Abandoned stadium that hosted Liverpool reclaimed by nature after 16 years closed as locals refuse to knock it down

AN ABANDONED stadium that hosted Liverpool has been overcome by nature after being closed for the best part of two decades.

The Bezigrad Stadium, located in Ljubljana, Slovenia, has been shut since 2008.

The Bezigrad Stadium in Slovenia has been left to rot since 2008

The stadium hosted 27 international matches

Michael Owen broke Liverpool’s European goal record at the ground

But it has been left derelict since 2008

Former club NK Olimpija Ljubljana left the ground in 2008

Building for the stadium began back in 1925 after being designed by Joze Plecnik – a Slovenian architect who had a huge influence on the modern design of Vienna.

Construction was completed in 1935, with the stadium having an official seating capacity of 8,259.

Following World War Two, the stadium was home to NK Olimpija and was also used for track and field events.

The club, founded in 1945, played there throughout it’s history until its dissolution in 2005 due to a huge financial debt.

From 2005 to 2007 phoenix club NK Bezigrad was founded and played at the ground too.

Liverpool scraped a 1-1 draw during a Uefa Cup match at the stadium in 2003/04 season, with Michael Owen scoring to beat Ian Rush’s record of European goals for the Reds.

The stadium also played host to 27 matches for the Slovenian national team between 1995 and 2004 after the country gained its Independence.

Many of these games were European Championship qualifiers, with Ukraine first playing there in 1995.

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Opponents to visit the stadium ranged from Faroe Islands and Cyprus to France and Denmark.

When Les Blues played there in a Euro 2004 qualifying match in September 2003, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry registered an assist for the only goal of Olivier Dacourt’s France career in a 2-0 win.

It was a match that also saw Zinedine Zidane and Patrick Vieira booked, while Claude Makelele was sent off.

However, it has been left to the elements since 2008 when NK Olimpija, now known as Olimpija Ljubljana, moved into the neighbouring Stožice Stadium.

Plans to redevelop the stadium have been drawn up in the past, with a £212million project being proposed the same year as its initial closure.

The multi-purpose upgrade would have seen the building of multiple commercial outlets including a shopping centre, hotel, sports hall and restaurants.

But objections from local residents and a lack of investment have thwarted progress.

And consequently it currently lies behind fences and paddocks with weeds breaking through the concrete.