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Players play, managers organise and fans support but what is the true significance of a stadium? In any sporting event, not just football, the venue is crucial. Football stadiums inspire not only as fine pieces of architecture but as generators of fervour, landmarks of memory. Every legendary match and each breathtaking goal can be linked back to a stadium.
Also read: 20 Biggest Football stadiums in the world
They can be iconic, mesmerising even. For every young boy or girl gripping a parent’s hand at their first ever football match, the atmosphere will sink in and the ground they visit will forever hold a special place in their heart. A stadium resembles passion; a stadium is home.
Then there are some stadia that really do capture what a football club is all about; anyone remotely interested in the sport can name them. Here I have compiled a list of the 30 most famous, most emblematic stadiums in world football.
30) Donbass Arena (Donetsk, Ukraine)
Capacity: 52,187
Opened: 2009
Tennant(s): Shakhtar Donetsk
A recurring venue in Euro 2012, it’s Shakhtar Donetsk’s relatively new home which kicks off our top thirty. Beyoncé completed the stadium’s inauguration in 2009 with a concert on its opening night in memory of the late Michael Jackson and football stars haven’t exactly been few and far between either. Spain won both their European Championship quarter final and semi final matches there four years ago.
The stadium’s designers ‘ArupSport’ also made the blueprints for the Allianz Arena in Munich and Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium; the combination of a steep, sloping roof and oval structure makes for a captivating venue. A hotspot for nightlife in Donetsk, the Donbass Arena has also been at the heart of conflict between various peace groups and the Ukrainian armed forces, not least when it suffered damaged by virtue of artillery shelling back in 2014.
29) Stade Louis II (Fontvieille, Monaco)
Capacity: 18,523
Opened: 1939
Tennant(s): AS Monaco & Monaco National Team
Former home of the annual UEFA Super Cup match-up (1998-2012), the all-seater Stade Louis II is the smallest football stadium on the list. The complex as a whole covers 30,000 square metres and incorporates a multi-sports centre, an aquatic centre and the football and athletics stadium. Its USP (unique selling point for those unfamiliar with business jargon) is that it covers a four storey car park that has well over 1700 parking spaces available; the pitch therefore sits 8.35 metres above road level.
Located at the heart of a place with the highest number of billionaires in the world per capita, the Stade Louis II reflects the area and football club’s prestigious image with its small size making for an electric atmosphere, especially on European nights.
28) Atatürk Olympic Stadium (Istanbul, Turkey)
Capacity: 76,092
Opened: 2002
Tennant(s): Istanbul BB (2007-2014), Galatasaray S.K. (2003-2004), Turkey National Team & Besiktas (2013-2016)
Constructed initially as a venue for the 2008 Olympics, only for Turkey’s bid to fail and the games to be awarded to Beijing, the Atatürk Olympiyat or Olympic Stadium is the nation’s largest.
Arguably its greatest claim to fame is the 2005 Champions League final between AC Milan and Liverpool, in which the Merseyside outfit trailed 3-0 at half time, only for a Steven Gerrard header to inspire a dramatic comeback. After clawing their way back to 3-3, the Reds defeated the Italian side on penalties to win one of the most enthralling European finals of all time.
Both Besiktas and Galatasaray have used the Atatürk as a make-shift ground during recent seasons while their stadiums underwent renovation and at present it has no permanent tenant.
27) Veltins-Arena (Gelsenkirchen, Germany)
Capacity: 62,271
Opened: 2001
Tennant(s): Schalke
Having superseded Schalke’s former, slightly outdated home venue ‘Parkstadion’ fifteen years ago, the Veltins-Arena is loaded with gadgets and is symbolic of the technological advances we are seeing more and more in football stadiums today.
Spanning the entire stadium, a fiberglass, retractable roof is one chic feature, while the inclusion of a centrally-positioned, cube scoreboard adds an American touch, acting as testament to the stadium’s occasional use as an ice hocky venue.
Most impressive of all though is the slide-out pitch that takes approximately four hours to draw out, enabling the Veltins-Arena to be both an iconic football stadium but also an effective music venue; Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi and Robbie Williams are among big artists to have performed there. Close to the changing rooms a chapel can also be found and to date there have been well over 200 weddings carried out at the home of Die Königsblauen.
