Association Football club names are a part of the sport's culture, reflecting century-old traditions. Club names may reflect the geographical, cultural, religious or political affiliations – or simply be the brand name of a club's primary sponsor. Because of the British origin of the modern game and the prevalence of the English language, many clubs, even outside Europe, have their names written in English.
In Europe, most clubs are named after their towns or cities (e.g. "Deportivo de La Coruña", "Liverpool F.C.", "Hamburger SV"). In South America, clubs are more likely to have names that do not bear the city's name.
It is not uncommon for a club to be known in common usage by a name other than its official name, or the name on the badge.
Other clubs are more usually known by nicknames or contractions of their full names, for instance, Vasco da Gama is usually called simply Vasco, F.C. Internazionale Milano is contracted to Inter or Inter Milan, Sporting Clube de Portugal is often called Sporting or Sporting Lisbon. Manchester United is often shortened to Man Utd, and Lyon or OL used instead of Olympique Lyonnais.
Some clubs are commonly referred to by their initials, such as PSG for Paris Saint-Germain and PNE for Preston North End.
NB: Football clubs associated with colleges and universities in the United States and Canada are not listed here. These clubs are not independent of the school, and are divisions within a much larger school sports program.
Topic | Meaning | Country | Clubs |
---|---|---|---|
Academic | Affiliation with academics. See also Estudiantes, University, Polytechnic. | Bulgaria | Akademik Sofia |
Denmark | Akademisk Boldklub | ||
England | Academic Club London (defunct) | ||
Moldova | FC Academia Chișinău | ||
Portugal | Académica de Coimbra, Académico de Viseu | ||
Russia | Sportakademklub Moscow | ||
Scotland | Hamilton Academical F.C. | ||
Timor-Leste | AS Académica | ||
Ukraine | Nafkom-Akademia Irpin (until 2004) | ||
Education | Generic affiliation with education. | Ukraine | Osvita Kyiv[16] (until 2006) |
Polytechnic | Affiliation with a polytechnical institution. See also Academical, Estudiantes, University, Technical College. | England | Polytechnic F.C., Leeds Polytechnic, Thames Polytechnic (both defunct) |
Moldova | Politehnica Chișinău | ||
Romania | Politehnica Iași, Politehnica Timișoara | ||
Students | Affiliation with students. See also Academical, Polytechnic, University. | Argentina | Estudiantes de La Plata |
Peru | Estudiantes de Medicina | ||
Mexico | Estudiantes Tecos | ||
Romania | Sportul Studențesc București | ||
University | Affiliation with universities. See also Academical, Estudiantes, Polytechnic. | ||
Argentina | Juventud Unida Universitario | ||
Chile | Universidad Católica, Universidad de Chile, Universidad de Concepción | ||
Ecuador | LDU Quito | ||
Malaysia | UiTM, UKM | ||
Mexico | Estudiantes Tecos, Universidad Nacional | ||
New Zealand | University-Mount Wellington | ||
Peru | Universitario de Deportes | ||
Poland | KU AZS UJ Kraków | ||
Romania | CS Universitatea Craiova, Universitatea Cluj | ||
South Africa | University of Pretoria F.C. | ||
Ukraine | HU ZIDMU-Spartak Zaporizhzhia (defunct) |
Topic | Meaning | Country | Clubs |
---|---|---|---|
Albion | Archaic name for Great Britain | Australia | Albion Rovers |
England | |||
Scotland | Albion Rovers, Stirling Albion | ||
United States | Albion San Diego | ||
Wales | Albion Rovers, Ynyshir Albions | ||
Arabi | Al-Arabi is the Arabic for "Arab". | Jordan | Al-Arabi (Jordan) |
Kuwait | Al-Arabi SC (Kuwait) | ||
Qatar | Al-Arabi SC (Qatar) | ||
Argentina | Argentina | Argentinos Juniors, Argentino de Junín, Argentino de Rosario, Argentino de Quilmes | |
Armenia | Clubs founded by and for members of the Armenian diaspora. | Argentina | Club Deportivo Armenio |
Assyria | Clubs founded by and for members of the Assyrian diaspora. | Sweden | Assyriska BK, Assyriska Föreningen |
Austria (Österreich) | Refers to the Republic of Austria (Österreich). | Austria | Austria Klagenfurt, FK Austria Wien, SV Austria Salzburg, FC Red Bull Salzburg (before 2005, RB Salzburg was known as Austria Salzburg) |
Bavaria, Bayern | Refers to the Free State of Bavaria (Bayern) in Germany (Deutschland). | Germany | FC Bayern Munich |
United States | Milwaukee Bavarian SC | ||
Balkans | Refers to the Balkan Peninsula and local ethnic groups (notably Bulgarian and ex-Yugoslavian). | Bulgaria | Balkan Botevgrad |
North Macedonia | FK Balkan Skopje | ||
Serbia | FK Balkan Mirijevo | ||
