Heysel, many dreams and a nightmare for the new King Baudouin

Last update 29 May, 2014 por Julio Muñoz

Hanging by the Football travels to the heart of Europe to discuss the King Baudouin Stadium, Or what is the same, the former Heysel in Brussels. An enclosure remembered for the great tragedy of 29 de mayo de 1985, but he has lived many more stories of great interest to lancho of his long life.

And the Belgian stadium is an old coliseum whose inauguration dates from distant 1930 with the celebration of world track cycling. The desire to make a great stadium that would welcome the Universal Exhibition in Brussels 1935 He caused the construction of one of the stages emblem of the old continent. its location, a few 300 meters from the Atomium puts him in a privileged place.

Headquarters of the Belgian football team, often it hosts every year the final of the Belgian Cup and the Memorial Van Damme athletics brings together the best athletes of the moment. Important events but not new to a stadium very early was accustomed to receiving the best events.

No wonder it has been four times venue for the final of the European Cup. The first one in 1958, when Madrid Gento, Di Stefano and Kopa was imposed by 3-2 Schiaffino AC Milan and Cesare Maldini in the third edition of the continental showpiece.

Años después en 1966, whites again rose to its sixth European Cup defeat by Partizan 1-2 thanks to goals from Amancio Amaro and Serena. Its good location would repeat him 1975, this time doubly. Tras un empate a 1 Aragonés between Atletico and Bayern Beckenbauer, there was a matchup of playoff dispute would end up giving a new European Cup the Germans in a memorable match Torpedo Müller.

Nine years later, Heysel live its peak, The infamous memory. Platini Juventus won at Liverpool with a goal from French star. Sin embargo, the meeting would go down in history by previous events the party.

In full rivalry between Italian football and English ( a year before the “reds” They had defeated Roma), 25.000 viewers each side went to a seat stadium 60.000 plazas. Las 10.000 other locations that were delivered to the Belgian public were repurchased by fans of both teams which caused a terrible connection that ended the “hooligans” English throwing objects and pouncing on Italian.

They could not stop being embedded with fixed and no emergency exit fences and failed to prevent a tragedy that claimed 39 muertos ( 34 Italians, 4 Belgians, 2 French and British) and more of 600 heridos.

A pesar de todo, the party in a very insensitive act by UEFA ended up quarreling with Italian victory, but it provoked a strong sanction to English teams and substantial reform in the stadium.

An enclosure that would open its doors in 1995 under the name of King Baudouin, in homage to the Belgian monarch died two years earlier. A completely new stadium, with running track and a capacity for 60.000 spectators, all seated and enormous security measures and control.

Under its new name, the Coliseum witnessed the inauguration of the Euro 2000 between Sweden and Belgium and the semifinal match between France and Portugal that would end gala victory. It would be the second Euro would live stage after seeing crowned in 1972 the great Germany in the 70 against the USSR.

Other highlights

Beside all these events, Heysel also hosted four finals of the Cup Winners Cup, highlighting on how lived in 1980 ( Kempes Valencia victory in penalits against Arsenal).

Además, It has allowed to see details of great players and golazos as marked by the Spanish Andres Iniesta a qualifying match for the World 2010 a prelude to what would midfielder in the final of South Africa.

Also, It has hosted concerts by the best bands in the world, en especial, de U2, which came to congregate 144.000 personas. Heysel, words are unnecessary.