Most Popular Teams' Nicknames
Ozren Podnar reports on soccer teams' nicknames
Chicken and Eagles, Hearts and Buttocks, Devils and Saints
Argentina | Brazil | Croatia | England | Germany | Italy | Mexico | Spain |For entire list, please scroll down
Player Nicknames
Soccer teams' nicknames occasionally may be more interesting than the official names. Some are funny, some banal, some pleasing, others offensive. The same club can have more than one nickname, one used by their own supporters, and others by rival fans.
The top Argentinian teams, Boca and River, have double nicks. Boca is called "Xeneizes" by their own fans, which is the way
Genoans call themselves in their local dialect, the Boca neighborhood
was traditionally Genoan (because of its immigrants from Italy). Boca's alternative nickname is "Bosteros", a generic insult meaning the lowest of the low: "bosta" means manure, and a bostero is anyone that has any dealing with it. The whole of the La Boca neighbourhood near the Bombonera stadium was associated with extreme poverty, garbage dumps and a lack of cleanliness. Originally used as an insult against them, Boca supporters have taken to using "Bosteros" with pride.
While Boca is a team of the working class, River Plate is supported by the middle classes and the wealthy. Players' incomes used to reflect that, earning the team the name of "Millonarios"
(Millionaires).
Since 1966, the rest of the country has also called the red-and-whites "Gallinas" (Chicken). Why? After their loss in the Libertadores Cup finals to Penarol in Santiago, they played
away at Banfield, whose fans released a red-and white clad chicken - a symbol of cowardice - on the turf. From that moment, River's Monumental stadion has been called "Gallinero" (Chicken shack).
Estudiantes de La Plata are the "Pincharratas" (rat-prickers) because of the doctors and natural science students of the La Plata University who, presumably, spent much of their time doing experiments with lab rats.
* "Newell's Old Boys" ("Newell's;" N.O.B.) and its fanbase are referred
to as "La Lepra" or "Leprosos," which translate to "Leprosy" or "one with
Leprosy"/"lepers," while "Rosario Central" ("Central") and its followers are
referred to as "canalla(s)," which roughly translates to "scoundrel(s)" or "riffraff." The even more interesting peculiarity with these nicknames is
that they resulted from the same incident in which "Central" supposedly
refused to play a charity match for a Leprosy charity at which point then "Newell's" stepped in to fill the void. Henceforth, fans from both teams
began to mock their city rival with the insulting nicknames of "Lepers" and "Scoundrels"/"Riffraff," referring to the same incident. Ultimately,
however, supporters from both teams would take on these original mocking
names to pridefully refer to their clubs.
*Thanks to Kevin Kerr for the above.
The prettiest nickname in Spain is owned by Barcelona's players
and fans: "Culés", loosely 'Buttocks' or 'Arses'. The name dates back to the time when Barca used to play at Les Corts stadium. Looking from the street, butts of the spectators sitting in the top row were in clear view, so there was no doubt: Buttocks it had to be and the name stuck until present day.
Their Real Madrid rivals are known as "Merengues", which is the name of a delicious cake that only the wealthy can afford. "Fantasmas" (Phantoms or Ghosts) comes from their all white uniforms.
Real's nickname is not, as some may think, "Los Galácticos". This term only refers to the most famous players, as Zidane, Ronaldo, Figo, Beckham, Raul and Roberto Carlos. After their back-to-back losses in La Liga and the Champions League, the leading Spanish sports' newspaper Marca mercilessly called them "ex-galácticos".
Atletico Madrid bears a less fashionable moniker, "Colchoneros",
which refers to the similarity of their red and white stripes to the stripes often found on mattrasses, or 'colchones' in Spanish.
The nickname of Real Racing Club also know as Racing Santander
of the Spanish Primera División is "Montañeses"
(translation: "highlanders").
Real Racing Club is based in the city of Santander in the North
of Spain. Santander is the capital city of the autonomous region of Cantabria, familiarly know as "La Montaña".
Cantabria is a Celtic origin word meaning "Highlands". The landscape of the Northern strip of Spain is very mountanious with an oceanic climate (Cantabria is on the shores of the "Mar Cantábrico" known as the "Bay of Biscay" to English speaking people). The countryside is green in Cantabria similar to that of Ireland or Scotland.
