Football club names

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
Question book-new.svg
 This article does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2008)
This article may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (January 2008)

Association Football club names are a part of the sport's culture, reflecting century-old traditions. Club names may reflect 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.

Contents

[edit] Formation of the name

[edit] Common components

A club's name is usually composed of two or more of the following elements, in most cases in the language of the club's home country:

  • a word describing the type of entity that runs the club (or ran it when it was founded), such as "Club", "Association", "Society", "Centre", "League", "Union", etc. More recently some clubs are regular commercial enterprises[citation needed] and may have this reflected in their names.
  • a word indicating that the club is associated with some sport(s), usually (but not always) including football. Examples are "football", "athletics", "exercises", "sports", etc.
  • a geographical name associating the club with some place (usually the district, city or region where it plays home matches). Examples: "Liverpool", "Fulham", "Milano", "Recife", "Croatia", "Goiás" or, alternatively, a word that associates the club with something else (a religious, cultural or political tradition). Sometimes the name of the town or the country may be written as in English (AC Milan).
  • a proper name, mascot or nickname, like "Cruzeiro" "Betis", or "Crusaders".
  • in Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands some clubs are associated with the monarchy like Real Valladolid.
  • some football clubs (especially in Austria and eastern Europe) also have sponsors in their club names, e.g. Red Bull Salzburg

Official names often also contain common component (prepositions, conjunctions, etc.) (See List of common club name components section).

In Europe, many (if not most) clubs are named after their towns or cities (e.g. "Deportivo La Coruña", "Liverpool FC", "Hamburger SV"), In South America, clubs are more likely to have names that don't bear the city's name. Some clubs, like Hansa Rostock or Torpedo Moscow may have both.

[edit] Common versus official usage

See also: Lists of nicknames in football (soccer)

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.

Official names may reflect the instances where two different clubs with exactly (or more or less) the same name, prompting one or both to be suffixed with a geographical distinction. Famous instances of this are PFC CSKA Moscow and CSKA Sofia; Dynamo Moscow, Dynamo Kyiv, Dinamo Bucharest, Dynamo Dresden, BFC Dynamo, Dinamo Zagreb and Dinamo Tbilisi; América de Cali (Colombia) and Club América (Mexico).

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 United (sometimes Man U or even just United), and Lyon used instead of Olympique Lyonnais.

Some clubs are commonly referred to by their initials, such as QPR, for Queens Park Rangers.

In a few cases there are even common misconceptions about the official name of the club. A common example being Glasgow Rangers and Glasgow Celtic, where their proper official names are simply Rangers F.C. and Celtic F.C. Another misunderstanding is Belfast Crusaders where the proper name is just Crusaders F.C.

[edit] Club names referring to a profession or education

[edit] Club names referring to a profession

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Armed forces For sport clubs affiliated with the armed forces of a country. See also CSKA.  Azerbaijan MOIK Baku
 Belize Belize Defence Force
 Bhutan Royal Bhutan Army FC
 Botswana Botswana Defence Force XI
 Cambodia Army Division of Logistics, Royal Cambodian Air Force, Royal Navy
 Ecuador El Nacional
 England Royal Engineers A.F.C.
 Hungary Budapest Honvéd FC
 Malaysia Angkatan Tentera Malaysia FA
 Myanmar Army
 North Korea Haeju Army
 North Korea 4.25 Sports Group
 Pakistan Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy
 Romania Steaua Bucharest
 Singapore Singapore Armed Forces Football Club, Singapore Armed Forces Sports Association
 Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force
Arsenal Factories creating weapons  Argentina Arsenal de Sarandí
 England Arsenal
 Honduras Arsenal Roatán
 Russia FC Arsenal Tula
 Ukraine FC Arsenal Kyiv
Beer  Eritrea Asmara Brewery
 Ethiopia Harrar Beer Botling
 Peru Sporting Cristal
 Serbia FK ČSK Pivara
 Ukraine FC Obolon Kyiv
Carpentry  Italy Mobilieri Ponsacco
 Estonia TVMK (Tallinna Vineeri-ja Mööblikombinaat)
Cobre- Spanish for copper, after association with copper mining  Chile Club de Deportes Cobreloa, Club Deportes Cobresal
 Peru Cobresol F.B.C.
Company name Club names containing the name of a company. These clubs were either founded as works teams by a company for its employees (e.g. PSV), bought by a company (e.g. the three Red Bull teams), or incorporate a corporate sponsor's name (e.g. Technogroup).  Argentina Quilmes
 Austria Red Bull Salzburg
 Brazil Red Bull Brasil
 Colombia La Equidad
 England Vauxhall Motors, Rolls Royce Leisure, Billingham Synthonia (An ICI fertiliser brand), Sunderland Nissan, Cammell Laird
 Germany Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Wacker Burghausen, Carl Zeiss Jena
 Greece Skoda Xanthi
 India Air India, Amity United FC, Chirag United SC, Dempo SC, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC,Indian Bank Recreational Club, JCT FC, Kingfisher East Bengal FC, Hindustan Football Club, Mahindra United, Oil India Ltd. FC, ONGC FC,VIVA KERALA
 Indonesia Semen Padang
 Italy Cisco Roma
 Japan Honda Motor, Honda Locks, Mitsubishi Mizushima, Sony Sendai, TDK
 Peru Inti Gas Deportes, Total Clean
 South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Busan I'Park, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
 Mexico Cruz Azul
 Moldova
( Transnistria)		 Sheriff Tiraspol
 Netherlands Philips Sport Vereniging
 Russia Lada Togliatti, FC Torpedo-RG, FC Torpedo-ZIL
 ROC ( Chinese Taipei) Tatung
 Turkey Türk Telekomspor
 Turks and Caicos Islands KPMG United
 USA Red Bull New York
 Wales Airbus UK, Technogroup Welshpool Town
Electrical Bargh: Persian for Electricity  Iran Bargh Shiraz F.C., Bargh Tehran F.C.
 Ecuador Emelec (The club was founded by the E.M.E.L.E.C. Company.)
 ROC ( Chinese Taipei) Taipower
 United States Houston Dynamo (Refers to Houston's energy-based industrial economy)
 Germany 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam(The club was initially supported by the local energy supplier.)
Douanes French term for Customs and Taxation enforcement, clubs sponsored by these entities  Niger AS Douanes (Niamey)
 Senegal AS Douanes (Dakar)
 Togo AS Douanes (Lomé)
 Morocco Racing de Casablanca was renamed Association des Douanes Marocains (ADM) from 1969-1980s
Industrial Revolution formed during the late Victorian Industrial boom  England Middlesbrough Ironopolis F.C.
Industrial  Spain UD Gijón Industrial
Metallurgy Foolad, Zob Ahan, and Mes: Persian for Steel, Steelworks, and Copper. Vasas: "Vas- és Fémmunkások" Hungarian for "Iron and Steel Workers"  Iran Foolad F.C., F.C. Zob Ahan, Mes Kerman F.C.
 Hungary Budapesti Vasas Sport Club
 Latvia FK Liepājas Metalurgs
 Russia Metallurg Krasnoyarsk, Metallurg Lipetsk, Metallurg-Kuzbass Novokuznetsk
 Ukraine Metalurh Donetsk, Metalurh Nikopol, Metalurh Zaporizhia, Stal Alchevsk, Metalist Kharkiv
 Poland Stal Mielec
 Germany Stahl Eisenhüttenstadt
 Norway Stålkameratene
 United States Bethlehem Steel F.C.
 Uzbekistan FK Metallurg Bekobod
Mining Górnik: Polish for miner
Zagłębie: Polish for coalfield
Minero: Spanish for miner
Colliery: Coal mine
Shakhtar: Ukrainian for miner		  England Atherton Collieries, Bentley Colliery, Harworth Colliery Institute, Pontefract Collieries, Thoresby Colliery Welfare, Thorne Colliery, Welbeck Colliery Welfare
Blackwell Miners Welfare, Calverton Miners Welfare, Gedling Miners Welfare, Holbrook Miners Welfare, Rainworth Miners Welfare, Staveley Miners Welfare
 Peru Atlético Minero
 Poland Górnik Łęczna, Górnik Polkowice, Górnik Wieliczka Górnik Zabrze, Zagłębie Lubin, Zagłębie Sosnowiec
 Venezuela Atlético Club Mineros de Guayana
 Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk
Municipal Indicates a club formed by workers of, or associated with, a city hall or otherwise related local government unit.  El Salvador Once Municipal
 Guatemala CSD Municipal
 Peru Deportivo Municipal
 Uganda Kampala City Council
Navy Malavan: Persian for Sailor  Iran Malavan F.C.
Patriots Named for Patriot Missile System in United States Army at Ft. Bliss  United States El Paso Patriots
Petroleum Naft: Persian for Petrol  Angola Académica Petróleo Kwanda Soyo, Atlético Petróleos do Huambo, Atlético Petróleos do Namibe, Atlético Petróleos Luanda
 Azerbaijan Neftchi Baku
 Bolivia Oriente Petrolero
 Colombia Alianza Petrolera
 Ecuador Esmeraldas Petrolero
 Iran Sanat Naft F.C.
Police For football clubs affiliated with a police force  Botswana Police XI
 Cambodia Military Police
 China Vanguard Hubei Police Academy
 Ecuador Escuela Superior de Policía (ESPOLI)
 England Metropolitan Police, West Midlands Police
 India Punjab Police
 Iraq Al-Shorta
 Lithuania Sostinės Policija Vilnius
 Malaysia PDRM FA
 Isle of Man Police
 Nepal Mahendra Police Club
 Uganda Police FC
 Poland Gwardia Warszawa
 Singapore Home United
 Singapore Police SA
Railroad workers Rah Ahan (Persian), Ferro Carril (Spanish), for Railroad (noun). Ferroviário (Portuguese) for Railroad (adjective). The "CFR" in CFR Cluj is Căile Ferate Române, the Romanian state railway system. Vasutas means "railroad worker" in Hungarian, Demir means "iron" in Turkish.  Argentina Ferro Carril Oeste, Rosario Central (from Central Argentine Railway)
 Brazil Ferroviário Atlético Clube, Associação Ferroviária de Esportes
 England Darlington Railway Athletic, Harrogate Railway Athletic
 Germany 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig
 Hungary Debreceni Vasutas Sport Klub
 Scotland Inverurie Loco Works F.C.
 Iran Rah Ahan F.C.
 Mozambique Clube Ferroviário da Beira, Clube Ferroviário de Maputo, Clube Ferroviário de Nampula
 Romania CFR Cluj
 Russia FC Lokomotiv Moscow
 Turkey Adana Demirspor, Ankara Demirspor...
Sailors Marinos: Spanish  Australia Central Coast Mariners
 Japan Yokohama F. Marinos
Shipbuilding After the Cammell Laird ship yard  England Cammell Laird F.C.
Stevedores or longshoremen  New Zealand Waterside Karori
Textile Nassaji: Persian for Textile Industry  Argentina Textil Mandiyú
 Croatia NK Varteks Varaždin
 Iran Nassaji Mazandaran F.C.
 Mozambique Grupo Desportivo da Companhia Têxtil do Punguè
 Spain SD Textil Escudo
Tractor manufacturing  Iran Teraktor Sazi F.C.
 Russia Rotor Volgograd
 Uzbekistan FK Traktor Tashkent
Generic  Italy SPAL 1907 (Società Polisportiva Ars et Labor)

