Cardiff, June 30 (IANS) European football governing body UEFA on Tuesday confirmed the Millennium Stadium here will host the 2017 Champions League final.
The city last played host to a UEFA competition in 2014 when a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo sealed a 2-0 win for Real Madrid over Sevilla in the Super Cup.
“These are exciting times for Welsh football. It feels like the whole country is behind us as we attempt to reach next year’s Euro 2016 in France,” Wales star winger Gareth Bale, who plays for Real, was quoted as saying by goal.com.
“I know how passionate the Welsh football fans are, so it’s great the Champions League final is coming to my home city of Cardiff,” Bale said.
“I loved playing in the Super Cup last year and it would be fantastic to be involved in front of a packed crowd at such an iconic stadium in 2017.”
English Premier League club Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey was also upbeat about the fact that an event of such magnitude was being held in the country.
“What a season it has been for Wales and its football,” the 24-year-old said, before adding that it was a “wonderful news”.
Elsewhere, UEFA has also announced that the 2017 Europa League final will be held in the Friends Arena in Solna, Sweden.