UEFA Cup Venues

On October 4, 2006 UEFA announced the UEFA Cup venues for the 2009 and 2008 UEFA Cup finals. The venue for the 2008 final was named as the City of Manchester Stadium in England, and the 2009 final was allocated to the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Turkey.

City of Manchester Stadium – Manchester, England

The City of Manchester Stadium is one of the newest, largest and most modern football stadiums in England. Located in the heart of football-mad Manchester, the Stadium is currently home to Manchester City FC, who have a 250 year lease on the ground.

The stadium was initially constructed at a cost of £110million to play host to the 2002 Commonwealth Games athletics events. Following the Commonwealth Games the stadium underwent conversion for specific use as a football stadium, with the athletics track removed and an extra tier of seating added. The £35million price-tag for the conversion was paid for by Manchester City FC.

The design of the 47,726 capacity stadium is perfectly suited to football with a bowl shape that facilitates unobstructed views of the pitch from all vantage points. The Manchester City Stadium carries a 4 star UEFA rating.

The Manchester City Stadium played host to its first major UEFA match in 2005 when it successfully hosted the Women’s Euro final.

Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium

With a capcity of 50,509 the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium is the largest and most modern football stadium in Turkey. The stadium was extensively redeveloped between 1999 and 2006, and now boasts a UEFA 5 star rating – the highest possible rating for potential UEFA Cup venues.

The Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium is one of the oldest football venues in Turkey, and was the first football stadium to be privately owned by a football club. Over the years several top Turkish clubs have used the stadium as a homeground, including Galatasary and Beşiktaş, with Fenerbahçe the current tenants. The stadium is named after Şükrü Saracoğlu, 6^th President of Turkey and a former president of Fenerbahçe.

The stadium offers more than just football, as fans also have access to an on-premises mall, cinemas and a football museum. As with all great UEFA Cup venues, the stadium’s superb design, facilities and fascinating location promises football fans an unforgettable experience.

For more information on travelling to these UEFA Cup venues, visit the UEFA Cup Travel page available on this site.