[edit] Club names referring to education

NB: Soccer teams 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. The one main exception to this rule is the men's team owned by Brigham Young University, which participates in the semi-professional USL Premier Development League instead of the NCAA.

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Academical Affiliation with academics. See also Estudiantes, University, Polytechnic.  Bulgaria Akademik Sofia, Akademik Svishtov
 Denmark Akademisk Boldklub
 Germany Akademischer BC 1897 Charlottenburg
 Portugal Académica de Coimbra
 Scotland Hamilton Academical, Wick Adademy
Old Boys Named by and as a reference to ex-pupils of a school  Argentina Newell's Old Boys
 Switzerland BSC Old Boys
Young Boys Named in contrast to nearby club Old Boys Basel (see Old Boys above)  Switzerland BSC Young Boys
Polytechnic Affiliation with academics. See also Academical, Estudiantes, University, Technical College.  Moldova FC Politehnica Chişinău
 Romania FC Politehnica Iaşi, Politehnica Ştiinţa Timişoara
Students Affiliation with students. See also Academical, Polytechnic, University.  Argentina Estudiantes de La Plata, Estudiantes de Río Cuarto, Estudiantes de Buenos Aires
 Brazil Estudantes Sport Club
 Peru Estudiantes de Medicina
 Romania Sportul Studenţesc
 Venezuela Estudiantes de Mérida
Technical College  Ecuador Técnico Universitario
 New Zealand Christchurch Technical, Dunedin Technical
University Affiliation with universities. See also Academical, Estudiantes, Polytechnic.  Bolivia Universitario de Sucre
 Brazil Sport Club Ulbra, Universidade Estácio de Sá Futebol Clube
 Chile Universidad Católica, Universidad de Chile, Universidad de Concepción
 Costa Rica Universidad de Costa Rica
 Ecuador LDU Cuenca, LDU Loja, LDU Portoviejo, LDU Quito, Universidad Católica
 England Cambridge University, University of Exeter, Loughborough University, Oxford University
 Honduras Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras
 Ireland University College Dublin A.F.C.
 Mexico Estudiantes Tecos, Universidad Nacional, Universitario de Nuevo León, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Benemerita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Ocelotes de la UNACH, Universidad del Futbol, Universidad Autónoma de Hidalgo, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua
 New Zealand University-Mount Wellington
 Peru Universitario de Deportes, Universidad San Martín de Porres, Universidad César Vallejo, Universidad Técnica de Cajamarca, IDUNSA
 Romania FC Universitatea Craiova, Universitatea Cluj
 Scotland Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh University
 South Africa Pretoria University FC
 Spain AD Universidad de Oviedo, Universidad de Las Palmas CF
 Thailand Bangkok University FC
 Venezuela Universidad de Los Andes Fútbol Club