26) Estadi Di Mestalla (Valencia, Spain)
Capacity: 55,000
Opened: 1923
Tennant(s): Valencia
Although Los Murciélagos could shortly be leaving the old Estadi Di Mestalla behind when they make the switch to the Nou Mestalla, which began construction in 2007, it remains one of the nation’s finest football venues. A relatively large capacity coupled with incredibly steep stands close to pitch-side crafts an intimidating and invasive atmosphere for opposition players. The nation’s fifth largest football stadium was actually used as a concentration camp and storage facility during the Spanish Civil War.
Located close to the city centre, the Mestalla’s cascade of orange and unique structure is memorable and it has played setting to two Copa Del Rey finals in recent years (2011 and 2014) as well as all of Spain’s Olympic football matches in 1992 before the final.
25) Celtic Park (Glasgow, Scotland)
Capacity: 60,411
Opened: 1892
Tennant(s): Glasgow Celtic
Few venues come close to halving the passion that oozes out of Paradise on Old Firm day, with Scotland’s largest stadium catering brilliantly for the roars of fans whose contentment hinges on their club’s success. Despite Celtic Park being an all-seater stadium at present, the club have recently been trialling a safe-standing section in an attempt to recapture the match-day experience of old, although such advances have been controversial and met with their fair share of criticism.
The home faithful turn up the volume to chilling levels on a European night; just cast your mind back to Celtic’s 2-1 win over Barcelona back in 2012. Perhaps a little lower on this list than expected, the gargantuan Parkhead comes close to top spot if we’re talking about grounds that create the best atmosphere.
24) Stade (Orange) Vélodrome (Marseille, France)
Capacity: 67,394
Opened: 1937
Tennant(s): Marseille
While its overall appearance and renovations prior to the 1998 World Cup have increased its popularity, being home to arguably the nation’s most successful football club of all time makes the Orange Vélodrome a solid fixture on this list.
23) Amsterdam Arena (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Capacity: 53,502
Opened: 1996
Tennant(s): Ajax & Netherlands National Team
The €140 million construction of the Netherlands’ biggest football venue concluded some twenty years ago this year and after hosting various football, American football and music events, the Amsterdam Arena remains one of the most well recognised stadia across the continent. Rated four stars by UEFA, it has served as a buzzing venue for such occasions as the 2013 Europa League final and the 1998 Champions League final and has unrivalled visibility from practically every seat in the stadium.
When transformed for music concerts, through covering the pitch with aluminium and closing the retractable roof, it becomes the largest indoor venue for entertainment in Europe. Boasting a new club museum, numerous restaurants and a tailored shopping centre, the Amsterdam Arena serves not only as one of the best football stadiums for its club and national supporters but as a hotbed for fans of culture and night-life.
22) Juventus Stadium (Turin, Italy)
Capacity: 41,475
Opened: 2011
Tennant(s): Juventus
One only has to utter the words ‘Lo Stadio’ or ‘The Stadium’ to a fellow Italian and they’ll know exactly what you’re talking about; that’s testament to just how famous this Turin-based landmark has become.
Opened only five years ago by a match-up between the Old Lady and Notts County, the world’s oldest outfit and the side Juventus stole their strip colours from, the Juventus Stadium has already hosted the 2014 Europa League final as well as serving centre-stage for some big match-ups in the UEFA Champions League, not least when it received a record attendance of 41,332 earlier this year when Bayern Munich strolled into town.
Planned by 1999 Car Designer of the Year Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Stadium aims to be incredibly environmentally friendly too and is able to run on electricity produced by photovoltaic panels (essentially solar energy).
21) Soccer City / First National Bank Stadium (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Capacity: 94,736
Opened: 1989
Tennant(s): Kaizer Chiefs FC & South Africa National Team
Ask anyone about the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and along with vuvuzelas and the infamously bouncy jabulani balls, Soccer City will rank highly in their memory bank. Nicknamed the ‘Calabash’ for its resemblance to the vine grown for fruit, the inspiring FNB Stadium has hosted some historical events from Nelson Mandela’s first speech after being released from prison to the first ever World Cup final to be held in Africa.
With no restricted views and no spectator more than 100 metres from the pitch, the design of the FNB Stadium aims to immerse every individual into the heart of the passion. Around the outside of the stadium, there are bright, fire-like colours coupled with lights to make Soccer City stand out in the heart of one lively city.