Sweden | FBK Balkan | ||
Ukraine | Balkany Zorya[18] | ||
Beitar | Refers to Betar, for "Brit Yosef Trumpeldor", a Zionist youth movement founded in 1923. | Israel | Beitar Jerusalem, Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam F.C., Beitar Nes Tubruk F.C. |
Bengal | England | Sporting Bengal United | |
Bohemians | After Bohemia | Czech Republic | FC Bohemians Praha |
Philippines | Bohemian S.C. | ||
Republic of Ireland | Bohemian F.C., Cork Bohemians (defunct) | ||
United States | Baltimore Bohemians (defunct) | ||
Borussia, Preußen | Latin (Borussia) and German (Preußen) names for Prussia. | Germany | Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Tennis Borussia Berlin, Preußen Münster |
Caledonian | England | London Caledonians (defunct) | |
Scotland | Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Elgin Caledonian (defunct) | ||
United States | Paterson Caledonian (defunct) | ||
Celtic | Mostly clubs founded by and for members of the Irish diaspora. The name of Celta de Vigo did not come from an Irish diaspora, but was instead inspired by the ancient Celtic presence in the club's home region of Galicia. | Australia | Alice Springs Celtic |
Canada | Celtix du Haut-Richelieu | ||
England | Farsley Celtic, Stalybridge Celtic, West Allotment Celtic | ||
Republic of Ireland | Cork Celtic, Wayside Celtic | ||
Northern Ireland | Donegal Celtic, Lurgan Celtic, Belfast Celtic (defunct) | ||
Scotland | Celtic, Inverness Celtic (defunct) | ||
South Africa | Bloemfontein Celtic | ||
Spain | Celta de Vigo | ||
United States | Brooklyn Celtic, Kearny Celtic (defunct) | ||
Wales | Cwmbran Celtic | ||
Chile | Clubs founded by and for members of the Chilean diaspora. | Canada | Chile Lindo (defunct) |
Croatia | Clubs founded by and for members of the Croatian diaspora. | Australia | Adelaide Croatia Soccer Club, SC Croatia, Sydney Croatia, North Perth Croatia |
Canada | Hamilton Croatia, Toronto Croatia, Welland Lions Croatia (defunct) | ||
United States | Croatian Eagles | ||
Español, España | Refers to the Spanish people. | Argentina | Deportivo Español |
Chile | Unión Española | ||
Mexico | Real Club España, Atlético Español (both defunct) | ||
Spain | RCD Espanyol | ||
Germania, Alemannia | Alternative names of Germany. | Germany | BFC Germania, Alemannia Aachen, TSV Germania Windeck |
Greece | Greek: Ελλάς Hellas | Australia | Pan-Hellenic, South Melbourne Hellas, West Adelaide Hellas |
Canada | SC Hellas | ||
Italy | Hellas Verona | ||
United States | Greek American AA, New York Greeks, Tampa Bay Hellenic | ||
Guaraní | Name of a group of culturally related indigenous peoples of South America. | Argentina | Guaraní Antonio Franco |
Brazil | Guarani FC, Guarany FC | ||
Paraguay | Club Guaraní | ||
Hakoah | (Hebrew: הכח) "The Strength" | Argentina | Club Náutico Hacoaj |
Australia | Hakoah Sydney City East FC, Melbourne Hakoah (defunct) | ||
Austria | Hakoah Vienna | ||
Germany | Hakoah Berlin (defunct) | ||
Israel | Hakoah Amidar Ramat Gan F.C. | ||
Latvia | Hakoah Riga (defunct) | ||
Switzerland | FC Hakoah | ||
United States | Brooklyn Hakoah, Hakoah All-Stars, New York Hakoah (all defunct) | ||
Harp | Clubs founded by and for members of the Irish diaspora. | Scotland | Dumbarton Harp, Dundee Harp, Maryhill Harp (all defunct) |
Hibernia | Clubs founded by and for members of the Irish diaspora. | Malta | Hibernians |
Republic of Ireland | Cork Hibernians (defunct) | ||
Scotland | Dundee Hibernian, Duntocher Hibernian, Hibernian, Maryhill Hibernians | ||
United States | Philadelphia Hibernian (defunct) | ||
Hollandia | Clubs founded by and for members of the Dutch diaspora. | Australia | Hollandia-Inala Soccer Club |
Homenetmen | pan-Armenian sports and Scouting organization | Lebanon | Homenetmen Beirut F.C. |
Homenmen | pan-Armenian sports and Scouting organization | Lebanon | Homenmen Beirut |
Hungaria, Magyar | United States | Bethlehem Hungarian, Magyar-American, New York Hungaria (defunct) | |
International, global, worldwide | Australia | Perth Kangaroos International FC, Inter Monaro (both defunct) | |
Brazil | Sport Club Internacional | ||
Canada | FC Inter-Montréal, Internacional de Toronto (both defunct) | ||
Finland | Inter Turku | ||
Ghana | International Allies | ||
Italy | Inter Milan | ||
Philippines | General Trias International FC (defunct) | ||
Ukraine | Inter Boyarka (defunct), Avanhard-Inter Rovenky (until 2005) | ||
United States | Cleveland Internationals, San Antonio International (both defunct), Inter Miami CF, Inter Atlanta FC | ||
