Stadion Ljudski Vrt
Encyclopedia
The Ljudski vrt stadium also known by the abbreviation LV, is a multi-purpose
stadium located on the left bank of the river Drava
in the city of Maribor
, Slovenia
. The stadium is a landmark of the city of Maribor and is considered as one of the most beautiful smaller stadium in the world. The stadium is the home ground of football club NK Maribor
and one of the main venues of Slovenia national football team
. The current capacity of the stadium is 12,994 seats. Besides football the stadium is also the host of many cultural events.
Since then the stadium went through four renovations. In 1994 the main stand was renovated. Four years later (1998), with successful participations of NK Maribor in the European club competition, the stadium was turned into an all-seater and only one year later was fully renovated after the successful qualification of Maribor in the UEFA Champions League
. The biggest renovation was the last one from 2006 to 2008 when the stadium was completely renovated and now holds a capacity of 12,994 covered seats. This renovation is planned in separate phases and is scheduled for completion in the next few years.
For local supporters, the stadium is known as (Football temple) and the pitch itself as (Holy grass). This is most likely due to the tremendous success the club has had on this stadium, but perhaps also because a cemetery
was located on the area before the stadium was built.
The capacity of Ljudski vrt varied throughout history due to renovations, different safety regulations and seating arrangement. Although the official capacity of the stadium in the days of SFR Yugoslavia was around 10,000 the fact that the stadium had mostly standing terraces made it possible for attendance on important matches to reach as high as 20,000 spectators.
The official capacity of the stadium after 1991 was 7,200 however due to the large part of terraces still composed of standing area it was possible for the stadium to hold well over 10,000 spectators on important matches. The most was in 1997 when 14,000 people gathered on the last match of the 1996–97 season. When NK Maribor qualified in the UEFA Champions League
the stadium underwent a major reconstruction and due to UEFA
seafty regulations the stadium was turned into an all-seater stadium with the capacity of 10,160.
In 2008 the stadium underwent another major reconstruction and the capacity was increased to 12,435 covered seats, which was increased again in 2010 and the current capacity of the stadium today is 12,994.
. It is the symbol of the club and one of the most recognizable sport landmarks in Slovenia
. Beside being the home ground of NK Maribor, the stadium has also hosted final matches of the Slovenian Cup
and Slovenian Supercup
on numerous occasions and is also the home venue of the Slovenia national football team
and was the main venue for 2010 FIFA World Cup
qualifications. The stadium will also be one of two main venues for UEFA Euro 2012 qualifications.
Note: The national flag icons indicate the present day countries of the respective clubs. Until 1991 both teams were part of SFR Yugoslavia
against Proleter
. There was 20,000 spectators on the stands that day which is still the record in club history and one of the records of Slovenian football.
Note: The national flag icons indicate the present day countries of the respective clubs. Until 1991 both teams were part of SFR Yugoslavia
. In 1998 the team was close but eventually lost to PSV after extra time. A year later the team played against Lyon. In the 1st leg in Lyon
Maribor made an upset and won the match 1-0. The 2nd leg was scheduled to be played on 25 August 1999 in Ljudski vrt and the ticket demand was so high that the team could sell well over 30,000 tickets. However, the stadium had a capacity of only 7,500.
newspaper.
in the first leg of the promotional playoffs for the Yugoslav First League
, on 8 July 1973. The stadium also holds the record for the highest attendance achieved on a Slovenian league match. This was set in the final round of the 1996–97 season when 14,000 spectators were present for Maribor's match against Beltinci which secured the club's first league title, on 1 June 1997. The record modern (all-seated) attendance is 12,510, for a return leg of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
playoffs beteween Slovenia
and Russia
, on 18 November 2009. In addition, Ljudski vrt holds the record for the highest average attendance during the Slovenian league season to date (5,289).