20) Estadio Da Luz (Lisbon, Portugal)
Capacity: 64,642
Opened: 2003
Tennant(s): SL Benfica
No pillars, a rounded and sound-retaining roof and a spider web of red girders supporting the whole thing and it’s clear the designers didn’t skimp on the aesthetics of SL Benfica’s home – the Estadio Da Luz. With the club symbol of an Eagle guarding the stadium entrance and the statue of club legend Eusébio outside the ground, it is designed to utilise as much natural light as possible, hence the English translation ‘The Stadium of Light’ and ranks as a UEFA category four ground.
Portugal’s infamous UEFA Euro 2004 final defeat to Greece is one of the more memorable match-ups to have been played here, while Real Madrid’s eventual 4-1 demolition of neighbours and rivals Atletico in the 2014 Champions League final also bolstered the Estadio Da Luz’s fame.
19) Estadio Centenario (Montevideo, Uruguay)
Capacity: 76,609
Opened: 1930
Tennant(s): Uruguay National Team, Peñarol
Few stadiums on this list are more traditional than Uruguay’s largest footballing venue. Essentially the same design as the model built for the first ever World Cup in 1930, the Estadio Centenario originally had a capacity of approximately 100,000 and workers had to bust a gut every hour of the day to get it finished, only to fail.
Still, after an impressive nine months, completion came to fruition and it managed to host ten games at said tournament. From that moment onwards, the Centenario became the home of football in its nation.
Having opened its doors to performances from legends like Luciano Pavarotti and the Rolling Stones, the Centenario was constructed a century after Uruguay secured independence and such a sentiment is no better encapsulated than by the implementation of the 100m tower above the Tribuna Olimpica which beholds nine windows, each representing a stripe on the Uruguayan flag.
18) Stadio Olimpico (Rome, Italy)
Capacity: 70,634
Opened: 1937
Tennant(s): Roma and Lazio
At the heart of the Italian capital, the Stadio Olimpico embodies passion and tradition and if its greatest claim to fame isn’t acting as the hotspot for one of the most fearsome rivalries worldwide, then its hosting of the famed 1990 World Cup final has to be up there too. Naturally it’s owned by the Italian National Olympic Comittee, hence the name, and is the nation’s primary atheltics stadium.
The Stadio Olimpico underwent a revamp ahead of the 2009 UEFA Champions League final, which involved new facilities being installed, every seat being changed and the introduction of HD LED screens, all of which aided its rise to become a UEFA Elite stadium. How many stadiums of its age can claim to boast one of the richest histories in the game but simultaneously contain some of the most modern facilities around?
17) Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Capacity: 61,688
Opened: 1938
Tennant(s): River Plate and Argentina National Team
Due to host the 2018 Youth Olympics, Argentina’s biggest football stadium ‘El Monumental’ began being constructed in 1936, only for funds to run low midway through the operation and organisers to call a halt on continuing building the north stand. This temporarily incomplete structure birthed the nickname the ‘horseshoe’.
Despite having no roof nor being particularly steep, the stadium still generates an incredible atmosphere when filled with some of the continent’s most passionate supporters, fans of River Plate. The list of big names to have performed at the Estadio Monumental is testament to how appealing and energising a venue it really is; Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Elton John and Guns N’ Roses are among the names to have strolled out in the Argentinian capital.
16) Stade de France (Saint Denis, France)
Capacity: 81,338
Opened: 1998
Tennant(s): France National Team
The only stadium in the world to have hosted both a football World Cup final AND a rugby World Cup final highlights in itself the reliability for passion and an electrifying occasion offered by the Stade de France. Having also attracted stars such as Paul McCartney, U2 and Madonna since construction, it is most recently recognisable as the venue for Portugal’s first ever major tournament triumph when they beat hosts France 1-0 back in July.
Its roof alone cost €45 million but with this hefty price tag comes an important message; the elliptical structure is supposed to resemble the universitality of sport across the nation. The hidden surprises don’t stop there either; a retractable stand can also be moved aside to unveil an impressive atheltics track. Brilliant.