Juventus owe their "Vecchia Signora" (Old Lady) title to
the simple reason they are the oldest of the great Italian clubs, founded in 1897. Why Lady, and not a Gentleman? Because "Juventus" (Youth) is a latin word of feminine gender. The rival tifosi prefer calling Juventus "Gobbi" (Hunchbacks), and occasionally
"Zebre" (Zebras) is heard too.
German teams cannot pride themselves on terribly imaginative nicknames,
among those that stand out are "FC Hollywood", dedicated to Bayern
München in late nineties, when the club gathered a gallery of local and foreign stars filling the German press with intriguing stories and outspoken phrases (Matthaus, Klinsmann, Papin, Effenberg, Basler et al.) Their bitter rivals Schalke have a completely different profile, being a workers' club from a mining area. Their players are known as "Die Knappen", which indicates young mining apprentices just past their training.
Please Contact Us if you have information on other team's nicknames.
Algeria
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
National Team |
Fennec Foxes |
Desert Foxes |
Argentina
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
Banfield |
Taladro |
Drill |
Boca Juniors |
Xeneizes |
Genoans |
"
|
Bosteros
|
Garbage collectors |
Estudiantes |
Pincharratas |
Rat Cutters |
Independiente |
Diablos Rojos |
Red Devils |
"
|
Rey de Copas |
King of Trophies / Trophy Kings |
Newell's Old Boys |
La Lepra / Leprosos |
Leprosy / Lepers |
Racing Club |
Academicos |
Academics |
River Plate |
Gallinas |
Chicken (Cowards) |
"
|
Millonarios |
Millionaires |
Rosario Central |
Canalla(s) |
Scoundrel(s) / Riffraff |
San Lorenzo |
Cuervos |
Ravens |
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
National Team |
Socceroos |
|
Austria
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
Austria Wien |
Veilchen |
Violets |
Belgium
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
Antwerpen |
Great Old |
|
Charleroi |
Zebras |
|
Gent |
Buffaloes |
|
Germinal Beerschot (GBA) |
Ratten, Kielse Ratten |
Rats |
Harrelbeke |
Ratten |
Rats |
St. Truiden |
Kanaries |
Canaries |
National Team |
Red Devils |
|
Brazil
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
Cruzeiro |
Cruzeiros |
Crusaders |
Flamengo |
Fla |
Flemish (abbreviated) |
Fluminense |
Flu |
River Boys (abbreviated) |
Gremio |
Gauchos |
|
National Team |
Canarinha |
Yellow |
"
|
Carioca |
Citizens of Rio |
Cameroon
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
National Team |
Lions indomitables |
Indomitable Lions |
Chile
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
Colo-Colo |
Cacique |
Chief |
Universidad Católica |
Cruzados |
Crusaders |
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
Dinamo Zagreb |
Plavi lavovi |
Blue Lions |
Hajduk |
Majstori s mora |
Masters from the Coast |
Hrvatski dragovoljac |
Dragovoljci |
Volunteers |
Varteks |
Krojaci |
Tailors |
Zagreb |
Pjesnici |
Poets |
National Team
|
Vatreni |
Fiery boys |
Denmark
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
National Team |
Danish Dynamite |
|
England
Club |
Nickname |
National Team |
Three Lions |
Arsenal |
Gunners |
Aston Villa |
Villains |
Brighton |
Seagulls |
Chelsea |
Pensioners*, Blues |
Crystal Palace |
Eagles |
Derby County |
Rams |
Everton |
Toffees |
Fulham |
Cottagers |
Ipswich Town |
Tractor Boys |
Leeds Utd. |
Peacocks |
Leicester City |
Foxes |
Millwall |
Lions |
Manchester City |
Citizens |
Manchester United |
Red Devils |
Middlesborough |
Boro |
Newcastle Utd. |
Magpies |
Norwich City |
Canaries |
Oldham Athletic |
Latics |
Plymouth |
Pilgrims |
Sheffield Utd. |
Blades |
Sheffield Wednesday |
The Owls |
Southampton |
Saints |
Stockport County |
Hatters |
Sunderland |
Black Cats |
Tottenham Hotspur |
Spurs |
"
|
Cockerels |
Watford |
Hornets |
West Ham |
Hammers |
Wigan Athletic |
The Latics |
Wimbledon |
Crazy Gang |
Wolverhampton |
Wolves |
*Now obsolete
France
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
Lyon |
Lions |