Maribor did not lose a league match at Ljudski vrt during the 1960–61
(Div 3), 1965–66 (Div 2), 1966–67 (Div 2), 1970–71 (Div 1), 1972–73 (Div 2), 1977–78 (Div 2), 1980–81
(Div 2), 1981–82
(Div 3), 1983–84
(Div 3), 1985–86
(Div 3), 1987–88
(Div 3), 1991–92 (Div 1), 1992–93 (Div 1), 1998–99 (Div 1) and 1999–00 (Div 1) season. They won all their home games during the 1983-84 and 1985-86 seasons. Maribor's longest winning streak at home extended from October 1993 to November 1994, a period encompassing 17 league games, in which Maribor scored 52 goals and conceded 10.
Multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...
stadium located on the left bank of the river Drava
Drava
Drava or Drave is a river in southern Central Europe, a tributary of the Danube. It sources in Toblach/Dobbiaco, Italy, and flows east through East Tirol and Carinthia in Austria, into Slovenia , and then southeast, passing through Croatia and forming most of the border between Croatia and...
in the city of Maribor
Maribor
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. The stadium is a landmark of the city of Maribor and is considered as one of the most beautiful smaller stadium in the world. The stadium is the home ground of football club NK Maribor
NK Maribor
Nogometni Klub Maribor , commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from...
and one of the main venues of Slovenia national football team
Slovenia national football team
The Slovenia national football team is the national football team of Slovenia and is controlled by the Football Association of Slovenia. The team played their first match in 1992 after the split of Yugoslavia in 1991....
. The current capacity of the stadium is 12,994 seats. Besides football the stadium is also the host of many cultural events.
History
The stadium received its name after the public park of Maribor which was planted in 1873. The park was later turned into an army shooting range until 1920 when the first football field was built in the area. The meaning of Ljudski vrt is People's garden . The pitch on the present day area was built in 1952, while the stadium itself was not built until 1962. The main stand that was built in 1962 is still the most recognizable part of the stadium. The main trademark of the stand is its 129,8 meters long and 18,4 meters high concrete arch that is protected by the Slovene Institute for Cultural Heritage Protection. The first match on the stadium was played on 25 June 1961 between Maribor and Mladost Zabok, won by Maribor 3–2.Since then the stadium went through four renovations. In 1994 the main stand was renovated. Four years later (1998), with successful participations of NK Maribor in the European club competition, the stadium was turned into an all-seater and only one year later was fully renovated after the successful qualification of Maribor in the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. The biggest renovation was the last one from 2006 to 2008 when the stadium was completely renovated and now holds a capacity of 12,994 covered seats. This renovation is planned in separate phases and is scheduled for completion in the next few years.
For local supporters, the stadium is known as (Football temple) and the pitch itself as (Holy grass). This is most likely due to the tremendous success the club has had on this stadium, but perhaps also because a cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
was located on the area before the stadium was built.
Capacity
The official capacity of the stadium after 1991 was 7,200 however due to the large part of terraces still composed of standing area it was possible for the stadium to hold well over 10,000 spectators on important matches. The most was in 1997 when 14,000 people gathered on the last match of the 1996–97 season. When NK Maribor qualified in the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
the stadium underwent a major reconstruction and due to UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
seafty regulations the stadium was turned into an all-seater stadium with the capacity of 10,160.
In 2008 the stadium underwent another major reconstruction and the capacity was increased to 12,435 covered seats, which was increased again in 2010 and the current capacity of the stadium today is 12,994.
Football
The stadium is mainly used for football and is the home ground of football club NK MariborNK Maribor
Nogometni Klub Maribor , commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from...
. It is the symbol of the club and one of the most recognizable sport landmarks in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. Beside being the home ground of NK Maribor, the stadium has also hosted final matches of the Slovenian Cup
Slovenian Cup
The Slovenian Football Cup , is the top knockout tournament of Slovenian football and the second most important football competition in Slovenia after the Slovenian PrvaLiga championship...
and Slovenian Supercup
Slovenian Supercup
The Slovenian Supercup is an annually contested football match between the football club that has won the Slovenian PrvaLiga and the club that has won the Slovenian Cup. Until 2008 the match was held only occasionally, however, in recent years it has become an annual event usually held in July and...
on numerous occasions and is also the home venue of the Slovenia national football team
Slovenia national football team
The Slovenia national football team is the national football team of Slovenia and is controlled by the Football Association of Slovenia. The team played their first match in 1992 after the split of Yugoslavia in 1991....
and was the main venue for 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
qualifications. The stadium will also be one of two main venues for UEFA Euro 2012 qualifications.