Wales | UWIC Inter Cardiff, Inter Cardiff (defunct) | ||
Irish | Clubs founded by and for members of the Irish diaspora. | England | Milton Keynes Irish |
United States | Irish-Americans | ||
Italy | Clubs founded by and for members of the Italian diaspora. | Argentina | Sportivo Italiano |
Brazil | Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube (these two clubs were originally named Società Sportiva Palestra Italia and were obligated to rename in 1942 due to Brazilian WW2-era law). | ||
Canada | Italia Shooters, Toronto Italia, Hamilton Italo-Canadian (defunct) | ||
Chile | Audax Club Sportivo Italiano | ||
Peru | Circolo Sportivo Italiano | ||
United States | Inter-Brooklyn Italians | ||
Venezuela | Deportivo Italia | ||
Korea | Japan | F.C. Korea, Osaka Korean FC, Korea FC United Shikoku | |
Lechia | Historical and alternative name for Poland, stemming from the word Lech | Poland | Lechia Gdańsk, Lechia Zielona Góra |
Ukraine | Lechia Lwów (defunct) | ||
Maghreb | Maghreb is the name of the region including the Atlas Mountains and the coastal plains of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya | Morocco | Maghreb Association Sportive de Fez, Moghreb Tétouan |
Netherlands | Magreb '90 | ||
Macedonia | Australia | Wollongong Macedonia | |
Mauritius | Clubs founded by and for members of the Mauritian diaspora. | England | Mauritius Sports |
Mexico | Clubs founded by and for members of the Mexican diaspora. | United States | Club Deportivo Mexico |
Mohammedan | Mohammedan is a term used as both a noun and an adjective meaning belonging or relating to either the religion of Islam or to that of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad | Bangladesh | Mohammedan SC |
India | Mohammedan SC | ||
Monarchy | Real (pronounced as /es/) is Spanish for "royal". Reial is the Catalan equivalent, and Koninklijke is a Dutch equivalent.Spanish clubs with the "Real" or "Reial" name, as well as the Honduras club Real España, enjoy the patronage of the Spanish monarchy. In Belgium, once a club has been in operation for 50 years, it is eligible to add "Royal" to its name, in any of the country's three official languages (Dutch, French, German) or in English. Polish clubs here refer to names of specific dynasties (Jagiellonian and Piast) | Australia | Essendon Royals |
Belgium | Cercle Brugge Koninklijke Sportvereniging, Club Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging, Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, Royal Antwerp FC, Royal Charleroi Sporting Club | ||
Canada | Real Mississauga, Vancouver Royals (defunct) | ||
Colombia | Real Cartagena, Real Santander | ||
England | Staplehurst Monarchs, Mickleover Royals (defunct) | ||
Honduras | Real España | ||
Mexico | Monarcas Morelia | ||
Morocco | AS FAR (football club) | ||
Netherlands | Koninklijke HFC, Koninklijke HC&VV, Koninklijke UD | ||
New Zealand | Dunedin City Royals | ||
Peru | Real Garcilaso | ||
Poland | Korona Kielce, Jagiellonia Białystok, Piast Gliwice | ||
Portugal | Real Sport Clube | ||
Spain | Real Madrid, Real Jaén, Real Mallorca, Real Zaragoza, Real Sporting de Gijón, Real Oviedo, Real Racing Club de Santander, Reial CD Espanyol de Barcelona, Real Sociedad, Real Unión Club de Irún, Real Betis Balompié, Real Club Recreativo de Huelva, Real Club Celta de Vigo, Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña, Real Valladolid, Real Balompédica Linense | ||
United States | AHFC Royals, Real Salt Lake, Real Monarchs, Utah Royals (defunct) | ||
National | "Ahly" is Arabic for "national" | Brazil | Nacional FC |
Canada | Toronto Nationals (defunct) | ||
Colombia | Atlético Nacional | ||
Ecuador | El Nacional | ||
Egypt | Al Ahly | ||
Jordan | Al-Ahli | ||
Libya | Al-Ahly, Al-Ahly (Benghazi) | ||
Paraguay | Club Nacional | ||
Portugal | C.D. Nacional | ||
Qatar | Al-Ahli (Doha) | ||
Romania | Naţional București | ||
Saudi Arabia | Al-Ahli (Jeddah) | ||
United Arab Emirates | Al-Ahli Football Club – Dubai | ||
United States | New York Nationals (defunct) | ||
Uruguay | Nacional de Montevideo | ||
Palestine | Clubs founded by and for members of the Palestinian diaspora. | Chile | Club Deportivo Palestino |
Honduras | Palestino FC | ||
Jordan | Al-Wehdat | ||
Polonia | Refers to the Polish diaspora, from the Latin name for Poland | Czech Republic | Polonia Karwina (defunct) |
Lithuania | Polonia Wilno | ||
Poland | Polonia Bydgoszcz, Polonia Bytom, Polonia Nowy Tomyśl, Polonia Poznań, Polonia Przemyśl, Polonia Słubice, Polonia Świdnica, Polonia Warszawa | ||
Ukraine | Polonia Khmelnytsky | ||
