- Address: Belgrade
- Country: Serbia
- Capacity: 53,000
- Opened: 1 September 1963
- Main use: Football
- Tenants: Crvena zvezda (football)
Extra stadium info – Stadion Rajko Mitić
The construction of the venue, nicknamed Marakana, started in 1960. It is known as a venue for several events, like athletics, boxing, concerts and football. The stadium hosted its first-ever final of the European championship for football clubs in 1973. 89,000 people attended the game. The venue hosted its first-ever final of the European championship for national football teams in 1976. The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic won the final after penalties in front of 30,000 spectators.
Rajko Mitić and Crvena zvezda
The stadium is named after a former football player of Crvena zvezda. Rajko Mitić played hundreds of matches for the club. Crvena zvezda reached the two-legged final of the UEFA Cup in 1979. The first leg took place at the venue named Stadion Rajko Mitić. The match between Crvena zvezda and the German side Borussia Mönchengladbach ended in a 1-1 draw. The second leg, which took place in the city of Düsseldorf, ended in a 1-0 victory for the Germans.
European champions and world champions
Crvena zvezda were crowned European champions in 1991 for the first time in their history. They won the title after defeating the French side Olympique de Marseille in the Italian city of Bari. 51,000 people attended the final. The same year, Crvena zvezda won the Toyota Cup, the former world championship for football clubs. They won the title after beating Colo-Colo from Chile in Tokyo.
Partizan
Partizan are known as the arch-rivals of Crvena zvezda. Both clubs from Belgrade were founded in 1945. Partizan and Crvena zvezda both won numerous domestic top-flight football league titles. Partizan lost their inaugural European championship final in 1966. The game against the Spanish side Real Madrid was played in the Belgian city of Brussels.