15) Ibrox (Glasgow, Scotland)
Capacity: 50,947
Opened: 1899
Tennant(s): Glasgow Rangers
Slap bang in the middle of the countdown is Scotland’s finest football stadium, for creating an atmosphere at least. Designed by the legendary Scot Archibald Leitch, a pioneer in football stadium construction, Ibrox now has a relatively simple layout after the disaster of 1971, in which 66 were crushed to death in the crowd, prompted the construction of three rectangular, all-seater stands. Such stands were based, at the time, on those found in Borussia Dortmund’s Westfalonstadion.
A pulsating Merseyside derby or El Classico may captivate and excite but nothing compares to the atmosphere cranked up by an Old Firm clash at Ibrox; a city splits in half and Scottish football hinges expectedly on its pinacle. Ibrox is the catalyst of this unrivalled passion and for that reason deserves its place on this list.
14) St. James’ Park (Newcastle, England)
Capacity: 52,405
Opened: 1892
Tennant(s): Newcastle United
Locked in the heart of a football-mad city, St James’ Park, England’s tenth largest stadium overall, has an asymmetrical structure and is slightly lop-slided, not dissimilar to the shape of the aforementioned Parkhead. Although it didn’t open its doors to Newcastle United until 1892, the stadium’s construction was actually completed twelve years prior to the club’s formation and originally hosted other footballing events.
Most recently used in the 2015 Rugby World Cup as well as having made a few cameo appearances in the 2012 Olympics, the iconic venue’s cantilever roof is the continent’s largest cantilever structure at 64.5 metres. A fortress during Newcastle’s time at the pinnacle of the Premier League, the stadium’s south stand did enough to evoke fear in itself; the ‘Gallowgate End’ earns its name from the fact public executions were carried out close to where the stadium was built.
13) Emirates Stadium (London, England)
Capacity: 60,432
Opened: 2006
Tennant(s): Arsenal
It was once theorised that the implementation of a modern, 60,000 seater football stadium with one of the finest cut pitches worldwide would propel Arsenal into the realms of footballing utopia; that juicy increase of 111% in match-day revenue could be splashed year-on-year on the very best players, right? As a Gooner myself, I hate to say this isn’t the case.
That said, the nation’s third largest football stadium still caters for Arsenal’s fluid style of play and is one of the most gorgeous looking venues on offer in the English capital. The three-tiered bowl structure may be a modern one but through the 2009 ‘Arsenalisation’ project, the club still showcases a great deal of history and tradition, not least through the construction of ‘The Spirit of Highbury’ monument portraying every individual to have played for the club at their former home.
12) Olympiastadion (Berlin, Germany)
Capacity: 74,475
Opened: 1936
Tennant(s): Hertha Berlin
Werner March’s Olympiastadion is as much a historical monument as a sporting arena and has been used for a host of footballing events from the 2006 FIFA World Cup final to the 2015 Champions League final, rendering it one of the most prestigious stadia in world football. It oozes history and once had its own stand for Adolf Hitler at a time when its capacity surpassed 100,000. It underwent renovations in 2004 in an attempt to create a better experience for its regular visitors, supporters of Hertha Berlin. This involved lowering the pitch by nearly three metres, expanding the roof and rebuilding the entire lower tier of seating. It now has the highest, all-seater capacity of any stadium in Germany.
11) La Bombonera (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Capacity: 49,000
Opened: 1940
Tennant(s): Boca Juniors
Translated in English as ‘the chocolate box’, La Bombonera is an oddly-shaped, distinctive masterpiece of football stadium architecture. In an attempt to save space, one stand stands vertical, comprised of seating areas stacked on top of one another, facing the other three, curved tiers. The acoustics are tremendous; the stadium is passion personified. La Bombonera exhales and inhales with each roar of the crowd and the ground is said to pulsate and tremble beneath the players’ feet. Last year a poll on the official website for the Copa Libertadores concluded that La Bombonera remains the most feared stadium in world football. The pitch (105m x 68m) is the smallest it can possibly be under FIFA regulations and this coupled with the electric fans of Boca Juniors is exactly why many label it ‘La Doce’ (the twelfth man) and why it cements its place on the list of the greatest stadia, not only in football but in the world.
10) Signal Iduna Park / Westfalenstadion (Dortmund, Germany)
Capacity: 81,359
Opened: 1974
Tennant(s): Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund hammer Real Madrid 4-1. Robert Lewandowski has bagged himself a quartet of goals and we have witnessed one of the greatest nights in European football history. No one can argue that such a result wouldn’t have panned out had it not been for the intimidating, formidable atmosphere generated by the Signal Iduna Park and its fans.