[edit] Club names referring to days and dates

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Days of the week Clubs named after a specific day of the week  England Sheffield Wednesday
 Wales Abergavenny Thursdays
Independence Day Clubs named after the day of independence of the country or city  Argentina 9 de Julio de Rafaela, 9 de Julio de Morteros, Sportivo 9 de Julio Río Tercero (July 9)
 Ecuador Club 9 de Octubre (October 9)
 Portugal Sociedade União 1º de Dezembro (December 1)
Labour Day  Angola Estrela Clube Primeiro de Maio
 Portugal Associação Naval 1º de Maio
Political change  Brazil Clube 15 de Novembro, Esporte Clube XV de Novembro (Piracicaba), Esporte Clube XV de Novembro (Jaú) (November 15, 1889—the date of the coup that overthrew Emperor Pedro II and established Brazil as a republic)
 China Bayi Football Team, Nanchang Bayi (1 August 1927—the date of the Nanchang Uprising, the first major battle between Communist and Kuomintang forces in the Chinese Civil War)
 North Korea 4.25 Sports Group (April 25, 1932—claimed by North Korea as the founding date of its armed forces, the Korean People's Army)
 Yemen May 22 San'a' (May 22, 1990—the date when the former North Yemen and South Yemen merged into the modern Republic of Yemen)
Year of establishment Club names containing a reference to the year in which the club was established
(clubs are listed in chronological order by country)		  Belgium Eendracht Aalst 2002
 Finland Pallokerho-35, Tornion Pallo -47, Tampereen Peli-Pojat-70, Klubi-04
 Germany 1860 München, Hannover 96, SV Darmstadt 98, 1899 Hoffenheim, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Schalke 04, Borussia Dortmund, Mainz 05, Paderborn 07, SG Wattenscheid 09, FC Gütersloh, 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam 71
 Netherlands Be Quick 1887, UDI '19, ADO '20, Quick '20, HSC '21, Be Quick '28, CSV '28, Achilles '29, Zwaluwen '30, Excelsior '31, PKC '83
 Scotland Gretna F.C. 2008
Other For unidentified and unclassified days and dates in club names  Angola Clube Desportivo Primeiro de Agosto (August 1)
 Bolivia Club 27 de Mayo (May 27), 31 de Octubre (October 31)
 Paraguay Club 12 de Octubre (October 12), Club Atlético 3 de Febrero (February 3), Club 2 de Mayo (May 2)

[edit] Club names referring to the club's specific origins

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Angels After their original home ground, the Angel Ground, itself named after a nearby hotel.  England Tonbridge Angels
Argyle Named after The Argyle Tavern or Argyle Terrace, both in Plymouth.  England Plymouth Argyle
Great Chicago Fire Officially founded on October 8, 1997, the 126th anniversary of this pivotal event in the history of Chicago.  USA Chicago Fire
Ittihad Arabic for "the union", meaning the merger of clubs or clubs founders  Israel Ittihad Bnei Sakhnin
 Libya Al-Ittihad (Tripoli)
 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad (Jeddah)
Dons Named after the nickname of MK Dons' predecessors, Wimbledon F.C.  England Milton Keynes Dons
Heart of Midlothian Named for a dance hall, itself named for a novel by Walter Scott and a reference to the city of Edinburgh, located in the centre of Midlothian county  Scotland Heart of Midlothian
North Clubs that originated 'north' of a specific place  Australia North Queensland
 England Farnborough North End, Glossop North End, Preston North End
East Orient = from the East, Leyton is in East London  England Leyton Orient
Park Avenue The club originally played at the Park Avenue ground  England Bradford Park Avenue
Forest The club originally played at the Forest Recreation Ground  England Nottingham Forest
Queen of the South A nickname for the club's home of Dumfries  Scotland Queen of the South
Rangers (Glasgow) The club founder saw the name Rangers in a Rugby annual  Scotland Rangers
Red Stars Specifically refers to the four red stars in the center band of the municipal flag of the club's home city of Chicago.  United States Chicago Red Stars
Sounders From Puget Sound, on whose eastern shore the city of Seattle lies.  United States Seattle Sounders (NASL), Seattle Sounders (USL), Seattle Sounders FC
Homeless Rovers, Wanderers. Excursionistas translates roughly as "The Voyagers". Originally a team without a home ground various Blackburn Rovers, Bristol Rovers, Tranmere Rovers, Albion Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Bray Wanderers, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sliema Wanderers, Montevideo Wanderers, Santiago Wanderers, Excursionistas, Wanderers, Wycombe Wanderers
 Republic of Ireland Sligo Rovers
 Scotland Raith Rovers
Mohun Bagan The club was named after the palace, Mohun Bagan Villa, that was the site of the club's first ground  India Mohun Bagan
Trinity The club was formed in 1873 by the vicar of the Holy Trinity Church  England Gainsborough Trinity
 Paraguay Sportivo Trinidense
United Often (but not always) refers to the result of a merger. "Pers-" is short for "Persatuan," Indonesian for "United".  Indonesia Persib, Persebaya, Persiwa Wamena, Persela Lamongan, PSM Makassar, Persijap Jepara, Persiba Balikpapan, Persitara Jakarta, PSMS Medan, PSPS Pekanbaru, Persita Tangerang, Persik Kediri, Persipura Jayapura
 Australia Gold Coast United, Adelaide United, Newcastle United Jets
various Carlstad United BK, FC Väsby United, Manchester United, Newcastle United, West Ham United, D.C. United, Colchester United, Rotherham United, Sheffield United, Carlisle United, Leeds United, Limavady United, Ayr United, Dundee United, KVSK United, Tampere United, Yerevan United, Unión de Santa Fe, União de Leiria, União São João, JEF United Ichihara Chiba, Incheon United, Seoul United
Stanley Named after the Stanley Arms on Stanley Road, Accrington.  England Accrington Stanley
Vélez Sársfield Founded in the Floresta district of Buenos Aires near the Vélez Sársfeld railway station, itself named after Argentine statesman Dalmacio Vélez Sársfield. (The station is now known as Floresta, and the club is now located in another Buenos Aires district, Liniers.)  Argentina Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield
Villa Named after Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel in Aston, Birmingham.  England Aston Villa
Moors Taken from the nickname for Moor Green following a merger.  England Solihull Moors
Eagles When the club split into an amateur and a professional branch in 1971, the latter added Eagles to its name after their stadium, De Adelaarshorst.  Netherlands Go Ahead Eagles

[edit] Club names referring to an ethnic, social, national or religious background

