Barcelona's famed La Masia closes its doors

Barcelona's famed La Masia, the youth academy residence that housed the club's greatest crop of players like Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and current coach Pep Guardiola, closed its doors on Thursday.

The residence has produced homegrown players since 1979, but a move to a more modern complex at the club's training grounds means the 309-year-old farmhouse will be turned into a museum.

Director of sport and youth football Guillermo Amor says: "It was never a residence for players but a home for eight years."

Amor was among the first players developed at La Masia, which is also used as a reference to Barcelona's youth program which has produced many of World Cup champion Spain's players including Xavi Hernandez, Cesc Fabregas and Carles Puyol.