Slovenian Cup and Supercup finals
| Date | Competition | Home | Away | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 June 1994 | Slovenian Cup | NK Maribor NK Maribor Nogometni Klub Maribor , commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from... |
NK Mura NK Mura Nogometni Klub Mura was a Slovenian association football club based in Murska Sobota. The club was founded on 16 August 1924 as one of the first clubs in the Prekmurje region. Through its history Mura was widely considered one of the giants of Slovenian football and had one of the biggest fan bases... |
3–12 | 4,500 |
| 9 June 1997 | Slovenian Cup | NK Maribor NK Maribor Nogometni Klub Maribor , commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from... |
NK Primorje NK Primorje NK Primorje is a Slovenian football club, playing in the town of Ajdovščina.-Honours:League* Slovenian Championships:'Cup* Slovenian Cup:- Current squad :As of 31 July 2011- External links :... |
3–02 | 5,000 |
| 16 June 1999 | Slovenian Cup | NK Maribor NK Maribor Nogometni Klub Maribor , commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from... |
NK Olimpija NK Olimpija Ljubljana (1911) NK Olimpija Ljubljana was a Slovenian association football club based in Ljubljana. The club had traced its origin back to 1911 when it was originally founded as SK Ilirija. It had gone through a series of mergers in the first half of the 20th century before adopting the name Olimpija in 1962... |
2–02 | 6,500 |
| 19 May 2004 | Slovenian Cup | NK Maribor NK Maribor Nogometni Klub Maribor , commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from... |
NK Dravograd NK Dravograd NK Dravograd is a Slovenian football club, which plays in the town of Dravograd. They currently play in the Slovenian Third League.- Current squad :As of April 2010.... |
4–01 | 1,500 |
| 30 May 2009 | Slovenian Cup | NK Interblock | FC Koper FC Koper FC Koper is a Slovenian football club, playing in the town of Koper. The club is one of only three football clubs in the country, the others being Maribor and former Olimpija, that won all three domestic competitions . The team plays its matches on Bonifika stadium that was built in 2010 and has a... |
2–1 | 2,500 |
| 8 July 2009 | Supercup | NK Maribor NK Maribor Nogometni Klub Maribor , commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from... |
NK Interblock | 3–2 AET | 2,300 |
| 8 May 2010 | Slovenian Cup 2009–10 Slovenian Cup The Slovenian Cup 2009–10 was the nineteenth season of Slovenia's football knockout competition.-From PrvaLiga:Maribor, Celje, Rudar Velenje, Domžale, Gorica, Nafta Lendava, Interblock, Koper, Primorje, Drava-From Regional Cups:... |
NK Maribor NK Maribor Nogometni Klub Maribor , commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from... |
NK Domžale NK Domžale NK Domžale is a Slovenian football club that plays in the town of Domžale. They have won the Slovenian League two times and both Slovenian Cup and Slovenian Supercup once.-History:... |
3–2 AET | 6,000 |
| 9 July 2010 | Supercup 2010 Slovenian Supercup The Slovenian Supercup 2010 was a football match between 2009-10 PrvaLiga champions Koper and Slovenian Cup winners Maribor. The match was played on July 9, 2010 at the Stadion Ljudski vrt in Maribor.-Match details:-See also:*PrvaLiga 2009-10... |
NK Koper | NK Maribor NK Maribor Nogometni Klub Maribor , commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from... |
5–4 Pen. | 2,000 |
