On 27^th of December 1959. Red Star played the last match at the old stadium. Novi Sad was the opposition in the farewell game from the worn off stadium built in 1927.

Marakana

Together with it a part of football history has left. At that stadium Moša Marjanović scored a goal against Zamora, Planicka was defeated and after World War II plenty of beautiful and exciting games were played.

After the farewell game stadium was brought down and on its foundations a new and modern sporting object was built. In order to achieve the adequate area for the new stadium that was 12 meters lower than the previous, over 350 000 m³ of soil and 15 000 m³ of stone needed to be excavated. Apart from the fabulous looks the stadium had also a magnificent grass on the pitch with drainage and everything else needed for a quality grass terrain.

Mihajlovic

The new stadium saw the first daylight 3 years later. The official opening was on 1^st of September 1963. at the premiership game against Rijeka (2:1). That day saw 55.000 spectators come though 9 entry gates of 5 meters width each into the unfinished stands. The largest crowd was recorded that autumn in a derby against Partizan – 74.000 people. Next year, after the stadium was entirely finished the capacity was 110.000 spectators.

First goal on Red Star’s “Marakana” was scored by Trifun Mihajlovic, in a youth gamebetween Red Star and United from Zemun, pre-game of the premiership match with Rijeka. First official premiership goal is a deed of Vukoja from Rijeka

Maravic

whereas Dusan Maravic scored the first goal for a senior Red Star team in the same game.

Another thing about records. If we are looking at the number of sold tickets, “Marakana’s” record was set on the 23^rd of April 1975. at the semi final of the Cup winners Cup against the Hungarian Ferencvaros (2:2). Officially there were 96.070 people in the stands with payed tickets but it is approximated that on that April night the stadium was full up to the last spot (110.000).

In the mean time the capacity has drastically decreased. Following the modernisation and meeting the demands of European Football Association of increasing the comfort and security of spectators; at the same time standing places at the stadium were abolished. Chairs were put on all 4 stands so that the total capacity of today’s stadium reaches 54.000 seats.


Belgrade, centre of Europe

Final match of the Champions Cup between Ajax and Juventus (1:0) on 30^th of April 1973. is among the record attendances on Belgrade’s “Marakana”. There were 91.564 spectators in the stands, which is the third highest attendance on the official list.

Apart from that Champions Cup final another major international football competition was played on Red Star’s stadium – European Chapionships 1976. At that time Yugoslavian national team was beaten in the semi final by Germany with 4:2 after extra time in order for Czechoslovakia to beat the Germans with 5:3 in the final game after the penalty shootout (game finished 2:2).


First visitor

The first visitor of the Belgrade’s “Marakana” is also known. It is Laza Petrovic, peasant from vicinity of Loznica. This fiery Red Star fan arrived to the new stadium at 6 o’clock A.M, sat on his seat in the eastern stand, took out cheese and a bannock from his bag, ate his breakfast and waited patiently for the start of the game.