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Ahly Arabic for "national"  Egypt Al-Ahly
 Qatar Al-Ahli (Doha)
 Bahrain Al-Ahli (Manama)
 Libya Al-Ahly (Tripoli), Al-Ahly (Benghazi)
 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli (Jeddah)
 UAE Al-Ahli Football Club - Dubai
 Sudan Al-Ahli (Wad Medani)
 Yemen Al-Ahli (San'a')
Albion Archaic name for Great Britain  England Brighton & Hove Albion, Burton Albion, Witton Albion.
 Scotland Stirling Albion
 Uruguay Albion F.C
Altay  Turkey Altay S.K.
Americans Usually, but not always, clubs made up of native citizens of the United States of America.  United States New York Americans, Baltimore Americans, Philadelphia Americans, New York Yankees (soccer)
Arabi Al-Arabi is the Arabic for "Arab".  Kuwait Al Arabi Kuwait
 Qatar Al-Arabi Sports Club
 Panama CD Árabe Unido
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 Föreningen
Bayern German name for Bavaria  Germany FC Bayern Munich, SpVgg Bayern Hof, FC Bayern Alzenau
Beitar Refers to Betar, for "Brit Yosef Trumpeldor", a Zionist youth movement founded in 1923.  Israel Beitar Jerusalem, Beitar Shimshon Tel Aviv
Bohemians After Bohemianism  Republic of Ireland Bohemians
Bohemians After Bohemia  Czech Republic Bohemians 1905
Borussia Latin name for Prussia.  Germany Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Borussia Fulda, Borussia Neunkirchen, Wuppertaler SV Borussia
Celtic Clubs founded by and for members of the Irish diaspora.  England Farsley Celtic, Stalybridge Celtic
 Ireland Cork Celtic, Wayside Celtic
 Northern Ireland Donegal Celtic, Lurgan Celtic
 Scotland Celtic
 United States Kearny Celtic, Brooklyn Celtic
Chief Reflecting tribal origins of home town  South Africa Kaizer Chiefs
 United States Atlanta Chiefs
Croatia Clubs founded by and for members of the Croatian diaspora.  Australia Adelaide Croatia Soccer Club, SC Croatia, Sydney Croatia, North Perth Croatia, Newcastle Croatia, Whyalla Croatia, Fremantle Croatia, Gwelup Croatia
 Canada Toronto Croatia
 Germany Croatia Berlin
Español Refers to the Spanish people.  Argentina Club Social, Deportivo y Cultural Español
 Chile Unión Española
 Spain RCD Espanyol
 United States Brooklyn Hispano
 Uruguay Central Español
Germania, Alemannia Alternative names of Germany.  Germany BFC Germania, Alemannia Aachen, TSV Germania Windeck
Hessen German name for Hessia  Germany Hessen Kassel
Guaraní Name of a group of culturally related indigenous peoples of South America.  Brazil Guarani Futebol Clube, Guarany Futebol Clube
 Paraguay Club Guaraní
Hibernia Clubs founded by and for members of the Irish diaspora.  Malta Hibernians
 Scotland Hibernian
Hungaria Alternative name of Hungary.  New Zealand Hungaria
Indians  Mexico Indios de Ciudad Juarez
Inter- International. various FK Inter Bratislava, UWIC Inter Cardiff F.C., F.C. Internazionale Milano, FC Inter Baku, Inter Bom-Bom, Inter Club d'Escaldes, Inter Monaro, Sport Club Internacional, Inter-Brooklyn Italians, Internazionale Torino, FC Inter Turku
Italy Clubs founded by and for members of the Italian diaspora.  Argentina Sportivo Italiano
 Australia Marconi Stallions
 Canada Italia Shooters
 Chile Audax Club Sportivo Italiano
 United States Inter-Brooklyn Italians
 Venezuela Deportivo Italia
Marist Founded by members of a Marist Brothers school  New Zealand Wellington Marist
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, Chittagong Mohammedan SC
 India Mohammedan SC
Monarchy Real 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.

  Belgium Cercle Brugge Koninklijke Sportvereniging, Club Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging, Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, Royal Antwerp FC
 Bolivia Real Potosí
 Colombia Real Cartagena, Real Santander
 Honduras Real España
 Netherlands Koninklijke HFC, Koninklijke HC&VV, Koninklijke UD
 Spain Real Madrid, Real Mallorca, Real Zaragoza, Real Sporting de Gijón, Reial CD Espanyol de Barcelona
 USA Real Salt Lake
National  Brazil Nacional FC
 Colombia Atlético Nacional
 Ecuador El Nacional
 Paraguay Club Nacional
 Portugal C.D. Nacional
 Romania Naţional Bucureşti
 Uruguay Nacional de Montevideo
Palestine Clubs founded by and for members of the Palestinian diaspora.  Chile Club Deportivo Palestino
 Honduras Palestino FC
Pogoń Polish for "knight-in-pursuit", depicted on the Pogoń Litewska, the Polish Coat of Arms.  Poland Pogoń Lwów, Pogoń Szczecin
Polonia, Lechia Alternative names of Poland.  Poland Polonia Warszawa, Lechia Gdańsk
Portugal Clubs founded by and for members of the Portuguese diaspora.  Andorra Lusitanos
 Brazil Associação Portuguesa de Desportos, Associação Atlética Portuguesa (RJ), Associação Portuguesa Londrinense, Associação Atlética Portuguesa Santista
 Canada Toronto Supra Portuguese
 United States Ludlow Lusitano, Newark Portuguese
 Venezuela Portuguesa Fútbol Club
Revolution Named after the American Revolution, which initially broke out in the New England colonies.  USA New England Revolution
Saint Santos is Portuguese and Spanish for saints.  Brazil Santos FC
 Mexico Santos Laguna
 Angola Santos de Angola
 Costa Rica Santos de Guápiles
 Scotland St Johnstone, St Mirren
Schwaben German name for Swabia.  Germany TSV Schwaben Augsburg
Scotland Clubs founded by and for members of the Scottish diaspora.  Brazil Scottish Wanderers
Serbia Clubs founded by and for members of the Serbian diaspora.  Australia Fitzroy City Serbia, Wollongong Srbija, Berwick Kings Krajina, Noble Park United, Westgate Sindjelic,
 Canada Serbian White Eagles
Slavia Refers to the Slavic peoples  Belarus Slavia Mozyr
 Bosnia-Herzegovina Slavija Istočno Sarajevo
 Bulgaria Slavia Sofia
 Czech Republic Slavia Praha
 Poland Sława Lwów
 Serbia Slavija Kragujevac, Slavija Novi Sad
Syriac Refers to Syriacs.  Sweden Syrianska FC, Arameiska/Syrianska KIF, Syrianska IF Kerburan, Valsta Syrianska IK
Turkey Clubs founded by and for members of the Turkish diaspora.  Germany Türkiyemspor Berlin
 Netherlands FC Türkiyemspor
Ukranians  United States Philadelphia Ukrainian-Nationals

[edit] Club names referring to geographical features

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Borough Neighborhood or district  England Chelsea, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Stevenage Borough, Eastbourne Borough, Radcliffe Borough, Hampton & Richmond Borough
 Netherlands Feyenoord
 Norway Rosenborg BK
 South Africa Orlando Pirates
Cerro Meaning hill in Spanish  Paraguay Cerro Corá, Cerro Porteño
 Uruguay C.A. Cerro
City  Australia Adelaide City, Brisbane City SC
 Canada London City
 Ecuador Cuenca (ECU)
 England Norwich City, Leicester City, Manchester City, Birmingham City, Gloucester City, Lincoln City, Bristol City, Stoke City, Chester City, Coventry City, Bradford City, Hull City, Exeter City, Bath City, Chelmsford City, St Albans City, Worcester City, Salisbury City, York City,
 Ireland Cork City, Derry City
 Italy Città di Palermo
 Northern Ireland Armagh City
 Scotland Brechin City, Elgin City, Edinburgh City
 Spain Ciudad de Murcia
 Wales Cardiff City, Swansea City
County  England Derby County, Notts County, Stockport County, Newport County
 Scotland Ross County,Nairn County
Forest Indicates a close proximity to a forest  England Forest F.C., Forest Green Rovers, Forest Town, Waltham Forest, Nott'm Forest
Hamlet  England Dulwich Hamlet
Ocean Indicates a close proximity to an ocean  Nigeria Ocean Boys F.C.
River Spanish: Rio  Brazil River Atlético Clube
 Argentina River Plate
 Honduras Motagua
 Poland Wisła Kraków, Wisła Płock, Odra Wodzisław, Odra Opole, Warta Poznań
 Portugal Rio Ave FC
Sound A large ocean inlet, or a narrow ocean channel between two bodies of land  USA Seattle Sounders FC
Town  Ecuador Macara
 England Yeovil Town, Huddersfield Town, Halifax Town, Grimsby Town, Ipswich Town, Luton Town, Swindon Town, Northampton Town, Macclesfield Town, Cheltenham Town, Bognor Regis Town, Braintree Town, Basingstoke Town, Crawley Town, Kettering Town, Mansfield Town, Shrewsbury Town, Aldershot Town, Alfreton Town, Fleetwood Town, Hucknall Town, Harrogate Town, Dorchester Town
 Wales Aberystwyth Town, Caernarfon Town
Vale Named for teams located in a town in a vale  England Port Vale, Aylesbury Vale, Pewsey Vale, Raynes Park Vale

