Which soccer clubs have most statues of legends at their stadiums?
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Manchester City have unveiled the most recent addition to the rising array of statues at their Etihad Stadium, with extra of the membership’s legendary gamers receiving the honour this week.
The reigning Premier League champions have celebrated three icons from the Nineteen Sixties and ’70s: Colin Bell, Francis Lee and Mike Summerbee. The trio had been half of the revered City staff that grew to become champions of the previous First Division in 1967-68.
Bell, Lee and Summerbee collectively revamped 1,000 appearances and scored virtually 300 objectives for City whereas additionally taking part in integral roles in profitable the 1968-69 FA Cup, 1969-70 League Cup and the 1969-70 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
More than half a century later, the triumvirate have been immortalised with a statue on the concourse outdoors the Etihad together with tributes to some of City’s newer greats.
That brings City’s complete of full-size statues as much as 5 (with the brand new sculpture counting as one piece, regardless of that includes a number of folks) which implies they’re among the many high European groups with the most life-size likenesses of legendary membership figures sited at their grounds.
But which of them has the most? And which do not have any at all? We took a glance across the largest and most historic clubs in Europe’s high leagues to search out out.
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As joint tenants at San Siro, it’s most likely within the curiosity of continued cordiality that neither AC Milan nor Inter have positioned any of their many respective membership legends on a pedestal outdoors the well-known previous stadium. Although, provided that its official title is the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza — after the Milanese former participant who was an important for Inter and likewise performed for Milan throughout his profession — maybe a monument to him is a obvious omission.
Instead, located at the San Siro racecourse throughout the street, there may be giant bronze sculpture of a horse based mostly on Leonardo da Vinci’s well-known sketches. The Rossoneri additionally have a statue of former supervisor Nereo Rocco at their Milanello coaching headquarters.
Dortmund do not have any statues at Signal Iduna Park. However, there may be the monument to former midfielder Max Michallek which was unveiled in 2021 in Borsigplatz — the place BVB had been based — and was part-funded by the membership.
Despite profitable a complete host of trophies — together with a report 36 Italian championships and two European Cups — Juventus do not have any statues of any of the membership’s former greats on show outdoors the Allianz Stadium, which they solely moved into in 2011. They do at least have an uncommon, summary “twisted column” sculpture that takes satisfaction of place at the again of the automotive park.
PSG have solely been in existence since 1970. Although they didn’t beforehand have something just like the success of their final decade or so of Qatari-funded dominance, there was the odd trophy claimed and even some European glory within the kind of the previous UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1995-96. Still, they do not have any statues erected at the Parc des Princes but.
❗️There is a statue at the doorway of Real Madrid’s locker room at the Bernabéu of Sotero Aranguren and Alberto Machimbarrena, 2 ex gamers of Real Madrid and Real Sociedad (at present’s opponents) who died at an early age round 1922. @miguelangelara #rmlive pic.twitter.com/oxhu4ixHfx
— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) March 5, 2022
Somewhat surprisingly, given their grand historical past, Real Madrid don’t at present have any statues at the Bernabeu, and the one they used to have there is no such thing as a longer on show. It depicts two of their former gamers — Sotero Aranguren and Alberto Machimbarrena — who received the Copa del Rey along with Los Blancos in 1917. Both males died tragically younger — Aranguren at the age of 28 in 1922 and Machimbarrena the next yr at 35 — and the statue was created in 1925 in tribute to them. Originally erected outdoors Madrid’s previous stadium, it was positioned contained in the Bernabeu after that was in-built 1947 and was most lately positioned by the locker rooms. The membership has advised ESPN that the statue is in storage whereas the redevelopment of the Bernabeu continues.
Despite having a plethora of heroes from their previous to choose from, Spurs don’t have any statues of any of their nice former gamers or managers outdoors their new stadium. Furthermore, they did not have any outdoors their previous White Hart Lane floor, which stood on more-or-less the identical web site, both. We may have counted the sculpture of the enormous golden cockerel on the roof of the south stand however, an excellent because it appears, that is a bit of a stretch.
