<\/p>\n

Key facts<\/h3>\n

Club: FK Crvena Zvezda (Red Star) | Opening: 1963 | Capacity: 53,000 seats<\/p>\n

History and description<\/h3>\n

Stadion Rajko Mitic, previously called Stadion Crvena Zvezda and often nicknamed Marakana, was built on the site where previously the Jugoslavija Stadium stood.<\/p>\n

The Jugoslavija Stadium had been built in 1927, and been occupied by Crvena Zvezda from 1945. The stadium got demolished in 1959 and on its foundations a new stadium was built.<\/p>\n

Stadion Crvena Zvezda opened four years later, on 1 September 1963, with a match between Crvena Zvezda and Rijeka (2-1). The semi-completed stadium could then hold about 74,000 spectators, but was completed one year later with an increased capacity of 110,000 places.<\/p>\n

Due to its large capacity, the stadium got quickly compared with Rio de Janeiro\u2019s Maracan\u00e3, and thus earned itself the nickname Marakana.<\/p>\n

In 1973, Stadion Crvena Zvezda hosted the European Cup final<\/a> between Ajax and Juventus (1-0).<\/p>\n

Three years later, the stadium hosted the semi-final and final of the 1976 European Championships. In the final Czechoslovakia beat Germany on penalties with Czechoslovakia player Antonin Panenka gaining fame with his chip shot penalty.<\/p>\n

Over the years, capacity of the stadium has gradually been reduced, first through safety measures and later through the conversion of the standing areas to seats.<\/p>\n

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