[edit] Club names referring to specific geographical features

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Africa Named after the African continent.  Ivory Coast Africa Sports
Americas Named after the American continent.  Argentina Sol de América de Formosa
 Brazil América Football Club, América de Natal, América Mineiro, América Paulista, América do Sergipe, América de Manaus, América de Três Rios, Americano
 Colombia América de Cali
 Mexico Club América
 Nicaragua América Managua
 Paraguay Sol de América
Ancient cities Corinth
(often refers to the "Corinthian ideal" of amateurism in sport)		  Brazil Corinthians Paulista, Corinthians Alagoano, Atlético Clube Coríntians
 England Corinthian, Corinthian-Casuals, Corinthian (Kent)
Sparta  Czech Republic Sparta Prague
 England Blyth Spartans, Brache Sparta
 Malta Hamrun Spartans
 Netherlands Sparta Rotterdam, Nivo Sparta, Sparta Nijkerk
 Norway Sparta Sarpsborg
 Scotland Spartans
Ararat  Armenia FC Ararat Yerevan
 Iran F.C. Ararat Tehran
The Baltic  Poland Bałtyk Gdynia
 Russia FC Baltika Kaliningrad
Black Sea Cherno More in several Slavic languages  Bulgaria Chernomorets 919 Burgas, Chernomorets Burgas Sofia, Cherno More Varna
 Russia Chernomorets Novorossiysk
 Ukraine Chornomorets Odessa
River Plate  Argentina Club Atlético River Plate
 Uruguay Club Atlético River Plate (Uruguay)

[edit] Club names referring to plants

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Arecaceae Palmeiras: Portuguese for palm trees.  Brazil Palmeiras
Bluebell  Scotland Dundonald Bluebell F.C.
Cherry tree  Japan Cerezo Osaka
Hawthorn  Scotland Hill of Beath Hawthorn F.C.
Hollyhock  Japan Mito HollyHock
Laburnum  England Atherton Laburnum Rovers
Lily  Scotland Easthouses Lily
Maple Javor: Serbian for maple.  Serbia FK Javor
Oak  Ghana Hearts of Oak
Pepper  Bermuda Hamilton Parish Hot Peppers
Pine  Australia Frankston Pines
Rose  Australia Adamstown Rosebuds
 Scotland Linlithgow Rose F.C., Montrose Roselea F.C.
Shamrock Symbol of Ireland and Irish nationalism  Ireland Shamrock Rovers
Thistle National symbol of Scotland  Scotland Ardeer Thistle, Buckie Thistle, Dalry Thistle, East Kilbride Thistle, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Lothian Thistle, Lugar Boswell Thistle, Partick Thistle
Violet  Jamaica Violet Kickers F.C.
 Scotland Stonehouse Violet F.C.

[edit] Club names referring to real or mythical creatures

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Bear  Australia Weston Workers Bears FC
Bee  Nigeria Ranchers Bees
Buffalo  South Korea Jeonbuk Buffalo
 Zambia Green Buffaloes FC
Cattle Spanish: toro.  Mexico Toros Neza
 Panama Tauro F.C.
Cheetah  South Korea Anyang Cheetahs FC
Cougar Puma is Spanish for "cougar", and is one of many names used in English to describe the predatory cat.  United States BYU Cougars,[1] Kitsap Pumas
Dingo  Australia UQFC Dingoes
Deer  Japan Kashima Antlers
Dolphin  Ireland Dolphin F.C. (Dublin)[2]
 Nigeria Dolphins F.C. (Port Harcourt)
Dragon  Benin AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé
 Democratic Republic of the Congo AS Dragons
 Sierra Leone Golden Dragon F.C.
 South Korea Chunnam Dragons
Eagle Portuguese: águia, Spanish: águila.  Australia Parramatta Eagles
 Brazil Águia de Marabá Futebol Clube, Esporte Clube Águia Negra
 Canada Serbian White Eagles
 El Salvador C.D. Águila
 Fiji Nokia Eagles
 Mexico Socio Águila
 Netherlands Go Ahead Eagles
 Sierra Leone Kamboi Eagles
 Spain Águilas CF
 Suriname Super Red Eagles
 Uganda Express Red Eagles
 United States Charlotte Eagles
Fox  Germany Reinickendorfer Füchse (a pun on Reinicke Fuchs)
Frog  USA San Jose Frogs
Goat Chivas: Spanish for goats.  Mexico Chivas de Guadalajara
 United States Club Deportivo Chivas USA
Gorilla  United States Atlanta Silverbacks
Grasshopper  Switzerland Grasshopper-Club Zürich
Harrier hawk Name usually used for athletics teams.  England Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Hornet  Bermuda Dandy Town Hornets
Horse  Australia Marconi Stallions
 Bermuda St George's Colts
 Canada Brampton Stallions
 Honduras Broncos
Hummingbird Spanish: colibri.  Mexico Colibríes de Morelos
Jaguar  Mexico Jaguares de Chiapas
 United States California Jaguars
Leopard  Kenya AFC Leopards
 Sierra Leone Golf Leopards
 South Africa Black Leopards
 Swaziland Royal Leopards
Linnet  England Runcorn Linnets
Lion Swahili: simba.
The logo of the USA women's club FC Gold Pride includes a lioness.		  Australia Bankstown City Lions, Kingborough Lions, Preston Lions FC, Queensland Roar FC, Stirling Lions,
 Canada Canadian Lions
 Ghana Heart of Lions
 Malta Sannat Lions F.C.
 Senegal East End Lions
 Sierra Leone East End Lions
 Singapore Young Lions
 South Africa Nathi Lions
 Tanzania Simba SC
 Uganda Simba FC
 United States FC Gold Pride, St. Louis Lions
Lynx  Canada Toronto Lynx, Toronto Lady Lynx
Orca "Grampus" is a historic name for the whale now known as the killer whale or orca.  Japan Nagoya Grampus
Panther  Australia South Adelaide Panthers
Pegasus Korean: Chunma.  South Korea Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
Pheasant  Japan Fagiano Okayama
Phoenix Spanish: fénix.  Argentina Fénix
 New Zealand Wellington Phoenix FC
 Uruguay Centro Atlético Fénix
 South Korea Gwangju Sangmu Phoenix
Pig  Bermuda Bermuda Hogges
Rattlesnake  United States Lancaster Rattlers
Rhinoceros  United States Rochester Rhinos
 Zimbabwe Black Rhinos F.C.
Rooster Portuguese: galo.  Brazil Adap Galo Maringá Football Club
Seahorse  USA Southern California Seahorses
Shark French: requin  Mexico Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz
 Australia Sutherland Sharks
 Benin Requins de l'Atlantique
 Nigeria Sharks F.C.
 United States Wilmington Hammerheads
Snake  Australia Adelaide Cobras
Sphinx  England Coventry Sphinx
Squirrel Spanish: ardilla.  Japan Omiya Ardija
Swallow Portuguese: andorinha, Dutch: zwaluw  Netherlands Zwaluwen'30
 São Tomé and Príncipe Andorinha Sport Club
 South Africa Moroka Swallows FC
 Swaziland Mbabane Swallows
Swift  England Heybridge Swifts F.C., Stourport Swifts F.C.
 Northern Ireland Dungannon Swifts
 Scotland Jeanfield Swifts
Terrier  England Bedlington Terriers
Tiger Portuguese and Spanish: tigre; Korean: Horang-i.  Argentina Club Atlético Tigre
 Australia A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers
 Bahamas Playtime Tigers
 Brazil Esporte Clube Tigres do Brasil
 England Kingsbury London Tigers
 Mexico UANL Tigres
 South Korea Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i
Wasp  England Chalfont Wasps F.C.
Wolf  Australia Wollongong Wolves
 Canada St. Catharines Wolves
Zebra  Australia Whittlesea Zebras
 Bermuda PHC Zebras