Portugal | Clubs founded by and for members of the Portuguese diaspora. | Andorra | Lusitanos |
Australia | Clube Portugues de Sydney | ||
Brazil | Associação Portuguesa de Desportos, Associação Atlética Portuguesa, Associação Portuguesa Londrinense, Associação Atlética Portuguesa Santista | ||
Canada | Toronto Supra Portuguese | ||
France | US Lusitanos Saint-Maur, US Créteil-Lusitanos | ||
Jersey | Jersey Portuguese | ||
United States | Ludlow Lusitano, Newark Portuguese | ||
Venezuela | Portuguesa Fútbol Club | ||
Russian | Russia | Rusichi Oryol | |
Saint | Santos is Portuguese and Spanish for saints. Southampton were originally called St. Mary's Young Men's Association F.C. (usually abbreviated to "St. Mary's Y.M.A."), taking on the names St. Mary's F.C. and Southampton St. Mary's before settling on the present name. | Angola | Santos de Angola |
Australia | St Albans Saints | ||
Brazil | Santos FC, São Paulo FC | ||
England | Southampton F.C. | ||
Guernsey | Manor Farm Saints | ||
Mexico | Santos Laguna | ||
Moldova | FC Sfîntul Gheorghe | ||
Peru | San Agustín, Franciscano San Román, San José, San Martín, San Lorenzo de Almagro de Chiclayo, San Lorenzo | ||
Scotland | St Johnstone, St Mirren | ||
Wales | The New Saints of Oswestry Town & Llansantffraid, Merthyr Saints | ||
Serbia | Clubs founded by and for members of the Serbian diaspora. | Australia | Fitzroy City Serbia |
Canada | Serbian White Eagles | ||
Slav | Slavia, Slavija and Slovan, all refer to the Slavic peoples. Slovianets Konotop refers to a local Ukrainian-Bulgarian joint enterprise. | Australia | Slavia Melbourne (defunct) |
Belarus | Slavia Mozyr | ||
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Slavija Sarajevo | ||
Bulgaria | Slavia Sofia | ||
Czech Republic | Slavia Praha, Slavia Orlová-Lutyně, Slovan Liberec | ||
Serbia | Slavija Kragujevac | ||
Slovakia | Slovan Bratislava, Slovan Duslo Šaľa, | ||
Slovenia | ND Slovan | ||
Ukraine | Slovianets Konotop (until 1999) | ||
Sudovia | Ancient Baltic land inhabited by Sudovians | Lithuania | FK Sūduva Marijampolė |
Turkey | Clubs founded by and for members of the Turkish diaspora. | Germany | Türkiyemspor Berlin, Türkgücü München |
Netherlands | |||
Sweden | Konyaspor KIF | ||
Ukraine | Clubs founded by and for members of the Ukrainian diaspora. | Australia | Inglewood Kyiv, Ukrainian SK Essendon Lions[19] (defunct) |
Canada | Montreal Ukrainians, Toronto Tridents, Toronto Ukrainians, Ukraine AC | ||
Czechoslovakia | Rusj Užhorod[20] (defunct) | ||
Poland | Ukraina Lwów (defunct) | ||
United States | New York Ukrainians, Newark Ukrainian Sitch, Philadelphia Ukrainians, Rochester Ukrainians, Ukrainian Lions | ||
Vytis/Pogoń | Coat of arms of Lithuania, known in Lithuanian as Vytis or Pahonia, Pogoń in Polish and Belarusian | Lithuania | Vilniaus Vytis, Vytis Kaunas (until 1994) |
Poland | Pogoń Siedlce, Pogoń 1945 Staszów, Pogoń Szczecin, Pogoń Lwów (defunct) | ||
Ukraine | Pogoń Lwów |
Topic | Meaning | Country | Clubs | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Heather | Ukraine | Veres Rivne | ||
Oak | Ghana | Hearts of Oak | ||
United States | San Jose Oaks | |||
Pine | Australia | Frankston Pines | ||
Finland | FC Honka | |||
Rose | The Portland Thorns name and logo intentionally reference its city's official nickname, "City of Roses".[23] [24] Bulgarian: Розова долина|Rozova dolina|lit=rose valley | Australia | Adamstown Rosebuds | |
Bulgaria | Rozova Dolina | |||
Scotland | Linlithgow Rose F.C., Montrose Roselea F.C. | |||
Shamrock | Symbol of Ireland. | Ireland | Shamrock Rovers | |
United States | Boston Shamrock Rovers, South Carolina Shamrocks, St. Louis Shamrocks (all defunct) | |||
Sycamore | Ukraine | Yavir Krasnopillia | ||
Thistle | National symbol of Scotland | England | Hereford Thistle (defunct) | |
New Zealand | Gisborne Thistle, Timaru Thistle | |||
Scotland | Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Partick Thistle | |||
United States | Cleveland Thistles (defunct) | |||
Timber | Generic term for wood | United States | Portland Timbers (as well as past teams of the same name) |
Topic | Meaning | Country | Clubs |
---|---|---|---|
Sirius | Clubs named after the specific star. | Brazil | Esporte Clube Sírio |
Sweden | IK Sirius Fotboll | ||
Ukraine | Sirius Zhovti Vody (until 1995) |
Topic | Meaning | Country | Clubs | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Blizzard | Khurtovyna: Ukrainian for blizzard. | Canada | Toronto Blizzard (defunct),Calgary Blizzard | |
Ukraine | Hazovyk-Khurtovyna Komarno, Vykhor Dnipro | |||