Lions |
Marseille |
Minots |
Boys |
Monaco |
Princes |
|
Nantes |
Canaries |
|
Nice |
Aiglons |
Eagles |
Strausbourg |
Cignones |
Storks |
National Team |
les Bleus |
The Blues |
Germany
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
Bayern Munich |
FC Hollywood |
|
Borussia |
Folen |
Foals |
Kaiserslautern |
Roten Teufel |
Red Devils |
Köln |
Geissböcke |
Goats |
München 1860 |
Löwen |
Lions |
Schalke |
Knappen |
Miner Apprentices |
Stuttgart |
Schwaben |
Crouts |
National Team |
die Mannschaft |
The Team |
Holland
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
Ajax |
Godenzonen |
Sons of Gods |
De Graafschap |
Superboeren |
Super farmers |
Go Ahead Eagles |
Supereagles |
Super eagles |
NAC Breda |
Ratten |
Rats |
National Team |
Oranje |
Orange |
Italy
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
Brescia |
Rondinelle |
Swallows |
Cagliari |
Isolani |
Islanders |
Fiorentina |
Viole |
Violets |
Inter |
Biscioni |
Adders |
Juventus |
Vecchia Signora |
Old Lady |
"
|
Gobbi |
Hunchbacks |
Lazio |
Aquile |
Eagles |
Milan |
Diavoli Rossoneri |
Red And Black Devils |
Roma |
Vukovi |
Wolves |
Perugia |
Griffoni |
Gryphs |
Torino |
Toro |
Bull |
National Team |
Azzurri |
Blues |
Jamaica
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
National Team |
Reggae Boyz |
|
Japan
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
National Team |
Blue Samurai |
|
Mexico
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
América |
Aguilas |
Eagles |
Atlante |
Potros de Hierro |
Iron Horses |
Atlético Celaya |
Toros |
Bulls |
Guadalajara |
Chiwas |
Goats |
Necaxa |
Raos |
Lightning |
Santos |
Guerreros |
Warriors |
Toluca |
Diablos |
Devils |
UAG Guadalahara |
Tigres |
Tigers |
UNAM C. de Mexico |
Pumas |
Cougars |
Veracruz |
Tiburones Tojos |
Red Sharks |
Nigeria
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
National Team |
Supereagles |
|
Puerto Rico
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
National Team |
Vaqueros |
Cowboys |
Portugal
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
Benfica |
Aguias |
Eagles |
Porto |
Dragoes |
Dragons |
Sporting |
Leoes |
Lions |
Romania
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
Dinamo Bucharest |
Caini Rosi |
Red Wolves |
Steaua |
Stelisti |
Stellar Ones |
National Team |
Tricolorii |
Three Colored Ones |
Slovenia
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
Maribor |
Vijolicasti |
Violets |
Olimpija |
Zmajceki |
Little Dragons |
Serbia & Montenegro
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
Crvena Zvezda |
Cigani |
Gypsies |
Novi Sad |
Kanarinci |
Canaries |
OFK Beograd |
Romanticari |
Romantics |
Partizan |
Grobari |
Gravediggers |
Scotland
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
Aberdeen |
The Dons |
|
Arbroath |
The Red Lichties |
|
Celtic |
Bhoys |
|
Dundee Utd. |
Terros |
|
Dunfermline |
The Pars |
|
Falkirk |
The Bairns |
|
Heart of Midlothian |
Hearts / The Jam Tarts |
|
Hibernian |
Hibs / Hibees |
|
Inverness Caledonian Thistle |
Caley Thistle / Caley Jags |
|
National Team Supporters |
Tartan Army |
|
South Africa
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
National Team |
Bafana Bafana |
Boys |
Spain
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
Athletic Bilbao |
Leones |
Lions |
Atlético Madrid |
Colchoneros |
Mattress Boys |
Barcelona |
Culés |
Buttocks |
Castellón |
Orelluts |
Bats |
Espanol |
Periquitos |
Parrots, Love Birds |
Real Madrid |
Merengues |
Kind of Cake |
"
|
Fantasmas |
Ghosts |
Real Racing Club (Racing Santander) |
Montañeses |
Highlanders |
Valencia |
Ches* |
* after a frequently used word "che", meaning "what" |
"
|
Bats** |
**(not used in Spain) |
National Team |
Furia or Furia Roja |
Fury or Red Fury |
Turkey
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
Besiktas |
Kara Kartal |
Black Eagles |
Fenerbahce |
Kanarya |
Canaries |
Galatasaray |
Aslan |
Lions |
Zaire
Club |
Nickname |
Translation |
National Team |
Leopards |
|