| 8 July 2011 | Supercup 2010 Slovenian Supercup The Slovenian Supercup 2010 was a football match between 2009-10 PrvaLiga champions Koper and Slovenian Cup winners Maribor. The match was played on July 9, 2010 at the Stadion Ljudski vrt in Maribor.-Match details:-See also:*PrvaLiga 2009-10... |
NK Maribor NK Maribor Nogometni Klub Maribor , commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from... |
NK Domžale NK Domžale NK Domžale is a Slovenian football club that plays in the town of Domžale. They have won the Slovenian League two times and both Slovenian Cup and Slovenian Supercup once.-History:... |
1–2 | 2,500 |
- 11st leg -- 22nd leg
National team matches
| Date | Competition | Country | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 April 1994 | Friendly | 3–0 | 3,000 | |
| 7 September 1994 | UEFA Euro 1996 Q | 1–1 | 6,000 | |
| 16 November 1994 | UEFA Euro 1996 Q | 1–2 | 4,000 | |
| 29 March 1995 | UEFA Euro 1996 Q | 3–0 | 3,000 | |
| 14 November 1998 | UEFA Euro 2000 Q | 1–0 | 4,000 | |
| 9 November 1999 | UEFA Euro 2000 Q | 0–3 | 3,000 | |
| 20 August 2008 | Friendly | 2–3 | 11,100 | |
| 10 September 2008 | 2010 FIFA World Cup Q | 2–1 | 11,000 | |
| 11 November 2008 | 2010 FIFA World Cup Q | 2–0 | 12,435 | |
| 19 November 2008 | Friendly | 3–4 | 12,000 | |
| 28 March 2009 | 2010 FIFA World Cup Q | 0–0 | 12,435 | |
| 12 August 2009 | 2010 FIFA World Cup Q | 5–0 | 6,000 | |
| 9 September 2009 | 2010 FIFA World Cup Q | 3–0 | 12,435 | |
| 18 November 2009 | 2010 FIFA World Cup Q | 1–0 | 12,510 | |
| 3 March 2010 | Friendly | 4–1 | 4,900 | |
| 4 June 2010 | Friendly | 3–1 | 10,965 | |
| 3 September 2010 | UEFA Euro 2012 Q UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group C This page shows the standings and results for Group C of the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying tournament.- Standings :- Results and fixtures :Group C fixtures were negotiated between the participants in a meeting held in Belgrade on 8 March 2010.----... |
0–1 | 12,435 | |
| 11 October 2011 | UEFA Euro 2012 Q UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group C This page shows the standings and results for Group C of the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying tournament.- Standings :- Results and fixtures :Group C fixtures were negotiated between the participants in a meeting held in Belgrade on 8 March 2010.----... |
1–0 | 11,000 |
- Last updated: 12 October 2011. Statistics include official FIFA-recognised matches only.
Famous NK Maribor matches
On the eve of the 50th anniversary of NK Maribor, the official club website has listed four legendary matches of the club in its history of playing in the Ljudski vrt stadium.First match in LV
Maribor played its first match in Ljudski vrt in the qualifications for the 2nd Yugoslav division, despite the fact that the main stand of the stadium was still under construction. The main reason for such a decision was the fact that the pitch conditions in Ljudski vrt were better than the one on the club's old stadium.Note: The national flag icons indicate the present day countries of the respective clubs. Until 1991 both teams were part of SFR Yugoslavia
Highest attendance
On 8 July 1973 Maribor played in the 1st leg of the qualifications for Yugoslav First LeagueYugoslav First League
The Yugoslav First League was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and socialist Yugoslavia...
against Proleter
FK Proleter Zrenjanin
FK Proleter Zrenjanin was a football club from the city of Zrenjanin, Vojvodina, Serbia.-Early period:...
. There was 20,000 spectators on the stands that day which is still the record in club history and one of the records of Slovenian football.