United States | Buffalo Blizzard (defunct), Colorado Springs Blizzard (defunct) | |||
Ray | Named after rays of (sun)light | Ukraine | Promin Sambir (until 1998) | |
Venezuela | Rayo Zuliano | |||
Sunrise | Ukraine | Nyva-Svitanok Vinnytsia (until 2008) | ||
Tornado | Ukraine | WFC Tornado Kyiv (defunct) |
Topic | Meaning | Country | Clubs | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ata | Club names containing a reference to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Turkish field marshal, revolutionary statesman, and founder of the Republic of Turkey. | Turkey | Ata Spor Kulubu | |
Ajax | Club names containing a reference to Ajax the Great or Ajax the Lesser. The South African and American clubs are so named due to their affiliation with AFC Ajax of the Netherlands. | Brazil | Ajax FC | |
Congo | Ajax de Ouenzé | |||
Estonia | FC Ajax Lasnamäe | |||
Honduras | Unión Ájax | |||
Malta | Rabat Ajax F.C. | |||
Netherlands | AFC Ajax, Ajax Sportman Combinatie | |||
South Africa | Ajax Cape Town (defunct) | |||
Suriname | VV Ajax (defunct) | |||
Ukraine | Ayaks Shakhtarsk | |||
United States | Ajax America Women, Ajax Orlando Prospects (defunct) | |||
Apollo | Canada | Hamilton Apollos (defunct) | ||
Cyprus | Apollon Limassol | |||
Greece | Apollon Kalamarias, Apollon Athens | |||
United States | Atlanta Apollos, New York Apollo (both defunct) | |||
Aris | After the Greek God of War. | Greece | Aris Thessaloniki | |
Cyprus | Aris Limassol | |||
Luxembourg | Aris Bonnevoie | |||
United States | Eau Claire Aris FC | |||
Arminius | Former Roman general, led a unified Germanic coalition to victory against the Roman Empire. | Germany | Arminia Bielefeld | |
Atlas | Club names containing a reference to Atlas. | Mexico | Club Atlas | |
Argentina | Club Atlético Atlas | |||
Vasily Bazhanov | Soviet mining engineer who gave his name to Bazhanov coal mine. | Ukraine | Bazhanovets Makiivka (until 1995) | |
Simón Bolívar | Bolivia | Club Bolívar | ||
Hristo Botev | Named after Hristo Botev, a Genius Bulgarian poet, revolutionary and a national hero of Bulgaria. | Bulgaria | PFC Botev Plovdiv | |
Guillermo Brown | Argentina | Club Almirante Brown | ||
Bernardino Caballero | Paraguay | General Caballero CG, General Caballero JLM, General Caballero ZC | ||
Andrea Doria | Italy | Sampdoria (from merger of Sampierdarenese, team of San Pier d'Arena, borough of Genoa, and Società Ginnastica Andrea Doria, team so named from the Genoese admiral Andrea Doria) | ||
Oleksa Dovbush | Famous Ukrainian outlaw and folk hero. | Ukraine | ||
Druids | Celtic Priest | Wales | Cefn Druids | |
Felix Dzerzhinsky | Soviet politician who led the Cheka and the OGPU | Soviet Union | Dzerzhinets Kolomna (until 1960), Dzerzhinets Leningrad (until 1948), Dzerzhinets Nizhny Tagil (until 1957), Dzerzhinets-STZ Stalingrad (until 1937), Dzerzhynets Kharkiv (until 1952), Dzerzhynets Voroshylovhrad (until 1953) | |
Erminio Giana | World War I fallen soldier from Gorgonzola | Italy | Giana Erminio | |
Luis Ángel Firpo | El Salvador | C.D. Luis Ángel Firpo | ||
Fortuna | Latin goddess of fortune and personification of luck | Australia | Fortuna 60 SC | |
Cameroon | AS Fortuna | |||
Denmark | Fortuna Hjørring | |||
Germany | Fortuna Düsseldorf, Fortuna Köln, Fortuna Babelsberg, Fortuna Chemnitz, Fortuna Magdeburg, TSV Fortuna Sachsenross, Fortuna 1894 Berlin (defunct) | |||
Netherlands | Fortuna Sittard, Fortuna Vlaardingen | |||
North Macedonia | KF Fortuna 1975 | |||
Norway | AaFK Fortuna | |||
Romania | Fortuna Becicherecu Mic, Fortuna Covaci (defunct), Fortuna Poiana Câmpina (defunct) | |||
Russia | Fortuna Mytishchi (defunct) | |||
South Africa | FC Fortune (until 2006) | |||
Spain | CD Fortuna, Real Fortuna (defunct) | |||
Suriname | Fortuna 1975 Lelydorp | |||
Ukraine | Fortuna Sharhorod, Fortuna Shakhtarsk (until 2001) | |||
Mikhail Frunze | Soviet politician, military leader and military theorist. | Ukraine | Frunzenets-Liha-99 Sumy (defunct) | |
Helios | Greek god who personifies the Sun | Estonia | Võru FC Helios | |
Ukraine | Helios Kharkiv | |||
Hercules/Heracles | After the Greek demi-god. | Greece | Iraklis F.C. | |
Netherlands | Heracles Almelo | |||
Spain | Hércules CF | |||
Hotspur | Named after Henry Percy, aka Harry Hotspur | England | Tottenham Hotspur | |
Wales | Holyhead Hotspur | |||
Joan of Arc | Réunion | SS Jeanne d'Arc | ||
Senegal | ASC Jeanne d'Arc | |||
Sergei Kirov | Soviet politician and revolutionary. | Russia | Kirovets Saint Petersburg (until 1992) | |