[edit] Club names referring to real or mythical people

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
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.  Estonia FC Ajax Lasnamäe
 Malta Rabat Ajax F.C.
 Morocco Ajax Kenitra
 Netherlands AFC Ajax, Ajax Sportman Combinatie
 South Africa Ajax Cape Town
 United States Ajax Orlando Prospects
Alexandra Club names containing a reference to Princess Alexandra.  England Crewe Alexandra
Aris After the Greek God of War.  Greece Aris Thessaloniki
 Cyprus Aris Limassol
 Luxembourg Aris Bonnevoie
Armando Picchi  Italy Armando Picchi Calcio
Arminia From Arminius a chieftain who defeated a Roman Army in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.  Germany Arminia Bielefeld, Arminia Hannover
Arturo Fernández Vial  Chile Club Deportivo Ferroviario Almirante Arturo Fernández Vial|
Atlas Club names containing a reference to Atlas.  Mexico F.C. Atlas A.C.
 Argentina Club Atlético Atlas
Guillermo Brown  Argentina Club Almirante Brown, Club Atlético Almirante Brown, Club Atlético Brown, Club Social y Atlético Guillermo Brown
Colocolo  Brazil Colo-Colo de Futebol e Regatas
 Chile Colo-Colo
Dalmacio Vélez Sársfield Club named after the Buenos Aires railway station closest to its original site, said station having been named for the Argentine statesman.  Argentina Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield
Hercules/Heracles After the Greek demi-god.  Greece Iraklis F.C.
 Netherlands Heracles Almelo
 Spain Hércules CF
Hermann Aichinger  Brazil Clube Atlético Hermann Aichinger
Hertha Supposedly a Germanic deity.  Germany Hertha BSC Berlin, Hertha Zehlendorf
Hotspur Named after Henry Percy, aka Henry Hotspur  England Tottenham Hotspur
Jahn Named after Friedrich Ludwig Jahn.  Germany SSV Jahn Regensburg
Joan of Arc  Réunion SS Jeanne d'Arc
 Senegal ASC Jeanne d'Arc
Jorge Wilstermann  Bolivia Club Jorge Wilstermann
José Joaquín Olmedo  Ecuador Centro Deportivo Olmedo
José Gálvez  Peru Club José Gálvez
Luis Ángel Firpo  El Salvador C.D. Luis Angel Firpo
Martín Ledesma  Paraguay Club Martín Ledesma
Newell Named by ex-pupils of the English High School of Rosario in homage to its director and football coach, English immigrant Isaac Newell  Argentina Newell's Old Boys
Odysseus Named after legendary Greek king and Homer's epic poem  Armenia Ulisses FC
Renato Curi  Italy Renato Curi Angolana
Rio Branco Named after the Baron of Rio Branco.  Brazil Rio Branco Atlético Clube, Rio Branco Esporte Clube, Clube Esportivo Rio Branco
Rob Roy  Scotland Kirkintilloch Rob Roy F.C.
Robin Hood  Suriname SV Robinhood
Rutherford B. Hayes  Paraguay Club Presidente Hayes
Shimshon Douri The club was formed in memory of Shimshon Douri, a former Maccabi Tel Aviv player who died in the War of Independence.  Israel Shimshon Tel Aviv F.C.
Silvio Pettirossi  Paraguay Club Silvio Pettirossi
Simón Bolívar  Bolivia Club Bolívar
Vasco da Gama Named after Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama.[3]  Brazil Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama, Associação Desportiva Vasco da Gama
 India Vasco SC
Victoria Named after Queen Victoria.  England Northwich Victoria, Biddulph Victoria
Willem II  Netherlands Willem II
Zico  Brazil Centro de Futebol Zico Sociedade Esportiva

[edit] Club names referring to sport

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Amateur Referring to the amateur origins of the club.  Austria Amateure SV
 England Fulwood Amateurs F.C.
Athletics Club names containing a reference to athletes or athletics. In the United States, the term "athletics" refers to sport in general, and not specifically to track and field athletics.  Angola Petro Atlético
 Brazil Atlético Mineiro, Atlético Paranaense, Atlético Goianiense, Atlético Acreano
 Colombia Atlético Nacional, Atlético Bucaramanga, Atlético Huila
 England Charlton Athletic, Grays Athletic, Oldham Athletic, Wigan Athletic
 Paraguay Club Atlético 3 de Febrero, Club Atlético Colegiales
 Scotland Dunfermline Athletic, Forfar Athletic, Alloa Athletic, Annan Athletic, Haddington Athletic
 Spain Athletic Bilbao, Atlético Madrid
 United States Saint Louis Athletica
Casuals Clubs originating in amateur status teams.  England Corinthian-Casuals F.C., Walton Casuals F.C.
Cricket Club names containing a term for cricket. Usually, the club also had a cricket team in the past.  Brazil Rio Cricket
 Italy Genoa C.F.C.
Football Club names containing a term for football. Examples: futebol (Portuguese) balompié (Spanish), calcio (Italian).  Brazil Guaratinguetá Futebol, RS Futebol, Paulínia Futebol Clube
 Denmark Greve Fodbold
 Italy Ascoli Calcio 1898, Cagliari Calcio, Udinese Calcio
 Spain Albacete Balompié, Real Betis Balompié, Écija Balompié
Gymnastics These clubs usually have a historical affiliation with gymnastics.  France Olympique Gymnaste Club de Nice-Côte d'Azur
 Germany Turn- und Sportgemeinschaft 1899 Hoffenheim, Turn und Spielvereinigung Koblenz
 Norway Larvik Turn & I.F.
 Spain Gimnàstic de Tarragona, RS Gimnástica de Torrelavega
 Turkey Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü
Olympic Games Club names containing a reference to either the Olympic Games or the ancient city of Olympia, Greece.  Azerbaijan FK Olimpik Baku
 Belgium Olympia Bruxelles
 Cyprus Olympiakos Nicosia
 England Blackburn Olympic, Rushall Olympic
 France Nîmes Olympique, Olympique Lyonnais, Olympique Marseille
 Greece Olympiacos F.C., ASK Olympiakos Volos F.C., Ethnikos Olympiakos Volos F.C.
 Honduras CD Olimpia
 Mali Cercle Olympique de Bamako
 Niger Olympic FC de Niamey
 Northern Ireland Derry Olympic
 Paraguay Olimpia Asunción
 Romania Olimpia Satu Mare
 Slovenia Olimpija Ljubljana
Rambling Hillwalking  Republic of Ireland Cobh Ramblers F.C.
 England Burnham Ramblers F.C.
Racing  Uruguay Racing Montevideo
 Spain Racing Santander
 France Racing Strasbourg
 Argentina Racing Avellaneda
Rowing These clubs usually have a historical affiliation with rowing.  Brazil Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama, Clube de Regatas Brasil, Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas, Colo-Colo de Futebol e Regatas, Palmas Futebol e Regatas, Clube do Remo, São Cristóvão de Futebol e Regatas
Sport Club names containing the word "sport." Examples: deportivo (Spanish), desportivo and esportivo (Portuguese), sport (Dutch), spor (Turkish).  Brazil Desportiva Capixaba, Clube Esportivo de Bento Gonçalves, Sport Club do Recife
 Cape Verde Desportivo Ribeira Brava, Desportivo de Santa Cruz
 Chile Club Deportivo Huachipato, Club Deportivo O'Higgins, Deportivo Temuco
 Colombia Deportivo Cali, Deportivo Pereira, Deportes Quindío, Deportes Tolima, Deportivo Pasto, Depor FC
EnglandEngland Woodley Sports, Mickleover Sports, Hullbridge Sports, Cowes Sports
 Republic of Ireland Sporting Fingal
 Netherlands Helmond Sport, Sportclub Heerenveen
 Peru Deportivo Wanka, Sport Boys
 Portugal Desportivo das Aves
 Spain Deportivo de La Coruña, other clubs with RCD (Real Club Deportivo)
 Turkey Bursaspor, Trabzonspor...
Stadium Club names containing the word "stadium." Examples: stade (French), stadion (Dutch and German).  Belgium Stade Leuven
 Côte d'Ivoire Stade d'Abidjan
 France Stade Rennes, Stade Reims, Stade Brest 29, Stade Saint-Brieuc, Stade Bordelais, Stade Français Paris, Stade Laval, Stade Plabennecois
 Gabon Stade d'Akébé, AS Stade Mandji
 Mali Stade Malien
 Senegal Stade Mbour
Tennis Football department was added to tennis club.  Germany Tennis Borussia Berlin

