Villarreal have revealed their plans to revamp the historic Estadio de la Ceramica at the end of the season following their incredible Champions League campaign.
The Spanish side shocked Europe as they made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League, claiming the scalps of Juventus and Bayern Munich before coming unstuck against Liverpool.
Now they will renovate their stadium, which was originally built in 1927. The club will start the work later this month and state it will be completed after the World Cup finishes in December.
Until the work is completed, Unai Emery's side will play just up the road at Levante’s Cuitat de Valencia stadium.
The work will include additional roofing to make sure all seats are covered from rain, as well as two new scoreboards, and the construction of a new stand in one of the stadium corners.
The club's President, Fernando Roig, said: “It is a great satisfaction to be able to turn 100 and build a stadium in this great city. Villarreal is always in total and absolute growth.
“We started in the 97/98 season. During all these reforms, we have never stopped playing a game in our stadium, but now, the scope of the work does not allow it, that’s why we took advantage of this year’s World Cup.
“In 2005, we remodelled before playing the Champions League, in 2009, the visiting grandstand and in 2017, the Ceramic Stadium.
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More details about the #EstadioDeLaCerámica transformation!
🔹 Expected budget: €35m
🔹 Work starts on Monday 16th May and will last 7 months
🔹 First game planned for the matchday of 29th-31st December
🔹 We will play at home at the Ciutat de València
🔹 Capacity: 22,000 pic.twitter.com/3tn7MC4bZa
“Later, in 2019, thanks to the collaboration of the Hortensia Herrero Foundation and Mercadona, incorporated the two sculptures by Jaume Plensa in the Plaza del Estadio.”
Some will say that the renovation is much needed, which was highlighted by problems before their Champions League showdown with Liverpool.
A storm in Spain just hours before the game led to a leak in the stadium, with a video posted by talkSPORT's Declan McCarthy showing water leaking down from onto a concourse.
That should no longer be a problem when the upgrade is complete later this year.
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