Soviet Union | Kirovets Mogilev (until 1964) | |||
Ukraine | Kirovets Makiivka (defunct) | |||
Lech | Named after Lech, legendary founder of Polish nation. | Poland | Lech Poznań, Lech Rypin | |
Vladimir Lenin | Named after the Soviet revolutionary Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. | Ukraine | Feniks-Illichovets Kalinine (defunct), Illichivets Mariupol (until 2017) | |
Vasil Levski | Named after Vasil Levski, Bulgarian revolutionary and a national hero of Bulgaria. | Bulgaria | Levski Sofia | |
Sam Mark | Sam Mark was the club owner. | United States | Fall River F.C. (defunct) Referred to as Marksmen as in Mark's men. | |
Ivan Mykhailov | Father of the founder of the club | Ukraine | Ivan Odesa[25] | |
Nerthus | Germanic goddess of fertility. | Germany | Hertha BSC | |
Nike | Greek goddess of victory | Russia | Nika Moscow, Nika Krasny Sulin (defunct) | |
Sweden | GIF Nike | |||
Ukraine | Nika Ivano-Frankivsk, WFC Nika Poltava (defunct) | |||
Odysseus | Named after legendary Greek king and Homer's epic poem | Armenia | Ulisses F.C. | |
Viktor Oharenko | Owner of the Classic Private University and of the football club | Ukraine | Viktor Zaporizhia (until 2000) | |
Grigory Petrovsky | Soviet politician and Communist Party leader in Ukraine. | Ukraine | Petrovets Dnipropetrovsk (until 1936) | |
Silvio Pettirossi | Paraguay | Club Silvio Pettirossi | ||
Prometheus | Greek Titan and god of war | Russia | Prometey-Dynamo Saint Petersburg (until 1995) | |
Ukraine | Prometei Dniprodzerzhynsk (defunct), Prometei Shakhtarsk (until 1993) | |||
Rio Branco | Named after the Baron of Rio Branco. | Brazil | Rio Branco Atlético Clube, Rio Branco Esporte Clube, Clube Esportivo Rio Branco, Rio Branco Sport Club | |
Rob Roy | Scotland | Kirkintilloch Rob Roy F.C. | ||
Robin Hood | Suriname | SV Robinhood | ||
Sachin Tendulkar | Named after the Indian Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar also known as Master Blaster. | India | Kerala Blasters | |
Santa Claus | Finland | FC Santa Claus | ||
Skënderbeu | Named after the Albanian national hero, Skanderbeg. | Albania | Skënderbeu Korçë | |
Anatoliy Skoruk | Founder of the club | Ukraine | Skoruk Tomakivka[26] | |
Solomon | Ghana | King Solomon FC | ||
Jomo Sono | Founder of the club | South Africa | Jomo Cosmos | |
Spartacus | The famous leader of the slaves in the Third Servile War, a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic (c. 73–71 BCE). | Armenia | Spartak Yerevan (def.) | |
Bulgaria | PFC Spartak Pleven, Spartak Plovdiv, PFC Spartak Varna | |||
Georgia | Spartaki Tskhinvali | |||
Kazakhstan | Spartak Semey | |||
Latvia | Spartaks Jūrmala | |||
Russia | FC Spartak Moscow, FC Spartak Nalchik, Spartak-Alania Vladikavkaz, FC Spartak Kostroma, FC Spartak Tambov, FC Spartak Yoshkar-Ola, FC Spartak Gorno-Altaysk | |||
Serbia | Spartak Subotica, FK Spartak Ljig, Spartak Zlatibor Voda | |||
Slovakia | Spartak Trnava | |||
Soviet Union | Spartak Dnipropetrovsk (defunct), Spartak Kharkiv (defunct), Spartak Lviv (defunct), Spartak Odesa (until 1941), Spartak Sambir (until 1991), Spartak Sumy (until 1971), Spartak Uzzhorod (until 1960) | |||
Ukraine | HU ZIDMU-Spartak Zaporizhzhia (defunct), Spartak Ivano-Frankivsk (defunct), Spartak Sumy (defunct), WFC Spartak Chernihiv (defunct) | |||
Alexei Stakhanov | Soviet miner who became the icon of the Stakhanovite movement | Soviet Union | Stakhanovets Kadiyivka (until 1945), Stakhanovets Stalino (until 1946) | |
Titan | Named after the race of Greek pre-Olympian gods. | Mexico | Titanes de Saltillo (defunct), Titanes de Tulancingo (defunct) | |
Russia | Titan Klin | |||
El Salvador | C.D. Titán | |||
Ukraine | Tytan Donetsk | |||
Venezuela | Titanes F.C. | |||
Vasco da Gama | Named after Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama.[27] | Brazil | Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama, Associação Desportiva Vasco da Gama | |
India | Vasco SC | |||
South Africa | Vasco da Gama (South Africa) | |||
Veles | An old Slavic God | Russia | Veles | |
Victoria | Named after Queen Victoria. | England | Northwich Victoria, Biddulph Victoria | |
Wales | Brymbo Victoria, Rhostyllen Victoria (defunct), Wrexham Victoria (defunct) | |||
Vikings | Faroe Islands | Víkingur Gøta | ||
Finland | FC Viikingit | |||
Iceland | Knattspyrnufélagið Víkingur, Ungmennafélagið Víkingur | |||
Norway | Viking FK | |||
United States | San Francisco Vikings | |||
Petro Voikov | Soviet revolutionary and native of Kerch. | Ukraine | Voikovets Kerch (until 1994) | |
