The Stade de la Meinau is no modern, top-of-the-bill arena with a roof and extended business facilities. It's more of a raw block of concrete with a fierce atmosphere. Just how we like it. After a couple of years in the caves of French football, RC Strasbourg is back in Ligue 1, and we couldn't be happier.
If World War I would have ended differently FC Neudorf (from the eponymous area in Strasbourg) might have been a top side in the German Bundesliga now. The team played in German competitions during the war too, but after Alsace was added to France again in 1919, FC Neudorf became Racing Club de Strasbourg. Since then, they are definitely a French team and are back in French league football, even though the area is still called Neudorf.
It's hard to imagine, but the Stade de la Meinau once hosted an actual European final, when KV Mechelen beat Ajax in the Europa Cup II Final of 1988. The stadium has not changed much since, which we can hardly call a stunning piece of art. In some ways, the stadium fits perfectly in the city of Strasbourg, which isn't - except for the lovely city centre - a real gem either. But, the brown-grey concrete gives Stade de la Meinau something intimidating, especially on a dark night. Not in the last place because of the diehards on the Tribune Ouest too, who remained loyal to the club after going into bankruptcy in 2011. Even when Le Racing played in the fifth tier, often a crowd of thousands came to the Rue de l'Extenwoerth to cheer their team back to Ligue 1.
In RC Strasbourg's club crest, various elements come together, and each one has an importance to the city, region and the football club. Clearly visible is the red sash of the coat of arms of Strasbourg, the stork which symbolizes Alsace and of course the most recognizable building of the city, the asymmetric cathedral at the Place de la Cathédrale in the city centre.
Choosing the main highlight in the history of the club isn't hard for Strasbourg fans. In 1979, RC Strasbourg became champions by trumping the strong Nantes and Saint-Étienne. Something that seemed impossible. The whole city of Strasbourg was drunk for a week.
On the Place Broglie, which is actually not even a real square, more than 100,000 people applauded their heroes.
The defender was mostly a substitute when the club won the title, but he is still by far the most famous name from that squad. Arsène Wenger grew up as a fan of RC Strasbourg, became champions with his boyhood team and later became a living legend at Arsenal as their manager.
Wenger was born in Strasbourg and grew up in the village of Duttlenheim, 15 minutes outside of Strasbourg. His parents had a café in the small town, La Croix d'Or, which the Wenger family used to live above. The regular customers of the bar, without exception fans of RC Strasbourg, were observed for hours and hours by the little Arsène. He later stated that this was the base for his people skills. The historical building still exists, it's the orange building on Rue Géneral de Gaulle 44 and is now called Restaurant Les Deux M.
When you cross the Rhine River from Strasbourg you're already in Germany, which gives football fans the opportunity to visit even more football matches. You will find SC Freiburg within an hour and VfB Stuttgart isn't very far either, so you can make it a great football weekend. The Bundesliga teams usually play their home games on Saturday afternoons, while Strasbourg mostly plays on Saturday nights.
Match tickets for RC Strasbourg are easily bought on the official website of the club. It's not hard to get one, but when PSG, Marseille or Metz come to the city, you better be quick. Matches against Metz are known as the Derby de l'Est and are always very intense evenings.
The stadium is situated a little south from the city centre of Strasbourg and is easily reachable from the city with tram lines A and E (stop Krimmeri). By train, you're in no time from Strasbourg central station to station Krimmeri-Meinau, close to the stadium.
Images: Shutterstock, BSR Agency
