a decision from the heart.
🤝 The philosophy we share
Cruyff Foundation
- Create space: Cruyff Courts as safe places to play
- Inclusion: Accessible sport for all, without barriers
- Community: Children and families growing together
- Commitment: Real projects that change lives
THE SUN PLACES
- Create space: Luxury Apartments in the best destinations in Spain as refuges of trust and wellbeing
- Inclusion: Accommodation for all types of travellers, with personalised attention
- Community: Guests who feel at home in the heart of each city
- Commitment: Tangible support for the foundation through our activity
✅ Because staying with THE SUN PLACES also means supporting the Cruyff Foundation
- Visibility: We give voice to the foundation on our channels. Every guest who reads our blog, every booking, every recommendation counts.
- Exclusive experiences: We organise guided tours of Cruyff Courts and meetings with former athletes who collaborate with the foundation for our guests. So you can see with your own eyes the impact of your contribution.
📞 Join the play
The Cruyff Foundation has been changing lives for more than 25 years. At THE SUN PLACES we want to add our energy, our Luxury Apartments and our community to that purpose.
When you stay with THE SUN PLACES, you not only travel better. You travel with purpose.
"Go out and enjoy" – Johan Cruyff
"Stay and contribute" – THE SUN PLACES
✨ Do you want to know how you can support the Cruyff Foundation during your next stay in Barcelona?
Contact us. Together we can make a difference. ✨