Willem II | Netherlands | Willem II | ||
Jorge Wilstermann | Bolivia | Club Jorge Wilstermann | ||
Zawisza | Named after Zawisza Czarny, Polish knight and nobleman. | Poland | Zawisza Bydgoszcz | |
Zico | Brazil | Centro de Futebol Zico Sociedade Esportiva |
Topic | Meaning | Country | Clubs |
---|---|---|---|
Avant-garde | Avanhard was a trade unions sport society mainly active in the Ukrainian SSR. | Kazakhstan | FC Avangard (defunct) |
Russia | Avangard Kursk, Avangard Kamyshin (defunct), Avangard-Kortek (defunct), Avangard Podolsk (defunct) | ||
Soviet Union | Avanhard Ternopil (defunct), Avanhard Chernivtsi (until 1965), Avanhard Dnipropetrovsk (until 1968), Avanhard Horlivka (until 1947), Avanhard Kerch (until 1978), Avanhard Kharkiv (until 1967), Avanhard Kryvyi Rih (until 1961), Avanhard Makiivka (until 1970), Avanhard Mykolaiv (until 1960), Avanhard Rivne (until 1990), Avanhard Simferopol (until 1963), Avanhard Sumy (until 1963), Avanhard Zhdanov (until 1960) | ||
Ukraine | Avanhard Merefa, Avanhard Zhovti Vody, Avanhard Zhydachiv, Avanhard Kramatorsk (until 2021), Avanhard Rovenky (until 2003) | ||
Beitar | The Betar movement, associated with Revisionist Zionism | Israel | Beitar Jerusalem F.C., Beitar Tel Aviv F.C. |
CSKA | CSKA means Central Army Sports Club in most Slavic languages. CWKS is the Polish equivalent, and CSCA is the Romanian/Moldovan equivalent. Indicates that the team was/is originally part of the army. (Just SKA or ASK if the army club was/is based not in the capital.) | Bulgaria | CSKA Sofia |
Cambodia | Royal Cambodian Armed Forces FA | ||
Laos | Lao Army F.C. | ||
Malaysia | Armed Forces F.C. | ||
Poland | CWKS Legia Warszawa | ||
Romania | CSCA București | ||
Russia | PFC CSKA Moscow | ||
Soviet Union | SKA Lviv (defunct), SKA Kyiv (until 1991) | ||
Ukraine | CSKA Kyiv, SKA Odesa (until 1992) | ||
Dynamo | Majority are Eastern European teams, indicates that the team was originally part of the Soviet Dynamo sport society or an equivalent such as Sportvereinigung Dynamo. | Albania | KS Dinamo Tirana |
Belarus | Dinamo Minsk, Dinamo Brest | ||
Canada | Dynamo de Quebec (defunct) | ||
Croatia | Dinamo Zagreb | ||
Czech Republic | Dynamo České Budějovice | ||
England | Loughborough Dynamo, Shepshed Dynamo, Colne Dynamoes (defunct) | ||
Estonia | Dünamo Tallinn | ||
Georgia | Dinamo Batumi, Dinamo Tbilisi, Dinamo Sukhumi | ||
Germany | Berliner FC Dynamo, Dynamo Dresden | ||
India | Delhi Dynamos | ||
Latvia | FK Dinamo-Rīnuži/LASD | ||
Republic of Moldova | FC Dinamo Bender | ||
Romania | Dinamo Bucharest | ||
Russia | Dynamo Moscow, Dynamo Bryansk, Dynamo Barnaul, Dynamo Kirov, Dinamo Spb, Dinamo Biysk, Dinamo Kostroma, Dinamo Stavropol, Dinamo Makhackhala (def.) | ||
Soviet Union | Dynamo Dnipropetrovsk (defunct), Dynamo Kirovohrad (until 1962) | ||
Ukraine | Dynamo Kyiv, Dynamo Kharkiv, Dynamo Lviv, Dynamo Odesa, Dynamo Luhansk (defunct), Dynamo Saky (defunct), Dynamo Sloviansk (defunct), Dynamo Bila Tserkva (until 1992), Dynamo Khmelnytskyi (until 2013), Dynamo Simferopol (until 2004) | ||
United States | Houston Dynamo | ||
Uzbekistan | Dinamo Samarqand | ||
Zimbabwe | Dynamos Harare | ||
Hapoel | Hebrew for The Worker, an Israeli sport association, with links to trade unionism | Israel | Hapoel Acre, Hapoel Ashkelon, Hapoel Asi Gilboa, Hapoel Balfouria, Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Hapoel Haifa, Hapoel Ironi Rishon LeZion, Hapoel Jerusalem, Hapoel Petah Tikva, Hapoel Ra'anana, Hapoel Ramat Gan, Hapoel Tel Aviv |
Hart | Hart is the Ukrainian student's sport society | Ukraine | Hart Borodianka (until 1994) |
Homenetmen | pan-Armenian sports and Scouting organization | Lebanon | Homenetmen Beirut F.C. |
Homenmen | pan-Armenian sports and Scouting organization | Lebanon | Homenmen Beirut |
IF | IF, Idrætsforening, Danish for Sporting Society | Norway, Denmark | Brøndby IF, Strømsgodset IF, Mjøndalen IF |
IFK | IFK, Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna, Swedish for Sporting Society Comrades. All Swedish clubs named IFK are members of IFK's central organisation, while clubs named IFK in Finland are not. | Finland | Helsingfors IFK, IFK Mariehamn, Vasa IFK, Åbo IFK, Grankulla IFK |
Sweden | IFK Eskilstuna, IFK Göteborg, IFK Malmö, IFK Norrköping, IFK Lidingö, IFK Stockholm, IFK Uddevalla, IFK Umeå, IFK Åmål, IFK Mora, IFK Luleå | ||
Maccabi | For Jewish teams, indicates that the team was originally part of the Maccabi sport society. | Israel and others | (see Maccabi) |
Spal | The Spal sports clubs, associated with Salesian Society | Italy | S.P.A.L. |
