- Title: Atletico say a last goodbye to the ramshackle yet charming Calderon
- Date: 28th May 2017
- Summary: VARIOUS OF MATCH PARTICIPANTS POSING FOR MEDIA MATCH PARTICIPANTS WALKING ON THE PITCH TORRES AND NIGUEZ CLAPPING TO FANS FANS SHOUTING AND CRYING ON THE STANDS BOY WIPING TEARS AND PUTTING GLASSES BACK ON FANS CRYING FANS WATCHING EVENT (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FORMER COLOMBIA GOALKEEPER RENE HIGUITA SAYING: "There are mixed feelings, happiness for being part of this event, of meeting great idols and to getting funds for the foundation but it is sad as well because the Vicente Calderon is a symbolic stadium which will remain in the memories, not only of the Atletico fans but of all the world." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FORMER ARGENTINA PLAYER CLAUDIO CANIGGIA SAYING: "It was spectacular. People from Atletico Madrid, the fans were amazing and the whole atmosphere we lived here today. It's great for Atletico and for the Scholas foundation and it's great it was a nice event. It has been nice to share the pitch with a lot players of Atletico's history and with so much players who came and participated in the match." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FORMER ATLETICO MADRID PLAYER DIEGO FORLAN SAYING: "It is like a home for me (Vicente Calderon), like my own home because of how they made me feel in the four years I spent here, because of what we won and the shouts of "Uruguayan, Uruguayan!" which I will never forget." VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF VICENTE CALDERON STADIUM
- Embargoed: 11th June 2017 22:35
- Keywords: last match Vicente Calderon stadium Atletico Madrid
- Location: MADRID, SPAIN
- City: MADRID, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0036IR5TMN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Fifty-one thousand supporters bid a final farewell to Atletico Madrid's beloved Vicente Calderon stadium on Sunday (May 28), repeatedly chanting the club's anthem while watching a "Legends" team lose a charity game 5-4 to a World XI featuring Ronaldinho.
Current players Fernando Torres, Gabi and Koke represented Atletico alongside past greats such as Diego Forlan. The Uruguayan striker said he keeps the best memories from the stadium and from the club.
Former soccer stars such as Colombian goalkeeper Rene Higuita and Argentinean Claudio Caniggia said it has been a great experience to participate on the Vicente Calderon's last match.
The game had a far larger attendance than the King's Cup final between Barcelona and Alaves the previous night and allowed fans to say a last goodbye to their club's home of 51 years before it is demolished.
The 10-times La Liga champions are leaving their ground named after a former club president in the south of the city at the start of next season for the 68,000-capacity Wanda Metropolitano stadium in the remote San Blas neighbourhood in the north-east of the capital. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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