Sir Alex backs Hampden

[jamiefitz]

whilst I don't agree with the format, it will be great to have games in Scotland

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29226334

Hampden ideal Euro 2020 stage - Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson insists Hampden's history of staging European finals makes it an ideal venue for matches in the 2020 European Championships.

On Friday, Uefa will select the 13 host cities for the tournament and Glasgow joins the likes of London, Cardiff and Dublin among the candidates.

"Everyone involved in the decision making only has to look back at the six finals [held at Hampden]," said former Manchester United manager Ferguson.

"The clubs will have fond memories."

Hampden - home to Queen's Park - staged the 1960 European Cup final, in which Real Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3. Ferguson attended that game.

"I went along there thinking that Eintracht Frankfurt were gods," the former Aberdeen and Scotland manager told the Scottish Football Association.

"They beat Rangers in the semi-final 6-3 at Ibrox Park, which was unthinkable, but Real Madrid splattered them 7-3. The atmosphere was unbelievable, with 133,000 people there.

European football finals staged at Hampden

1960 European Cup: Real Madrid 7-3 Eintracht Frankfurt

1962 European Cup-Winners' Cup: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Fiorentina (Atletico won replay in Stuttgart)

1966 European Cup-Winners' Cup: Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Liverpool

1976 European Cup: Bayern Munich 1-0 Saint Etienne

2002 Champions League: Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Real Madrid

2007 Uefa Cup: Espanyol 2-2 Sevilla (Sevilla won 3-1 on penalties)

"There was a documentary recently on [former Real Madrid forward Alfredo] Di Stefano where he spoke about his five finals, and he made a special reference to the people in Glasgow and the atmosphere in the stadium.

"The great point he made was two players scored seven goals - he scored a hat-trick and Ferenc Puskas scored four. He makes special reference to that night. That's a great basis for thinking about how special Hampden Park is for a final."

The stadium also hosted the European Cup Winners' Cup finals of 1962 and 1966 and the European Cup final a decade later, which was won by Bayern Munich.

There was a long gap before the redeveloped stadium held the 2002 Champions League final, remembered fondly for Zinedine Zidane's spectacular volley for Real Madrid in a 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen.

And seven years ago Spanish sides Espanyol and Sevilla contested the Uefa Cup final on Glasgow's south side.

Hampden was transformed into an athletics stadium for the Commonwealth Games this summer

Ferguson believes his home city's reputation for affording a friendly welcome to visitors should also boost Hampden's chances.

"I've always felt that when I return there's an eternal friendship in Glasgow," he said. "It doesn't change. What we were talking about in 1960 remains to this very day.

"They have the great ability to communicate with people and make them feel welcome.

"They have this fantastic affection for the game. Scotland is a football nation, no question about that."

Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and the Aviva Stadium have been proposed as venues, while Wembley could host the final.

[Swarley]

Meh, he thought Moyes would be a good manager for Man Utd. Look how that turned out!

[forameus]

Reminds me of this...

[ScottMc77]

Just had a flick thru all bid evaluations.

It appears that Belarus, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Israel bids were least well received.

If, and that is a massive if, you leave those out that leaves 15 countries vying for 13 host venues.

I reckon the only thing that would go against Scotland now is if England, Wales and Ireland all had better bids, and were chosen. UEFA have also said they want the 13 venues spread as evenly as possible across Europe.