Spartak | For Eastern European teams, indicates that the team was originally part of the Soviet Spartak sport society or an equivalent. | Bulgaria | Spartak Varna |
Russia | Spartak Moscow, Spartak Nalchik | ||
Soviet Union | Spartak Dnipropetrovsk (defunct), Spartak Kharkiv (defunct), Spartak Lviv (defunct), Spartak Odesa (until 1941), Spartak Sambir (until 1991), Spartak Sumy (until 1971), Spartak Uzzhorod (until 1960) | ||
Ukraine | Spartak Ivano-Frankivsk (defunct) | ||
Torpedo | For Eastern European teams, indicates that the team was once part of the Soviet republican VSS Trud (automobile and truck manufacture industries). | Belarus | Torpedo Minsk, Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino |
Georgia | Torpedo Kutaisi | ||
Russia | Torpedo Moscow, Torpedo Vladimir, Torpedo Armavir, Torpedo Miass Torpedo-ZIL Moscow | ||
Soviet Union | Torpedo Kharkiv (defunct), Torpedo Kirovohrad (until 1957), Torpedo Lutsk (until 1989) | ||
Ukraine | Torpedo Zaporizhzhia (defunct), Torpedo Melitopol (until 2000) | ||
Trudovye Rezervy | For Eastern European teams, indicates that the team was once part of the Soviet republican VSS Trudovye Rezervy (vocational schools). | Belarus | Trudovye Rezervy-RIPO Minsk |
Soviet Union | Emgek Rezervi Frunze (until 1953), Trudovi Rezervy Voroshylovhrad (until 1964), Trudovye Rezervy Kislovodsk (until 1965), Trudovye Rezervy Kursk (until 1972), Trudovye Rezervy Lipetsk (until 1960) | ||
Vorwärts | Armeesportvereinigung Vorwärts were the sports society of the East German Army. | East Germany/Germany | Vorwärts Berlin |
Austria | Vorwärts Steyr | ||
Zenit | For Eastern European teams, indicates that the team was originally part of the Soviet Zenit sport society or an equivalent. | Czech Republic | Zenit Čáslav |
Russia | Zenit Saint Petersburg, Zenit Penza | ||
Soviet Union | Zenit Kharkiv (until 1940) |
See also: List of sports clubs inspired by others. These clubs were named after unrelated clubs (i.e. clubs they are not affiliated with) or unrelated cities (in which they never played). In some cases these are refugee or diaspora clubs, in other cases they were founded by fans of foreign clubs.
Topic | Meaning | Country | Clubs | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Arsenal F.C. | Named after the English football club | Ghana | Berekum Arsenal F.C.[28] | |
Ukraine | Arsenal Kharkiv, Arsenal-Kyivshchyna | |||
Barcelona | Named after the capital of Catalonia | Ecuador | Barcelona S.C. | |
FC Barcelona | Named after the Spanish football club | Ukraine | Barsa Sumy[29] | |
Blackpool F.C. | Named after the English football club | Sierra Leone | Mighty Blackpool F.C.[30] | |
Boca Juniors | Named after the Argentine football club | Colombia | Boca Juniors de Cali | |
Botafogo FR | Named after the Brazilian football club | Cape Verde | Botafogo FC | |
Chelsea F.C. | Named after the English football club | Ghana | Berekum Chelsea F.C.[31] | |
Colo-Colo | Named after the Chilean football club | Brazil | Colo Colo de Futebol e Regatas[32] | |
Everton F.C. | Named after the English football club | Chile | Everton de Viña del Mar[33] | |
Inter Milan | Named after the Italian football club | Finland | FC Inter Turku | |
Istanbul | Named after the Turkish city (when it was named Constantinople) | Greece | Athlitiki Enosis Konstantinoupoleos Athens F.C., Panthessaloníkios Athlitikós Ómilos Konstadinoupolitón FC | |
Lincoln City F.C. | Named after the English football club | Gibraltar | Lincoln Red Imps F.C.[34] | |
Liverpool | Named after the city in England | Uruguay | Liverpool F.C.[35] | |
Manchester United F.C. | Named after the English football club | Gibraltar | Manchester 62 F.C.[36] | |
P.A.O.K. | Named after the Greek football club | Australia | East Altona PAOK Soccer Club (until 1990s) | |
Rangers F.C. | Named after the Scottish football club | Hong Kong | Hong Kong Rangers FC | |
Real Madrid CF | Named after the Spanish football club | Bolivia | Club Real Potosí[37] | |
Ukraine | Real Odesa | |||
United States | Real Salt Lake | |||
Santos FC | Named after the Brazilian football club | Angola | Santos Futebol Clube de Angola | |
Costa Rica | Santos de Guápiles F.C. | |||
Estonia | FC Santos Tartu[38] | |||
Guyana | Santos FC[39] | |||
St Mirren F.C. | Named after the Scottish football club | Ghana | Sporting Saint Mirren FC (until 2017) | |
Torino FC | Named after the Italian football club | Peru | Atlético Torino[40] | |
Varna | Named after the city in Bulgaria | Ukraine | WFC Varna Donetsk (until 1997) |