Formerly the Westfalenstadion, Dortmund’s home ground was a regular venue in the 1974 and 2006 World Cups and is currently made up of four roofed grandstands, making for a rather traditional layout. Few teams will prize points from the Park on European nights, especially when faced with the infamous south terrace named the ‘Yellow Wall’ at which stand some of the most feared fans in Germany.
9) Anfield (Liverpool, England)
Capacity: 54,167
Opened: 1884
Tennant(s): Liverpool (1892-Present), Everton (1884-1892)
There are few words in football as significant and vivid as ‘Anfield’. Arch rivals Everton were the original tenants of Liverpool’s prestigious ground but you’d do well to find a smidgeon of Toffee remnants in the stadium’s build. Each brick is kept in place by a glue of tradition and rich history; from the famed Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley gates to the prominent Kop Stand, Anfield’s menacing tone is catalysed by one of the wittiest, most fearsome fan bases in the game.
It is a ground truly fitting for the most decorated club side in world football and any fan would do well not to succumb to goosebumps when trapped amidst a chorus of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ on a big European night. From its record low attendance of 1,000 in December 1895 to its highest of 61,905 in the early 1950s, you can always guarantee a hair-raising atmosphere on the Reds’ home turf.
8) Maracanã (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Capacity: 78,639
Opened: 1950
Tennant(s): Flamengo, Fluminense
A ring-shaped paragon of football stadia excellence, the Brazilian Maracaña came to its own just five games into use. The 1950 World Cup final against Uruguay, dubbed as ‘Marcanazo’ or ‘the big blow of Maracaña’, saw a world record 200,000 spectators flood the stadium only for the hosts to lose the prestigious match by virtue of goalkeeper Moacir Barbosa’s costly error; from that moment onwards Barbosa would be shunned and taunted everywhere he went.
Of course, since its 2013 renovation, its capacity is now limited to just shy of 80,000 but that doesn’t mean it’s any less daunting a stage to stand on. Some of Brazil’s finest outfits ply their trade here; Flamengo and Fluminense are the main tenants but Vasco da Gama and Botafogo have also hired it for the odd game.
7) Estadio Azteca (Mexico City, Mexico)
Capacity: 87,000
Opened: 1966
Tennant(s): Club América and Mexico National Team
The list of significant events to unfold at the Estadio Azteca is endless. From Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ in 1986 to Pele at his peak nearly thirty years prior, there is certainly something special about the Azteca’s dynamics that warrant its frequent hosting of such big occasions. The third biggest football stadium on the planet, and the only one to have hosted two official World Cup finals is currently amidst an intense renovation programme.
As well as playing a key role for football in the 1968 Olympics, the Azteca was also the venue for the ‘Game of the Century’ when Italy defeated Germany 4-3 after extra time back in a 1970 FIFA World Cup semi-final. The ground beneath it was formerly lava of the now doused ‘Xitle’ volcano; fortunately, the only eruptions to take place at the heart of Mexico now are those of the Club América fan base when their beloved side find the net.
6) Old Trafford (Manchester, England)
Capacity: 75,635
Opened: 1910
Tennant(s): Manchester United
The Theatre of Dreams has instilled opposing sides with more nightmares than anything else and has ultimately catalysed Manchester United’s unprecedented success. From the Busby Babes to Fergie to the class of 92’, this estimable arena has been eye-witness to the main bulk of the Red Devils’ history since construction was completed just over a century ago.
England’s only stadium to boast a five-star UEFA rating, Old Trafford came through bombing in the Second World War (United used rivals City’s Main Road for eight years) to now stand triumphant as one of the most iconic stadia in world football; ghosts of the greatest suffocate the crisp Manchester wind on a cold European night and combine with the roar of a near 80,000 crowd to remind visitors that they stand on the turf of legends.
5) Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid, Spain)
Capacity: 81,044
Opened: 1947
Tennant(s): Real Madrid
If you are a sufferer of vertigo, you may want to steer clear of the fifth most famous stadium in world football. The Santiago Bernabéu’s exterior may not appear anything special but, surrounded by a stack of multiple tiers, the inner sanctum of arguably the biggest football club globally traps the almighty roar of the Galactico crowd. There is an ongoing desire from club officials to bring the passion to the boil and top the stadium with a roof but advances have, so far, been unsuccessful.
