Ex-Bayern Munich star Beckenbauer praises new Red Bull Arena

Former Bayern Munich and New York star Franz Beckenbauer has labelled the new Red Bull Arena as a ‘fantastic’ soccer stadium.

The German legend was present at the unveiling of the Harrison, New Jersey venue on Sunday watch the Red Bulls defeat Brazilian club Santos and was delighted with how the stadium feels and looks.

It’s a fantastic soccer stadium,” Beckenbauer said. “Also the capacity, I think it’s nearly 30,000, I think it’s perfect… It’s a fantastic arena, it’s a fantastic home for Red Bull.”

Beckenbauer was a part of the old New York Cosmos in the mid-70s and commented on just how much the sport had developed in the USA since.

“It was fantastic seeing what’s going on,” Beckenbauer added. “Pele was the first in ’75, he came, and the country reacting slowly, then more and more teams and players are coming up. (In) 1977, there was almost no one in the country (who) played the game. Now if you see the development of soccer in the country, more than 20 million Americans playing the game. It’s fantastic.”