Johan Cruyff: After renaming their stadium in his honour in 2018, the yr after his loss of life, Ajax lastly graced the Johan Cruijff ArenA with a statue of their greatest-ever participant in 2020 by unveiling a beautiful bronze determine of Cruyff in his pomp on a plinth outdoors the stadium.
Luis Aragones: After a 10-year taking part in stint with Atleti between 1964 and 1974 throughout which he scored over 100 objectives and received LaLiga 3 times, membership legend Aragones went on to handle the membership and led them to a different league title in 1976-77. In the final of his seven stints in cost he earned promotion again to the highest flight by profitable the 2001-02 Segunda Division.
Atleti additionally have a second statue on the concourse outdoors the Metropolitano stadium — an excellent three-dimensional depiction of El Oso y El Madroño, the picture of the bear and strawberry tree that’s on the town of Madrid’s coat of arms in addition to Atleti’s membership crest. But seeing because the bear has by no means made an official look for the membership or managed them for even one match, we will not embody it in our depend.
Gerd Müller: Bayern unveiled a statue of their nice striker outdoors the Allianz Arena in September 2023 to honour the membership’s all-time report objective scorer. The splendidly expressive sculpture depicts “Der Bomber,” who died in 2021, together with his arms unfold broad whereas celebrating one of the 563 objectives he scored for the Bavarians.
Peter Osgood: Chelsea have however one statue outdoors Stamford Bridge however it’s actually a very good one. The sculpture depicts Blues legend Osgood, who scored in victorious finals of the FA Cup in 1970 and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup a yr later. Dubbed “The King of Stamford Bridge,” he has been given a suitably regal place atop a big plinth overlooking the concourse outdoors the West Stand.
Diego Maradona: There aren’t any prizes on provide for guessing who instructions the one statue on view at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Napoli unveiled the bronze statue on Nov. 28, 2021, a yr after the Argentine icon’s passing. According to Naples-born sculptor Dario Caruso, Maradona’s former supervisor and buddy Stefano Ceci had promised Maradona a statue to honour him after he was granted honorary citizenship of the town in 2017. Ceci already had a scan of Maradona’s foot, which is reproduced in gold on the statue. That sculpture is positioned contained in the stadium by locker room.
There has beforehand been one other statue of Maradona, by sculptor Domenico Sepe, positioned outdoors the stadium. Sepe had donated the statue to the Naples’ city corridor and it was positioned outdoors the stadium in November 2021. However, it was eliminated the identical day, pending a allow, and by no means put again. Earlier this yr, Naples’ city corridor determined to return the bronze statue to Sepe. The council stated it could not preserve it because the statue’s worth (greater than €30,000) is just too excessive to take as a donation. It is now positioned in a well-known pizzeria, “Il tempio di Maradona” [“Maradona’s temple”] in Naples’ Quartieri Spagnoli.
Laszlo Kubala: The first former Barça participant to obtain a statue outdoors Camp Nou was Kubala, the Hungary-born Spain worldwide who received LaLiga 4 instances in the course of the Fifties and scored 194 objectives for the Blaugrana. He was additionally, for greater than half a century, the membership’s second-highest objective scorer of all time, earlier than Lionel Messi romped to the highest of the charts (ending up with 672 objectives) and Luis Suárez (198) additionally overtook him.
Johan Cruyff: As nicely as having a his personal statue and even a stadium named after him in his hometown of Amsterdam, Cruyff can even boast a sculpture of his likeness outdoors Camp Nou, which grew to become considerably his religious dwelling. The former Barça participant and supervisor may be seen directing proceedings outdoors the doorway to the grandstand, as he has been since 2019 when he had the posthumous honour bestowed upon him by the membership.
Eusebio: First unveiled outdoors the Estadio da Luz in 1992, the statue of Eusebio in full flight stands proudly on the concourse. It was additionally adorned with tons of of scarves and a golden crown when the good striker, fondly known as “The King” by followers, handed away in 2014.
Statue of Bela Guttmann with the 2 #ChampionsLeague cups he received as supervisor of #Benfica. #SLB #CarregaBenfica pic.twitter.com/spTMvwtxbG
— Cristiano Oliveira (@10CO10) March 17, 2015
Bela Guttmann: Hungarian coach Guttmann managed Benfica over two stints (1959-62 and 1965-66) and, regardless of solely being in cost for a relatively temporary interval of time, nonetheless managed to win two Primeira Divisao titles, the Portuguese Cup and two European Cups, which his statue nonetheless cradles proudly.
