For AC Milan and Inter players, the iconic San Siro stadium is more than just a venue - it's an emotional and cultural institution. For Graziano Mannari, who scored two goals in a 4-0 thrashing of Juventus in March 1989, the San Siro represents football as high culture. "Just as the famous Milanese opera house La Scala hosts the most beautiful performances and the greatest artists, this stadium has staged the finest displays of the game," he says.
The stadium's design is part of its appeal - its concrete towers spiralling skywards, the protruding red girders making it seem like a spaceship under construction. "Playing at the San Siro, with its towering rings of stands pressing close to the pitch on all sides, it really feels like you are stepping into another dimension," Mannari explains.
For fans like Inter legend Javier Zanetti, the stadium is a place where memories are made and history is written. "It will always be a stadium that brings memories... And it brought a lot of victories." For Christian Eriksen, who played for Inter in several Derby della Madonnina matches, the stadium is an amazing atmosphere - "The Milan end and the Inter end, the different curvas. The history speaks for itself."
Architect Andrew Edge notes that stadiums are no longer just functional spaces but stages that allow fans to experience memorable matches or events. "Stadiums are the stage-set that allows the fans to experience those memorable matches or events so it is really important when designing a new stadium to understand the essence and soul of a club and identify those key ingredients that will make the stadium so different and special."
As San Siro faces demolition, plans have been approved for its replacement - but this time, the old stadium won't be torn down. Instead, the second tier will be repurposed in the construction of a new stadium to be built just west of the original site.
While it's hard to imagine the iconic stadium being gone, Eriksen acknowledges that "everything has changed". Mannari agrees - "I think an upgrade is needed". But for both players, there's hope that the new stadium will retain some of the old San Siro's magic. For Eriksen, it's about "creating special memories there too".
San Siro may be coming to an end, but its legend lives on - and those chants of 'olè' will continue to echo through its halls long after it's gone.
The stadium's design is part of its appeal - its concrete towers spiralling skywards, the protruding red girders making it seem like a spaceship under construction. "Playing at the San Siro, with its towering rings of stands pressing close to the pitch on all sides, it really feels like you are stepping into another dimension," Mannari explains.
For fans like Inter legend Javier Zanetti, the stadium is a place where memories are made and history is written. "It will always be a stadium that brings memories... And it brought a lot of victories." For Christian Eriksen, who played for Inter in several Derby della Madonnina matches, the stadium is an amazing atmosphere - "The Milan end and the Inter end, the different curvas. The history speaks for itself."
Architect Andrew Edge notes that stadiums are no longer just functional spaces but stages that allow fans to experience memorable matches or events. "Stadiums are the stage-set that allows the fans to experience those memorable matches or events so it is really important when designing a new stadium to understand the essence and soul of a club and identify those key ingredients that will make the stadium so different and special."
As San Siro faces demolition, plans have been approved for its replacement - but this time, the old stadium won't be torn down. Instead, the second tier will be repurposed in the construction of a new stadium to be built just west of the original site.
While it's hard to imagine the iconic stadium being gone, Eriksen acknowledges that "everything has changed". Mannari agrees - "I think an upgrade is needed". But for both players, there's hope that the new stadium will retain some of the old San Siro's magic. For Eriksen, it's about "creating special memories there too".
San Siro may be coming to an end, but its legend lives on - and those chants of 'olè' will continue to echo through its halls long after it's gone.
I'm gonna miss the old San Siro like crazy! 
The thought of it being demolished is just too much to handle 
. But, you know what? I think that's kinda cool they're repurposing the second tier in the new stadium 
. It's like a nod to the past while still moving forward. And can you imagine all the memories those old seats held?! 
The new stadium will have its own magic, but it'll never be San Siro 
. I'm down for creating some special memories at the new place, though 
. Let's hope they capture a bit of that old-school charm 
!
its not like its a historic ruin or anything. imo the new stadium shouldnt even bother trying to replicate the old one - it should be something entirely new and fresh 
anyway, i guess its cool that some of the original structure is gonna get repurposed 
but honestly cant we just preserve the old san siro for posterity instead? 
I'm soooo sad! 
It's like a part of me is dying 
The new stadium thing sounds kinda cool tho, but how can they replicate the magic of the original? 
I mean, it's not just the stadium itself, it's the history and the culture surrounding it. I remember watching Inter games there with my fam and feeling like we're part of something special 
. I mean, can you imagine walking into a new stadium without seeing those iconic concrete towers? 
It just wouldn't be San Siro 
.
.
. I do hope the new stadium will capture some of that special energy and magic from the original San Siro 
️.
. Bring on the new era of football at San Siro! 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to experience the energy of "olè" at the stadium, especially for legendary matches? The thought of creating new memories in the old site's shadow is bittersweet 
meanwhile, it's gotta be said that the design team for this new stadium needs to really think about how they're gonna capture the essence of Italian football spirit - after all, we don't wanna lose that 'olè' vibe in the process 
. I mean, we already know that stadiums are supposed to be stages, but let's not forget that there's also money involved in all of this 
.
... i mean, can you imagine playing in a venue that feels like another dimension? 
for fans like javier zanetti and christian eriksen, the stadium is like a place where memories are made and history is written. it's not just about winning matches or championships, but about the experience of being part of something bigger than yourself.
. even if it's getting demolished and replaced, its legacy will live on in the memories of players like mannari and eriksen, and the countless fans who've cheered them on over the years 
. That stuff can't be replicated just by throwing in some fancy new tech or design features.
i love that theyre keeping the old second tier tho maybe thats where we can find some of that original charm again 
but at the same time, I think an upgrade is kinda necessary 
... I mean, have you seen the way it's been looking lately? The seats are outdated, the concourses are cramped... it was like they didn't even care about the fans anymore 
. But on the other hand, its so iconic and full of history 
that I feel bad seeing it go 
Did you know that the stadium has hosted over 250 official matches, including the European Cup Final twice? 
Those were indeed special times... 
By the way, have you seen this cool stat - San Siro has an average attendance of over 54k fans per match? 