Immortalized: Bob Marley & Top 10 soccer stadium statues
For those US fans lucky enough to travel to Jamaica for Friday's World Cup qualifier, a Bob Marley photo is likely in the cards. A statue of the reggae legend stands outside The Office, as the stadium is nicknamed, and so far it has served as a good luck charm: The USMNT are yet to win a qualifier in Kingston.
After Marley, here are our top 10 soccer stadium statues (sorry, no Bill Shankly, Bobby Moore or Old Trafford legends):
1. Carlos Valderrama (Eduardo Santos Stadium) – Talk about lifelike. But we're still unclear exactly what material Colombian side Union Magdalena used for his hair.
2. Lev Yashin (Dinamo Stadium) – Not a more dynamic statue out there with Yashin flying above the net.
3. Jairzinho (Joao Havelange Stadium) – Could Botafogo have made his smile any bigger? They call it Jogo Bonito in Brazil for a reason.
4. Supporters Sculpture (Stadium of Light) – How about this for a change: Sunderland choose to honor their supporters. Now that's classy.
5. Michael Jackson (Craven Cottage) – Props to Fulham for what has to be the most out-of-place statue you'll find around a soccer stadium.
6. Thierry Henry (Emirates Stadium) – Rarely can you associate a specific pose with a player. That's not the case with NYRB's Henry and how he was immortalized at Arsenal.
7. Lamar Hunt (FC Dallas Stadium) – This statue is not just a memorial — it's a living and breathing part of FC Dallas. The scarfing ceremony has become a tradition.
8. Valeri Lobanovsky (Lobanovskyi Dynamo Stadium) – The most creative depiction of a manager, actually sitting on a bench, directing his troops.
9. Tom Finney (Deepdale Stadium) – A virtually perfect remake of a famous photo that features the "Preston Plumber." You have to see them side-by-side to appreciate the work.
10. Zico (Kashima Soccer Stadium) – Of course Zico could only be portrayed doing one thing: dribbling.
