Santos, the Brazilian club that gave Pelé to the world, will help introduce Red Bull New York’s brand-new stadium this week in a very special soccer exhibition.
We look at two world-class players from each side who might just be the main attractions at the new Red Bull Arena on Saturday night. If it has anything to do with them, Saturday’s inauguration of the Red Bulls’ impressive new stadium could be a real goal-fest…
Juan Pablo Ángel (forward), Red Bull New York
The former Colombian international and one-time Aston Villa striker joined the Red Bull revolution in New York back in 2007, and just this week it was revealed that he received the most votes in an online poll by RBNY’s fans to name the ‘greatest ever XI’ from the club’s entire history – not bad for three seasons’ work. The 34-year-old Red Bulls captain (pictured, above) remains the hot favourite to add to his impressive tally of 45 goals in 72 games – that’s an average of one every 1.6 matches – for the club this weekend at the Red Bull Arena’s debut.
Robinho (forward), Santos
Brazilian Róbson de Souza (pictured, below), aka Robinho, remains one of the world’s great players. He’s still owned by Manchester City, the Premier League club that paid Real Madrid a UK record £32.5m (that’s $50m, or €42.5m at that time) for him in September 2008, but alleged disagreements with City’s management have seen an emotional return to his home nation on loan to Santos, where he began his career at 17 as Pelé’s personally-appointed heir apparent, scoring 10 goals in a campaign in 2002 that saw Santos claim their first Campeonato Brasileiro in the modern era. Oh, and he has 20 goals from 72 appearances for Brazil’s national team. He already has four goals in five matches since his return to Brazil, so he’s also a good bet to make his mark on the Red Bull Arena.
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Seth Stammler (defender/midfielder), Red Bull New York
Stammler only began his pro soccer career once the formality of a degree in Finance & Marketing from the University of Maryland had been completed, but since joining the then-Metrostars in the MLS SuperDraft in 2004, he’s been one of the club’s most reliable players, making 121 appearances, usually in the starting line-up. Though he’s really a defensive midfielder, he has demonstrated his natural versatility by also playing more in defence of late. Vice-captain to Ángel, he also raises many thousands of dollars through his Sporting Chance Foundation.
Giovanni (midfield), Santos
Another returning hero, Giovanni Silva de Oliveira re-signed for Santos last January from São Paulo side Mogo Mirim. He might be 38 now, but Santos fans won’t mind that – the veteran of 20 matches for Brazil between 1995–9 also made his mark on Santos between 1994–6, scoring an amazing 69 goals from 104 matches, an extraordinary statistic even for a striker, never mind a man who plays in midfield. After leaving for Barcelona and then having a terrific spell at Greek club Olympiakos, Giovanni returned to Santos for one season in 2005, adding another six goals to his tally, before making his third – and surely final – return this year, where he has appeared five times in the Campeonato Paulista, scoring once.
Red Bull New York v Santos
Saturday, March 20, 2010, 18:00 ET
Red Bull Arena, Harrison, NJ, USA
www.redbullarena.us
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