Benfica additionally have a bust inside their stadium as a memorial to Hungary worldwide striker Miklos Feher, who died at the age of 24 in 2004 after collapsing on the pitch whereas taking part in for the membership.
Bill Shankly: It’s solely proper that the person extensively credited as Liverpool’s biggest supervisor has his personal statue outdoors Anfield. Shankly may be seen, arms outstretched, outdoors the doorway to the Kop (typically with purple scarves tied round his wrists by dwelling followers.).
Bob Paisley: The eight-foot sculpture of Paisley is a recreation of one of his most enduring photos, carrying injured Reds defender Emlyn Hughes off the pitch in a match towards Tottenham in 1968 throughout his tenure as membership physio. Paisley held many positions at Liverpool and ultimately took over as supervisor in 1974. Building on the foundations laid by Shankly, Paisley led Liverpool to 6 league titles and three European Cups.
There can also be a bronze bust of John Houlding, the person who initially based Liverpool Football Club in 1892, outdoors the Main Stand at Anfield. It’s a fantastic monument, however we’re solely counting full statues right here.
Manchester City (5)
Bert Trautmann statue at the Etihad Stadium. One of the best males from Bremen to make Manchester their dwelling, pic.twitter.com/CAEOK93Qip
— Christian Machowski (@CM_MalagaFoto) September 22, 2015
Bert Trautmann: The first statue positioned at the Etihad after City moved there in 2003 was a sculpture of former goalkeeper Trautmann. The German entered soccer folklore consequently of his heroics within the 1956 FA Cup last, making a collection of essential saves in the course of the latter phases of City’s 3-1 victory over Birmingham regardless of taking part in the final 17 minutes of the sport with a damaged neck.
David Silva: Silva was the primary of three latter-day City stars to obtain a classy statue outdoors the Etihad. The diminutive Spanish midfielder had his likeness immortalised upon his departure from the membership in 2020 following 10 profitable and wildly transformative years. The 37-year-old is the one determine on this checklist who continues to be taking part in, as he’s at present in his third season at Real Sociedad.
Vincent Kompany: The Belgian defender grew to become the second of City’s fashionable Premier League-winning heroes to obtain a statue outdoors the Etihad when the previous membership captain was honoured with a equally shimmering statue on the identical day as Silva in August 2021.
Sergio Agüero: Agüero acquired the identical honour the next summer season on the tenth anniversary of the Argentine striker’s late, late objective that sealed City’s first Premier League title and ushered in a brand new period of home dominance.
Colin Bell, Francis Lee and Mike Summerbee: City added to their Etihad statue tally on Tuesday by unveiling a tasteful tribute to the membership’s legendary trio Bell, Lee and Summerbee this week. Similar to Manchester United’s “Holy Trinity” (see beneath), City commissioned an ensemble statue in honour of their personal vaunted trio that options them sharing a raised plinth.
Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best and Denis Law: Otherwise often called “The Holy Trinity,” the statue of Charlton, Best and Law is arguably among the many most well-known footballing artworks on this planet. Stationed outdoors Old Trafford, the big sculpture depicts the three United legends arm in arm in celebration.
#OnThisDay 🗓 In 2002, Denis Law unveils a 10-ft statue of himself behind the Stretford End at Old Trafford.
The sculpture by Ben Panting is commissioned by #ManchesterUnited to immortalise Law.#MUFC #OTD #ManUtd #Lawman pic.twitter.com/lSamHEGou3— Aditya (@myselfadi) February 23, 2021
Denis Law: It’s value additionally noting that Law has his personal particular person statue contained in the stadium, befitting of the striker’s enduring legacy as “The King of the Stretford End.” The determine of Law may be discovered at the highest of the terrace in entrance of which he scored many of his objectives throughout his 11-year affiliation with United.
Sir Matt Busby: Stood going through the “Holy Trinity” is the person accountable for managing United to glory within the Fifties and Nineteen Sixties. Sculpted with a soccer tucked casually underneath his arm, Busby received 13 main honours with the membership regardless of many believing his famed staff of eponymous “Babes” had been too younger to compete for silverware.
