Estádio Cidade de Coimbra

Estádio Finibanco Cidade de Coimbra
Estádio do Calhabé
Estádio Finibanco Cidade de Coimbra
Former names	Estádio Municipal de Coimbra
Location	Coimbra, Portugal
Renovated	2001–2003
Expanded	2001–2003
Owner	Municipality of Coimbra
Operator	Académica de Coimbra
Surface	Grass
Architect	António Monteiro , PLARQ / KSS Design Group Partnership
Capacity	30,210
Field dimensions	105mx70m
Tenants
Académica de Coimbra

The Estádio Finibanco Cidade de Coimbra is a stadium in Coimbra, Portugal. This stadium belongs to the Municipality of Coimbra and is mainly used by the Académica de Coimbra's football team. Until 2003, it was called the Estádio Municipal de Coimbra (English: Municipality of Coimbra Stadium), or the Estádio do Calhabé, after the name of its location in Coimbra.

The stadium was rebuilt, expanded, and modernized to host some UEFA Euro 2004 matches. Far beyond the sports stadium itself, all the project, called Euro Stadium Project, included the possibility of organizing sports, culture, and commercial events, by the modernization of the entire Calhabé area in Coimbra.

The Estádio Finibanco Cidade de Coimbra was inaugurated with a Rolling Stones concert on 27 September 2003, attended by over 50,000 people. On 29 October 2003, Académica de Coimbra played at home to Sport Lisboa e Benfica in the first official match in the remodelled stadium.

Features

Its design does not involve any historical or traditional references, as the idea was to create a new, contemporary image with glass façades and an aesthetic roof supported by elegant stands. The existing athletics track has been preserved for possible use as a multi-purpose facility in the future. The stadium was designed by the Portuguese architectural firm Plarq in association with KSS Design Group of London. The Plarq team was led by the architect António Monteiro.

The stadium has 30,210 seats, two-thirds of which are covered. The complex boasts a large press centre, a bar, kitchens, and a restaurant with a panoramic view of the pitch. The project of the stadium took advantage of old seats: of close to 15,000 (all seated), involved the planned remodelling of the tier which extends around the entire perimeter of the previous stands, and a second tier above that, in the form of a "U", opening onto the slopes of the city at the North end.

A multi-purpose pavilion, olympic swimming pools, healthclub, gym, offices and studio apartment residences were built in the surrounding area. The Dolce Vita, a shopping and leisure center built near the stadium, includes cinemas, underground car parking, restaurants, and several retail outlets.

Euro 2004

The stadium hosted two UEFA Euro 2004 Group B matches: England 3–0 Switzerland and Switzerland 1–3 France. Curiously in both matches, the record for the European Championship's youngest goalscorer was broken, first by Wayne Rooney, then by Johan Vonlanthen.

Portugal national football team

The following national team matches were held in the stadium, both in its old and renovated shape.

#	Date	Score	Opponent	Competition
1.	13 April 1983	0–0	Hungary	Friendly
2.	8 June 1983	0–4	Brazil	Friendly
3.	9 June 1999	8–0	Liechtenstein	Euro 2000 qualifying
4.	28 April 2004	2–2	Sweden	Friendly
5.	12 November 2005	2–0	Croatia	Friendly
6.	15 November 2006	3–0	Kazakhstan	Euro 2008 qualifying
7.	3 March 2010	2–0	China PR	Friendly

Profile

Name: Estádio EFAPEL Cidade de Coimbra
Club: Associação Académica de Coimbra – O.A.F.
Inauguration: 27 September 2003 (Rolling Stones concert)
First match: Académica-Benfica 1–3 (29 October 2003)
Capacity: 30,000 seats
Pitch dimensions: 105mx70m
Address: Rua D. Manuel I, 3030-320 Coimbra

Coordinates: 40°12′12″N 8°24′28″W / 40.20333°N 8.40778°W / 40.20333; -8.40778