Santiago Bernabeu, The Temple of Madrid

Santiago Bernabeu, The Temple of Madrid

Few stadiums in the world can enjoy having lived and seen so many things like Santiago Bernabéu. Real Madrid's stadium and on many occasions the Spanish team is one of the most spectacular and iconic venues around the world football. It is the largest, nor the prettiest, but perhaps the most daunting of all European football fields. Playing at the Bernabeu is always a tough opponent slab for lifting equipment.

The premiere of the field must honor the president himself Santiago Bernabéu, what in 1944 He decided to build a field that replace the old stadium Chamartin. Longtime president of the white entity (35 years in office) and he commissioned a project that would see the light 14 from December to 1947, with the dispute of a friendly Real Madrid- The Belenenses. Sabino Barinaga had the honor of scoring the first goal in the new White House.

There have been many players who have been treading the Bernabeu. Alfredo Di Stefano, Butragueño, Santillana, Juanita, Schuster, Laudrup, Ronaldo, Zidane, Raúl, Gento o Puskas are some of the many figures who played dressed in white in the “new Chamartin”, as initially it was called.

Obviously with such names, I could not be less than the enclosure had not been home to many major competitions. Between them, a Global (year 82), a Euro Cup (64), 4 European Cup final and 35 the Copa del Rey or formerly known as the Generalissimo. Precisely, the European Cup 1957 It would be the first major event of the new White House. The second European Cup Real Madrid would have no better stage than his own fiefdom. Gento and Di Stefano would be the figures of that legendary encounter against Fiorentina.

Picture of Santiago Bernabéu in 1960.
Picture of Santiago Bernabéu in 1960.

seven years later, luck again would be favorable. Spain became its first European Championship by winning the USSR 2-1 thanks to a header from Marcelino who stood at more than 79.000 spectators who gathered. But without any doubt, the biggest event at the Bernabeu would come in 1982 with the dispute of the World Cup. Italy was crowned champion against Germany with a stellar Rossi. The stadium would host the final addition of several matches of the first and second phase, including two from Spain.

LCopa del Rey has also lived mythical nights at the Bernabeu. The bottle final won by Barcelona, or Centenariazo against Deportivo are among the many stories not to sleep that has lived the enclosure. Not to mention the many derbies against Atlético and especially the Barcelona, with whom he has had strong rivalries, sometimes settled in favor (5-0 of the year 95) and others against ( he 0-3 with the fans applauding Ronaldinho and recalling the famous Supercopa of Spain with Maradona almost 25 years later).

But maybe, the most famous Bernabeu, has come in the famous European nights of the year 80. The real Madrid, a historic club and always paid at comebacks, He had in his stage performances that earned him stellar epic victories. And is that as said one of the idols of the fans, Juanita: “Ninety minuti at the Bernabeu are molto longo”. For it, even a manual comebacks where the first shot and the first offense necessarily had to be invented white. In that sense, he 7 blanco of the years 80 It was a true legend for the fans who always seems to remember him for all parties. his claw, madridista courage and heart endures white fans.

Image Bernabéu after being remodeled 1982.
Image Bernabéu after being remodeled 1982.

another idol, Raul Gonzalez Blanco is also acclaimed with some frequency, at a stage where it is very common to remind players that have brought glory to Chamartin. His spectacular career at Real Madrid's famous Galacticos has left an indelible memory. His professionalism and his many goals along almost 15 years with the white shirt has led to turn it into a myth as Zinedine Zidane, o, Currently Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo.

current Bernabéu

Currently, the Santiago Bernabeu has a capacity of 85-454 spectators, all seated. Besides, heating is available both on the lawn and in the stands to face the winter cold. However, the fact that staying small at the strong request of demands, It is making that are generating future plans for a mega-remodeling at the stadium include a cover with which to cover the stadium at night rain.

Outside the Santiago Bernabeu.
Outside the Santiago Bernabeu.

Julio Muñoz

Journalist, specialist in international football and retro. I write in Colgadosporelfutbol.com and you can follow me at @ juliomv1982
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