Jimmy Murphy: Unveiled earlier this yr, United commissioned a statue to mark former coach Murphy’s appreciable contribution to the membership’s historical past. Murphy stepped in as caretaker supervisor within the aftermath of the Munich Air Disaster, which claimed the lives of 23 folks (together with eight United gamers) and left Busby hospitalised. The Welshman helped to steer United by way of the dreadful disaster and even took them to the FA Cup last simply three months after the crash.
Sir Alex Ferguson: Ferguson formally took his place alongside Busby within the United pantheon when his statue was unveiled outdoors Old Trafford in 2012. The most profitable supervisor within the membership’s historical past, Fergie received nearly every part throughout his 26-year tenure and his statue continues to preside over the doorway to the stand that now additionally bears his title.
Ken Friar: Having begun working for Arsenal as a 12-year-old, Friar went on to turn into a board member and managing director of the membership earlier than accepting a job because the Gunners’ honorary life president in 2020. A statue of Friar was erected outdoors the Emirates in 2011 and recreates {a photograph} taken of the teen in 1945 whereas taking part in soccer on the street outdoors the membership’s previous Highbury stadium.
Thierry Henry: As half of their one hundred and twenty fifth anniversary celebrations, Arsenal unveiled a trio of statues outdoors the Emirates on the identical day in December 2011 to honour three of the membership’s most influential figures. Encapsulating his model and panache, Henry’s bronze likeness exhibits the French striker celebrating after scoring with a usually unimaginable strike towards Tottenham at Highbury in 2002.
Tony Adams: The membership’s second-highest appearance-maker of all time, Adams spent 19 years at Arsenal after becoming a member of the membership as a schoolboy in 1983 and was put in as captain at the age of 22 simply 5 years later. He received 10 main honours with the Gunners and his statue exhibits the veteran centre-back celebrating his Premier League title-clinching objective towards Everton in 1998.
Herbert Chapman: The third of the statues unveiled as half of Arsenal’s one hundred and twenty fifth anniversary was a tribute to former supervisor Chapman, whose progressive method to health and techniques helped revolutionise the membership from the bottom up between 1925 and 1935, throughout which era he received the league 4 instances within the area of 5 years.
Dennis Bergkamp: Three years after the primary flurry, Bergkamp was honoured with a statue outdoors the Clock End at the Emirates in 2014. The Dutch ahead spent 11 years at the Gunners and scored 120 objectives in 423 video games, profitable three Premier League titles and 4 FA Cups.
Arsene Wenger: The sixth and most current statue (at present depend) outdoors the Emirates adopted alongside in July 2023 when former boss Wenger was added to the troupe. The progressive French coach spent 22 years in cost of the Gunners and received three Premier League titles (together with the unbeaten “Invincibles” season of 2003-04) and a competition-record seven FA Cups. He additionally performed a pivotal function in designing the stadium outdoors which his statue now stands.
So does this imply that Arsenal can declare to have extra statues of membership legends outdoors their stadium than another soccer membership on this planet? Well, sure — type of.
We know that the Gunners at present boast six bronze figures outdoors the Emirates, which technically provides them the best tally of particular person statues throughout the rapid proximity of their dwelling floor. However, in keeping with the impressively complete database compiled by the Sporting Statues Project, whereas not on show outdoors their stadiums, a number of different clubs do have considerably extra on the premises.
For instance, Argentine membership Boca Juniors have a grand complete of 24 participant statues at La Bombonera however all of them kind half of an exhibition throughout the membership museum, positioned underneath their iconic floor in Buenos Aires.
FC Ararat Yerevan have 21 participant statues at their Hrazdan Stadium however the sculpture is a tribute to Armenian membership’s famed league and cup double profitable facet of 1973 and options all members of the squad with their arms linked — due to this fact arguably forming one giant statue.
The picture of 11 former gamers and their coach can be discovered on a monument at the Alejandro Villanueva stadium within the capital metropolis of Peru, dwelling to Club Alianza Lima. However, reasonably than a conventional statue, the tribute is a big, flat cement frieze that honours the victims of a airplane crash that occurred in 1987.
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