Features
SAT 18.07.2015
- Before being called the Vicente Calderón, the ground where Atlético de Madrid play was named the Estadio Manzanares.
- It was built on the shores of the River Manzanares and in its original design there were plans to build walkways which would link one side of the stadium to the opposite shore of the river.
- After more than five years of building works; on the 2nd of October, 1966, the Estadio Manzanares was officially inaugurated with a capacity for 62,000 spectators, in a match against Valencia Club de Fútbol which was drawn 1-1.
- Luis Aragonés scored the first goal in the history of the stadium.
- After various redevelopments, the stadium reached its current form, and was given the name Vicente Calderón on the 14th of July, 1971, in recognition of the work carried out by its president. The re-inauguration of the ground, with a reduced capacity for health and safety reasons, took place on the 23rd of May, 1972, in a friendly match between Spain and Uruguay.
- It was the first all-seater stadium in any of the major European leagues.
- In the 1982 World Cup in Spain it was one of the tournament stadiums and it hosted three of the twelve second round matches.
- The Vicente Calderón was the first ground at which King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía presided over a sporting event as the new Monarchs of Spain.
- Madrid's M-30 motorway runs under the stadium.
- As well as Atlético matches, the stadium also hosts some of the biggest concerts in the country. Artists such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, The Rolling Stones and AC/DC have all performed there.
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