Rashunda: the place where myth Pele was born

Last update 26 December, 2023 por Alberto Llopis

Hanging by the Football winks to the Nordic football and goes to Stockholm, al Rasunda Stadium. Mythical venue that hosted in 1958 Sweden World Cup 1958.

El Estadio Rasunda, the birthplace of the Pelé legend

This mythical venue was the place he saw in 1958 the birth of a star called Edson Arantes do Nascimento, or what is the same Pele. Sin embargo, the history of this legendary temple of football comes from farther away, concretamente del 17 de mayo de 1937, when Rasunda was opened with a friendly between Sweden and England, which he ended in British victory by a convincing 4-0.

Located in the district of Solna, to some 6 kilometers from the Swedish capital, el Rasunda Stadium It was the usual stadium of the local team, AIK Solna and Djurgardens IF occasions. Its stands completely attached to the grass meant that the fans were in permanent contact with the players., bringing to mind in its essence to the English countryside.

Key stadium in the World Cup in Sweden 1958

The stadium's most important moment was when Rasunda hosted the Sweden World Cup 1958. En él, five games of the first phase vied, quarterfinal match, a semifinal and final. Pero, without a doubt, if anything highlighted this old scenario is for hosting the explosion of a star: Pele.

The World Cup semifinals witnessed how a boy of just 17 years was able to lead his team to the final of a world championship by scoring three goals in Brazil's victory over France by 5-2. Goals, what an incredible impudence added Ball, and a blistering speed that foreshadowed what would eventually become O'Rei.

The final would be the ultimate consecration of Pele, which he helped give Brazil its first World Cup by beating the hosts by another 5-2. On this occasion, el 10 brasileño “solo” He could score two goals, It is earning him for the public to get up from their seats and surrendered to display Pele, que sin embargo, He left without the title to hosts.

It was not until the 26 de septiembre de 1965 when Rasunda live another moment summit. This time to beat the attendance record (52.943 spectators) to the stadium in a qualifying match for the England World Cup 66 between Sweden and Germany, which he ended with German victory 2-1 and the Swedes out of the World.

Headquarters in the European Championship 1992 and venue of the final of the Women's World Cup 1995

The next important milestone of the stadium would be the Eurocopa de 1992, la del miracle of Denmark and the last with 8 equipment. Despite not host the final (which is disputed in Goteborg), Rasunda hosted an interesting semifinal between Sweden and Germany, that like 27 años antes, Teuton ended with victory, this time for 3-2.

En 1995, Scandinavian stadium would host the Women's World Cup, thus becoming be the first stage to host the finals of the Cup of male and female World (the second and last is the Rose Bowl in California). En él, Norwegian would be imposed to Germany in the final.

At club level, Rasunda also witnessed Chelsea's victory against Stuttgart in the final of the Cup Winners' Cup 1998, thanks to a goal from Italian Zola.

Closure of Rasunda and arrival of the modern Friends Arena

At present, el Rasunda Stadium no longer exists. In a tribute in which he attended Pele and many other stars of past and present that was to climax a friendly between Sweden and Brazil they closed its doors forever, welcoming the Friends Arena, an enclosure of 51.100 viewers with every luxury and retractable roof, where there was the famous Chilean goal of Ibrahimovic. Sin duda, a worthy monument and tribute to his predecessor: Rashunda.