Due to the Coronavirus, we may not be able to watch the Champions League at present but that does not mean we cannot look at some of the beautiful game’s most stunning cathedrals and with that in mind, here are ten of the best:
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Home to the legendary Barcelona side, this stadium is synonymous with Catalonian pride and with the club motto “Mes Que Un Club”, the team lead by Lionel Messi is one that entertains huge attendances every fortnight.
Holding the record as Europe’s largest stadium, it really is a structure befitting such talented players and fans flock from all corners of the world, in order to get a glimpse of their beloved icons.
Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Arguably the home of European football and the club that has the most history when it comes to the Champions League. Real Madrid have been crowned kings of the continent on no fewer than 13 occasions and their all white shirts are a throwback to a halcyon era.
This ground has been the home of such luminaries as Ferenc Puskas and Zinedine Zidane, while of course one cannot forget the phenomenal talents of Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo.
San Siro, Milan
Perhaps not quite as special as it once was, the San Siro plays host to Milan’s two arch-rivals, A.C. and Inter. While although it has been overtaken in stature by newer constructions, there is no doubt that the San Siro is still highly regarded as one of the iconic stadiums in the world.
The likes of Ruud Gullit and Marco Van Basten used to wow fans at this ground back in the 1990s and although those days have long since passed, they certainly won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
Old Trafford, Manchester
The Theatre of Dreams was the most feared English stadium back in the 1990s and 2000s, as Manchester United won countless trophies under then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson and although there has been a drought as of late, this ground still sells out to over 70,000 fans.
With a capacity of 75,000, it is England’s biggest club stadium and after renovation in 2006, it has taken on its current size – with plans to further add to the capacity in the next few years.
Anfield, Liverpool
It’s by no means the biggest club stadium in England, but with that said it is arguably the most iconic and with the ‘Anfield Roar’ acting as a twelfth man, Liverpool have won plenty of football matches across the past few decades.
Due to Liverpool’s current success, this is also a stadium that is looking to increase capacity in the next few years and that will only serve to louden the roar that emanates from the red half of Merseyside.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Tottenham
The newest of all the English Premier League stadiums, although you would have to say that Tottenham’s offering is a lot more multi-purpose and it is a venue that is capable of hosting NFL and Boxing contests also.
With the stadium being open for just a year now, it has set the benchmark for all future constructions and it will take something special to beat this North London stadium.
Wembley, London
The home of English football, Wembley and history go hand in hand and although it has been perhaps superseded by the likes of Tottenham and Manchester United’s home grounds, the nostalgia within the stadium will never be lost.
The most iconic fixture to be staged here is surely the 1966 World Cup Final and the hallowed commentary “They think it’s all over, it is now” as England beat West Germany by four goals to two.
Allianz Arena, Munich
The home venue of Munich’s two main clubs – Bayern and 1860, this stadium replaced the old Olympikstadion back in 2005. It is the only stadium across Europe that is able to change colours to reflect which of the two teams are playing—red for Bayern and blue for 1860 Munich.
This stadium is a big hit with Munich based fans, especially as anyone who went to the Olympikstadion complained about being too far away from action – something which is no longer an issue at the Allianz.
Maracana, Rio De Janeiro
With over 200,000 fans reportedly watching the 1950 World Cup Final between Brazil and Uruguay at the Maracana, you can begin to understand what a special place the stadium has in both South American and world Football.
The capacity may have shrunk over the years due to safety reasons, but it was still packing out the fans during the 2014 World Cup, as Brazil were crushed 7-1 by Germany in the Semi-finals.
Celtic Park, Glasgow
Celtic Park is the oldest and largest stadium in Scotland and can be considered to host the greatest football fans in the world. This is a ground that sells out every week, even if the opposition is deemed to be inferior.
Celtic fans cheer their team to victory with a passion that cannot be matched anywhere else and this is a real must-see stadium for any global groundhopper.