ANKARA - At its meeting in Ljubljana, Slovenia on Wednesday, UEFA`s Executive Committee awarded the 2009 UEFA Cup final to the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul.
The committee made its choice after assessing criteria such as stadium capacity, safety and security, access, transport, supporters` facilities and commercial potential.
The Sukru Saracoglu in the Kadikoy district of Istanbul is unique in Turkey as being one of the only grounds without a running track around it. With every stand rebuilt between 1999 and 2003 to be closer to the pitch, the home of Fenerbahce is named after former club president Sukru Saracoglu.
Istanbul`s Olympic Stadium hosted the 2005 Champions League final. Liverpool of England beat AC Milan of Italy 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out after the extra time that finished 3-3.