The Italian side of the early 1980s will have fond memories of a 3-1 World Cup final win over West Germany here, while from a domestic perspective, few stadiums have seen half as many big names grace them fortnightly. Potentially the HQ in which decisive deals are conducted, the Bernabéu is the centrepiece for a club determined to top the footballing ladder at any cost.
4) Allianz Arena (Munich, Germany)
Capacity: 75,000
Opened: 2005
Tennant(s): FC Bayern München
Proving that history isn’t everything, Bayern Munich’s appropriately nicknamed ‘Schlauchboot’ or ‘rubber dinghy’ has captured the attention of footballing and architectural enthusiasts, despite being just over a decade old. Capable of changing its external glow and colour dependent on which side is playing, unique is a grand understatement when trying to pinpoint what this football stadium is all about.
Centre-stage to some of Bayern’s recent moments of euphoria (a 4-0 demolition of Barcelona in a 2013 Champions League semi-final springs to mind) and heartache (remember the 2012 Champions League final Chelsea fans?), the Allianz Arena is a pitch-perfect, modernised paradise locked in the heart of beautiful Bavaria.
3) Stadio Giuseppe Meazza / San Siro (Milan, Italy)
Capacity: 80,018
Opened: 1926
Tennant(s): A.C Milan and Inter Milan
Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’ may be the first-stop for connoisseurs of fine art when they stroll into Milan, but everyone knows the real masterpiece in one of Italy’s most vibrant cities is the football stadium responsible for the relentless success of Internazionale and AC Milan. The high-rise towers in each of the stadium’s four corners supply the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza with a power-station feel and there’s certainly an electric buzz permeating the walls of the nation’s favourite arena come match day.
Public funds generated the stadium’s construction in the mid 1920s and it has since undergone renovation after renovation, simultaneously witnessing two Italian giants hoover up many a Scudetti, and the frequent modernisation has ensured that this consequential coliseum is far from a crumbling fortress.
2) Camp Nou (Barcelona, Spain)
Capacity: 99,354
Opened: 1957
Tennant(s): FC Barcelona
Constructed initially to seat the thousands of fans eager to lay eyes on a Hungarian frontman in his prime, the Camp Nou is a fitting venue for the jewel in the Catalonian crown that is FC Barcelona. Capacities have fluctuated over time but the atmosphere is consistently palpable; there is a magical feel, a holy sense about this stadium – just ask Pope John Paul II who celebrated a mass there just over thirty years ago.
A magnet for Messi-lovers and football history buffs, Europe’s largest stadium has held two UEFA Champions League finals as well as a handful of games at the 1982 World Cup but its most recognisable use is as the home for one of the greatest football clubs of all time. Young players are churned out of the Barca youth academy like nobody’s business but only when they’ve strolled onto the acclaimed Camp Nou do they really transform from boys to men. It’s going to take something truly magnificent to top this...
1) (New) Wembley Stadium (London, England)
Capacity: 90,000
Opened: 2007 (Original opened 1923)
Tennant(s): England National Team
And taking the number one spot is, naturally, the home of football – Wembley. Had it not been for tobacconist Arthur Elvin’s generous donation of more than £100,000 back in 1927, neither the famed arch that has overlooked so many ground-breaking FA Cup finals, nor the stadium itself, would be here today. Formerly the ‘Empire Stadium’, Wembley earns pole position not only for its post-2007 involvement in football, but also the 84 year history prior to the renovation.
Greats to have seen success there run from the likes of Bobby Charlton, Eusébio and Johan Cruyff to Lionel Messi, Pep Guardiola and Arjen Robben, the latter three having all won the prestigious Champions League on Wembley’s turf in 2011 and 2013 respectively. Few knew just how significantly the magical energy of Wembley would be altered after Didi Hamann scored the final goal at its old form, but it’s fair to say it was a move worth making.
Now the English capital beholds the most emblematic venue in the world of sport and, with statues of Bobby Moore, Arthur Elvin and Alf Ramsey guarding it, one can rest assured that Wembley remains at the heart of football not only nationwide, but worldwide.