[edit] Sports societies

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
CSKA CSKA means Central Army Sports Club in Slavic languages, indicates that the team was originally part of the army.  Armenia CSKA Yerevan
 Bulgaria CSKA Sofia
 Moldova CSCA-Rapid Chişinău
 Romania CSCA Bucureşti
 Russia PFC CSKA Moscow
 Tajikistan CSKA Dushanbe
 Ukraine CSKA Kyiv
Dynamo 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 FC Dinamo Minsk, FC Dinamo Brest
 Croatia Dinamo Zagreb
 Estonia Dünamo Tallinn
 Georgia FC Dinamo Batumi, FC Dinamo Sokhumi, FC Dinamo Tbilisi
 Germany Berliner FC Dynamo, SG Dynamo Dresden
 Latvia FK Dinamo-Rīnuži/LASD
 Moldova FC Dinamo Bender
 Romania FC Dinamo Bucureşti
 Russia Dynamo Moscow, Dynamo Bryansk, Dynamo Makhachkala, Dynamo Stavropol
 Ukraine Dynamo Kyiv, FC Dinamo Luhansk
Hapoel Hebrew for The Worker, an Israeli sport association, with links to trade unionism  Israel (see Hapoel)
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.  Sweden IFK Eskilstuna, IFK Göteborg, IFK Malmö, IFK Motala, IFK Norrköping, IFK Stockholm, IFK Uppsala and others.
Lokomotiv For Eastern European teams, indicates that the team was originally part of the Soviet Lokomotiv sport society or an equivalent.  Bulgaria Lokomotiv Plovdiv
 Germany Lokomotive Leipzig
 Russia Lokomotiv Moscow, Lokomotiv Liski
Maccabi For Jewish teams, indicates that the team was originally part of the Maccabi sport society.  ? (see Maccabi (sports))
Spartak For Eastern European teams, indicates that the team was originally part of the Soviet Spartak sport society or an equivalent.  Russia Spartak Moscow, Spartak Vladikavkaz, FC Spartak Nalchik
Torpedo For Eastern European teams, indicates that the team was once part of the Soviet republican VSS Trud.  Georgia FC Torpedo Kutaisi
 Russia FC Torpedo Moscow, FC Torpedo-RG, FC Torpedo-ZIL
 Ukraine FC Torpedo Zaporizhzhya
 Spain AD Torpedo 66
Vorwärts Armeesportvereinigung Vorwärts were the sports society of the East German Army.  East Germany Vorwärts Berlin/Frankfurt
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

[edit] Club names referring to values and ideals

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Courage German: Wacker
Portuguese: Bravo
Spanish: Bravo		  Angola Onze Bravos do Maquis
 Austria Admira Wacker Mödling, Wacker Innsbruck, Wacker Tirol
 Germany Alemannia Wacker Berlin, Wacker Leipzig, Wacker München, Wacker 90 Nordhausen
 Mexico Bravos de Nuevo Laredo
Energy German: Energie  Germany Energie Cottbus
Faith Spanish: Fe  Colombia Santa Fe
Fortune  Denmark Fortuna Hjørring
 Germany Fortuna Köln, Fortuna Düsseldorf, Fortuna Magdeburg
 Netherlands Fortuna Sittard
Freedom  United States Washington Freedom
Friendship  France Union Amicale Cognac, Amicale Sportive de Poissy, Amicale Sportive Vitré
 Germany Sportfreunde Lotte, Sportfreunde Seligenstadt, Sportfreunde Siegen
 Italy F.S. Sestrese Calcio 1919
 Luxembourg Les Amis de la Moselle Remerschen, FC Amis des Sports Luxembourg
 Namibia Friends
 Northern Ireland Ballyclare Comrades F.C.
 Norway Hamarkameratene, Mandalskameratene
Glory  Australia Perth Glory
Harmony  Belgium V.C. Eendracht Aalst 2002
 Germany SC Concordia Hamburg, Eintracht Braunschweig, Eintracht Dortmund, Eintracht Bamberg, Eintracht Duisburg 1848, Eintracht Frankfurt, Eintracht Friedrichshagen, Eintracht Mahlsdorf, Eintracht Trier, Eintracht Nordhorn
 Switzerland Concordia Basel
Health and wellbeing  England Armthorpe Welfare, Askern Welfare, Blackwell Miners Welfare, Blidworth Welfare, Brodsworth Welfare, Calverton Miners Welfare, Clipstone Welfare, Gedling Miners Welfare, Glasshoughton Welfare, Holbrook Miners Welfare, Nostell Miners Welfare, Staveley Miners Welfare, Thoresby Colliery Welfare, Welbeck Colliery Welfare
 Netherlands Tot Heil Onzer Ribbenkast
 Scotland Danderhall Miners Welfare, Lochore Miners Welfare, Whitehill Welfare
Hope  Benin Espoir FC
 Cameroon Espérance FC
 France Espérance Sportive Troyes Aube Champagne
 Niger Espoir FC
 Rwanda Espoir FC
 Tunisia Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Espérance Sportive de Zarzis, Espoir Sportif de Hammam-Sousse
Improvement Excelsior means "higher"
Fortior means "stronger"		  Belgium Excelsior Mouscron
 Madagascar AS Fortior
 Netherlands Excelsior '31, Excelsior Maassluis, Excelsior Rotterdam
 Romania Progresul Bucureşti
Independence Persian: Esteghlal  Argentina Club Atlético Independiente
 Brazil Independência Futebol Clube, Independente Esportes Clube Macaé
 Colombia Independiente Medellín
 Iran Esteghlal Tehran F.C., Esteghlal Ahvaz F.C.
 United States New England Revolution
Invincibility  England Folkestone Invicta
Speed French: Vitesse
Latin: Velocitas, Celeritas		  Netherlands Celeritas, Robur et Velocitas, Velocitas 1897, Vitesse, Vitesse Delft, Vitesse 1892, Vitesse '08, Vitesse '22, Vitesse '63
Strength Latin: Robur
Hebrew: Hakoah‎		  Australia Sydney Hakoah
 Austria Hakoah Vienna
 Bolivia The Strongest
 Denmark Jødisk Idrætsforening Hakoah
 Israel Hakoah Ramat Gan
 Netherlands Robur et Velocitas, Robur Goes, Robur Harlingen
 United States New York Hakoah
Support Pro is Latin for "in favour/support of"  Italy Pro Vercelli, Pro Patria, Pro Sesto
Unity An example of this is Alianza (Spanish).  El Salvador Alianza F.C.
 Germany 1. FC Union Berlin
 Peru Alianza Lima, Alianza Atlético
 Romania Unirea Urziceni, Unirea Alba-Iulia, Unirea Focşani
 United States Philadelphia Union (to debut in 2010)
Victory Arabic: Al-Nasr‎  Saudi Arabia Al-Nasr
 United Arab Emirates Al-Nasr Sports Club
 Australia Melbourne Victory FC
 Honduras Victoria
Wealth  Colombia Club Deportivo Los Millonarios
Wisdom Arabic: Al-Hikma‎  Lebanon Al-Hikma
Youth Examples of this are "jeunesse" (French), "junior" (several languages) and "iuventus" (Latin)  Algeria Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie
 Argentina Boca Juniors, Argentinos Juniors, Chacarita Juniors, Juventud Alianza de San Juan
 Belize Juventus (Belize)
 Brazil EC Juventude, CA Juventus
 Cameroon Jeunesse Bamiléké
 Cape Verde Juventude do Norte
 Colombia Junior de Barranquilla, Juventud Soacha
 Honduras Real Juventud
 Côte d'Ivoire Jeunesse Club d'Abidjan
 Ireland Wexford Youths
 Italy Juventus F.C., A.S. Fortis Juventus 1909, S.S. Juve Stabia, A.G. Nocerina 1910
 Luxembourg Jeunesse Esch, Jeunesse Hautcharage, Jeunesse Sportive Verlorenkost
 Morocco Jeunesse Massira
 Romania Juventus Bucureşti
 Serbia Mladost Lučani, Mladost Apatin
 Switzerland BSC Young Boys
 Tunisia Jeunesse Sportive Kairouanaise
 Uruguay Rampla Juniors

