The Estadio General San Martín was a stadium located in the city of Mar del Plata, Argentina. Owned by Liga Marplatense de Fútbol (the local football league), it was inaugurated in 1952 being the main venue in the city. Most of the most important matches of Mar del Plata football league were hosted there, as well as some friendly matches of the Argentina national football team. Brazilian team Santos FC (with his superstar Pelé) played four matches at the stadium.
When Estadio José María Minella was inaugurated for the 1978 FIFA World Cup it consolidated as the main venue in Mar del Plata while General San Martín was losing importance. The stadium finally closed its doors and was demolished in 1996. A supermarket chain was built on the land previously occupied by Estadio San Martín.
History Inaugurated on May 4, 1952 with a tournament between local teams plus Independiente, the stadium was built with mostly wooden grandstands. Later, all the wood structures would be replaced by concrete stands.Estadios desaparecidos – General San Martín de Mar del Plata by Adrián Redi at Estadios de Argentina, 9 May 2019
During its existence, the stadium hosted the most important matches of the local League, the first editions of Torneos de Verano (summer tournaments organized in the city since 1968). The stadium was also host for the home matches by local clubs Aldosivi, Alvarado, San Lorenzo, Kimberley, and Círculo Deportivo de Otamendi in the old National Championships and their qualifying tournaments.
In its four decades of life, General San Martín received the most important Argentine and foreign clubs and even the Argentina national team. The stadium hosted the first Italian team to visit Mar del Plata, Cagliari, which beat 3–1 a local combined in 1966. One year later, Brazilian team Santos with superstar Pelé played at General San Martín a friendly match vs a local combined,"ESTADIO GENERAL SAN MARTIN" at Fotos Viejas de Mar del Plata, 25 Oct 2016 won by Santos 4–0. Four days later Santos beat River Plate by the same score. The match had a record attendance. The third match played by Pelé was the Intercontinental Champions' Supercup, a competition contested by the past winners of the Intercontinental Cup,Las copas olvidadas, Clarín, 7 Sep 2006Las competiciones oficiales de Conmebol on Conmebol website, 19 Aug 2015 vs Argentine side Racing, which won 2–1.Supercopa 1969 by Osvaldo Gorgazzi, José L. Pierrend and Martín Tabeira on the RSSSF
In 1970 Santos and Pelé returned to Mar del Plata to play a friendly vs Boca Juniors.Pelé en Mar del Plata: el primer partido como padre, un abrazo con Fangio y la noticia más hermosa on La Capital (Mar del Plata), 29 Dec 2022 The match, ended 2–2,Boca Juniors 2 - 2 Santos at Historia de Boca website set a new record with $14,143,000 in tickets sold. Former F1 world champion Juan Manuel Fangio awarded Pelé a plaque in recognition for his 1,000 goals scored. That same year, local club Kimberley thrashed Independiente 5–0 in the 1970 Campeonato Nacional.Argentina - First Level 1970 at the RSSSF
A plaque located in the old entrance recalls that Diego Armando Maradona scored his first two official goals there, in a match between his team at the time, Argentinos Juniors, and San Lorenzo de Mar del Plata, on 14 November 1976.Así fue el primer gol de Diego Maradona en Primera División on ESPN, 25 Nov 2020 The Argentina national football team also played some friendly matches at General San Martín Stadium between 1968 and 1977.ARGENTINA NATIONAL TEAM ARCHIVE by Osvaldo Gorgazzi and Ricardo Gorosito at the RSSSF
After the inauguration of José María Minella Stadium, General San Martín was losing importance, until its owner decided to sell it, being finally demolished in June 1996.Hace 15 años demolían el estadio San Martín by Raúl Ramírez at La Capital, 8 Jun 2011 A hypermarket and a freight company are currently located on the stadium grounds. The old entrance remains standing, with the traditional statues of two players, and a commemorative plaque.
Notable matches Note: in the case of the Argentina national team, matches vs club teams are not included.
Date Team 1 Score Team 2 Competition 4 Jul 1966 Mar del Plata Cagliari Friendly 15 Jan 1967 Mar del Plata Santos Friendly 19 Jan 1967 River Plate Santos Friendly 17 Dec 1968 Friendly 22 Dec 1968 Friendly 29 Nov 1969 Racing Santos Intercontinental Supercup 16 Jan 1970 Boca Juniors Santos Friendly 1 Nov 1970 Kimberley Independiente 1970 Nacional 13 Jan 1971 Friendly 14 Nov 1976 San Lorenzo (Mdp) Argentinos Juniors 1976 Nacional Notes
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