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A football club is as good as their fans and a stadium is as good as its atmosphere. Without fans screaming at the top of their lungs, even the most sophisticated football stadium can feel dull and lifeless. Without the loud chants and incoherent songs from loyal fans, no team can truly experience what “home advantage” is all about.
Today, we will take a look at five football stadiums that know how to play as the 12th man. These five stadiums may not be the most expensive out there, but they sure know how to give their teams the edge.
Here are Europe's top five stadiums that create the best atmosphere.
#5 Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex NEF Stadium - Galatasaray A.S.
Home to Turkish Super Lig giants Galatasaray A.S., Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex NEF Stadium is one of the most fascinating stadiums in Europe. Fans of this great club are prepared to go to any extent to cheer for their club, making life difficult for the visiting team.
They are flashy, loud, and can be exceptionally mean to the visiting side, making sure no weakling is able to thrive in their backyard. The NEF, formerly known as the Turk Telekom Arena, went into the Guinness Book of World Records for being the loudest football stadium.
While Galatasaray were in action in 2011, the fans at the stadium recorded peak loudness of 131.76 decibels, which surely reverberated across the city.
The NEF Stadium, which was inaugurated in 2011, can accommodate up to 52,223 people on a footballing night. With construction costs touching €128 million, the stadium is packed to the brim with modern safety features.
#4 Celtic Park - Celtic
The Scottish Premiership is often seen as a two-horse league, with Rangers and Celtic vying for gold more often than not. Celtic, in particular, have been wildly successful in the last decade, winning the league title every season between 2011 and 2020.
They’ve had some of the best players in their ranks, of course, but they must also tip their hat to Celtic Park for unwavering support.
Celtic Park, one of the best stadiums in the world, knows every trick in the book to put pressure on the opposition. Every touch is booed, every player is jeered. It is impossible to thrive at this stadium unless you have thick skin.
So good are their intimidation techniques, they were able to lead their team to a historic 2-1 win over Barcelona in the 2012-13 Champions League.
The ground in Glasgow holds up to 60,832 people and has a special standing arena for over-enthusiastic fans. The stadium was built in 1888 and currently has a natural grass surface.
#3 Diego Armando Maradona Stadium - SSC Napoli
Serie A outfit Napoli are far from being amongst the most decorated teams in Italy. They have only won two Serie A titles in their history, with the last one coming way back in 1990.
Despite the sub-par performances and agonizing near-misses, Napoli’s fans turn up every single matchday, cheering on their team with all their might.
Located in the Fuorigrotta suburb of Naples, the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium is the third-largest stadium. Named after their iconic former player Diego Maradona, it has a capacity of 54,726, out of which 16,584 are covered seats.
Formerly known as Stadio San Paolo, the football ground is famous for its loudness, majestic tifos, and flare displays.
In the past, Napoli have not always been able to pay back their well-wishers in Naples for their relentless support. This season, they have a chance to end their league title drought and finally bring the title home for the first time in 22 years.
If they do, the city of Naples will be the party capital of the world, the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium will make sure of it.
#2 Anfield - Liverpool
The most soulful stadium in England, Anfield, also happens to be the most decorated one on our list. Courtesy of Liverpool’s football culture, Anfield has seen its team celebrate 19 top-flight titles, six Champions Leagues, amongst others.
Unlike most stadiums, the Merseyside ground does not focus on humiliating opponents. Instead, it simply offers unwavering love and support to the Reds.
Anfield, home of the famous anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” has always been about patience, perseverance, and hope, even when nothing seems to come off.
To no one’s surprise, the motto has allowed Anfield to witness many magical turnarounds. The most recent of those comebacks came against Barcelona when the Reds overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit by recording a magical 4-0 win at Anfield.
Buoyed by the famous victory in the semi-finals, Liverpool ultimately went all the way to lifting the Champions League in the 2019-20 season, beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the final.
#1 Signal Iduna Park - Borussia Dortmund
The most magical, expressive, and downright intimidating stadium in Europe, Borussia Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park sits pretty at the top of our list.
Courtesy of Bayern Munich's domination, Borussia Dortmund haven’t had the chance to win many trophies lately, but their drought has only made their fans more dedicated. They pour in every single night, cheering their team on, irrespective of the quality of the opposition.
With an official capacity of 53,028, the Signal Iduna Park is not only one of the biggest stadiums in Europe, but it’s also rather unique. The south side of the stadium is practically one big stand, capable of hosting 24,000 fans.
The south side is always occupied by the most ardent supporters of the club, who wear the traditional yellow and black and wave flags incessantly. “The Yellow Wall” of Dortmund has become a famous spectacle in football, something even Bayern Munich fans are envious of.