Note: The national flag icons indicate the present day countries of the respective clubs. Until 1991 both teams were part of SFR Yugoslavia
UEFA Champions League qualifying
At the end of the 1990s Maribor was close into qualifying into the elite UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. In 1998 the team was close but eventually lost to PSV after extra time. A year later the team played against Lyon. In the 1st leg in Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
Maribor made an upset and won the match 1-0. The 2nd leg was scheduled to be played on 25 August 1999 in Ljudski vrt and the ticket demand was so high that the team could sell well over 30,000 tickets. However, the stadium had a capacity of only 7,500.
First match in the new LV
The first match on the new Ljudski vrt stadium after its major reconstruction was played against Nafta on 10 May 2008.Culture
Due to excellent acoustics the stadiums is a popular choice for concerts and other cultural performances. One of the first on the renovated stadium was the Greek Zorba musical which had an attendance of around 6,000 people. The stadium also hosts an annual concert Piše se leto organized by VečerVečer (Maribor)
Večer is a daily newspaper published in Maribor, Slovenia. It was officially established on May 9 1945 as a publication declaring the liberation of Maribor called Maribor svoboden . Regular circulation started on May 25 1945 under the name Vestnik. But it wasn't before 1949 that it became a daily...
newspaper.
Records
The highest attendance recorded at Ljudski vrt is 20,000, for Maribor's match against ProleterFK Proleter Zrenjanin
FK Proleter Zrenjanin was a football club from the city of Zrenjanin, Vojvodina, Serbia.-Early period:...
in the first leg of the promotional playoffs for the Yugoslav First League
Yugoslav First League
The Yugoslav First League was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and socialist Yugoslavia...
, on 8 July 1973. The stadium also holds the record for the highest attendance achieved on a Slovenian league match. This was set in the final round of the 1996–97 season when 14,000 spectators were present for Maribor's match against Beltinci which secured the club's first league title, on 1 June 1997. The record modern (all-seated) attendance is 12,510, for a return leg of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
playoffs beteween Slovenia
Slovenia national football team
The Slovenia national football team is the national football team of Slovenia and is controlled by the Football Association of Slovenia. The team played their first match in 1992 after the split of Yugoslavia in 1991....
and Russia
Russia national football team
The Russia national football team represents Russia in association football and is controlled by the Russian Football Union , the governing body for football in Russia. Russia's home grounds are Luzhniki Stadium, Lokomotiv Stadium , and Petrovsky Stadium in St.Petersburg and their head coach is...
, on 18 November 2009. In addition, Ljudski vrt holds the record for the highest average attendance during the Slovenian league season to date (5,289).
Maribor did not lose a league match at Ljudski vrt during the 1960–61
Slovenian Republic League 1960-61
-Final Table:-External links:* '* '...
(Div 3), 1965–66 (Div 2), 1966–67 (Div 2), 1970–71 (Div 1), 1972–73 (Div 2), 1977–78 (Div 2), 1980–81
1980–81 Yugoslav Second League
The 1980–81 Yugoslav Second League season was the 35th season of the Second Federal League , the second level association football competition of SFR Yugoslavia, since its establishment in 1946...
(Div 2), 1981–82
Slovenian Republic League 1981-82
-Final Table:-Promoted:-External links:* '* '...
(Div 3), 1983–84
Slovenian Republic League 1983-84
-Final Table:-Promoted:-External links:* '* '...
(Div 3), 1985–86
Slovenian Republic League 1985-86
-Final Table:-Promoted:-External links:* '* '...
(Div 3), 1987–88
Slovenian Republic League 1987-88
-Final Table:-Promoted:-External links:* '* '...
(Div 3), 1991–92 (Div 1), 1992–93 (Div 1), 1998–99 (Div 1) and 1999–00 (Div 1) season. They won all their home games during the 1983-84 and 1985-86 seasons. Maribor's longest winning streak at home extended from October 1993 to November 1994, a period encompassing 17 league games, in which Maribor scored 52 goals and conceded 10.
External links
- Ljudski vrt Ljudski vrt on Football Stadiums of Slovenia
- Stadion LJUDSKI VRT
- NK Maribor Club Website