[edit] Club names referring to natural phenomena

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Constellation Southern Cross
Portuguese: Cruzeiro do Sul.		  Brazil Cruzeiro Esporte Clube
Earthquake  United States San Jose Earthquakes
Fire  United States Chicago Fire
Galaxy  United States Los Angeles Galaxy
Galactic  Spain Galáctico Pegaso
Hurricane Spanish: Huracán  Argentina Club Atlético Huracán
 Uruguay Huracán Buceo
Storm German: Sturm, French: Tempête  Austria SK Sturm Graz
 Haiti Tempête Football Club
 United States Los Angeles Storm, Phoenix Banat Storm, Springfield Storm
Star French: Étoile
Arabic: النجمة‎		  England Newcastle Blue Star
 Greece Asteras Tripolis
 Lebanon Nejmeh SC
 Portugal Estrela da Amadora
 Romania Steaua Bucharest
 Serbia Red Star Belgrade
 Tunisia Étoile Sportive du Sahel
Sun  Japan Kashiwa Reysol
 South Africa Mamelodi Sundowns
 United States Los Angeles Sol
Thunder and lightning Thunder  Australia Dandenong Thunder
 Canada Hamilton Thunder
 Greece Keravnos Keratea F.C.
 United States Arizona Thunder, Austin Thunder, Denver Thunder, Louisville Thunder, Minnesota Thunder, San Antonio Thunder
Lightning
Estonian: Välk
Latvian: Zibens
Spanish: Rayo		  Estonia Tartu Välk 494
 Latvia Zibens Zemessardze
 Spain Rayo Vallecano
 United States Austin Lightning
Tides  United States Tacoma Tide
Waves  Canada Vancouver Whitecaps family: Vancouver Whitecaps, Vancouver Whitecaps Women, Vancouver Whitecaps Residency, Whitecaps FC Prospects
 United States Boston Breakers (WUSA), Boston Breakers (WPS)

[edit] Unknown

[edit] Initials

Initials presented in this table are presented with dot punctuation, this is for representation only, several clubs use the initials without dots, e.g. FC.

Initials Examples Meaning
1. F.C. 1. FC Kaiserslautern, 1. FC Köln, 1. FC Magdeburg, 1. FC Nuremberg 1. FC stands for First Football Club
A.C. A.C. Milan, A.C. Siena Associazione Calcio ("Football Association" in Italian)
A.F.C. Leeds United A.F.C., Sunderland A.F.C., Workington A.F.C., Barrow A.F.C., A.F.C. Liverpool Association Football Club. Usually used to distinguish association football teams in towns where other football codes such as Rugby football are also commonly played.
A.F.C. Bournemouth Athletic Football Club
AFC Wimbledon According to the club, its initials have no official meaning. Some have used "Association Football Club" or "A Fan's Club". Also could mean Alternate Football Club when the original club ceases to exist—AFC Wimbledon was formed after the original Wimbledon F.C., now MK Dons, received approval to move to Milton Keynes in 2002.
A.I.F. Mjällby AIF, Motala AIF Allmänna Idrottsförening ("General Sport Society" in Swedish)
A.I.K. AIK Allmänna Idrottsklubben ("General Sport Club" in Swedish)
A.S. A.S. Roma, A.S. Livorno Calcio, A.S. Monaco, A.S. Saint-Etienne Italian: Associazione Sportiva ("Sport Association")
French: Association Sportive (same meaning)
A.Z. AZ Alkmaar Zaanstreek – from the 1967 merger of Alkmaar '54 and FC Zaanstreek
B.K. Aalborg BK, Halmstads BK, BK Häcken, Rosenborg BK Boldklub – "Ball Club" in Scandinavian languages
C.A. CA Boca Juniors, CA River Plate Club Atlético
C.D. C.D. Chivas USA, C.D. Feirense Club Deportivo (Spanish), Clube Desportivo (Portuguese)
C.D.S.C. C.D.S.C. Cruz Azul Club Deportivo, Social y Cultural (Spanish: "Spotting, Social and Cultural Club")
C.F. F.C. Atlas A.C., CF Estrela da Amadora Club de Fútbol (Spanish), Clube de Futebol (Portuguese)
C.F.R. CFR Cluj Căile Ferate Române, the Romanian state railway system
e.V. FC Bayern München e.V., Karlsruher Sport-Club Mühlburg-Phönix e.V., 1. Frauen-Fußball-Club Turbine Potsdam 71 e. V., Fußballsportverein Frankfurt 1899 e.V. e.V. is the abbreviation for Eingetragener Verein, meaning registered club
F.C. FC Barcelona, FC Seoul, FC Dallas, F.C. Tokyo, Toronto FC, Sevilla FC, Puebla F.C., Yokohama F.C. Football Club in various languages
F.F. Kalmar FF, FF Jaro, Malmö FF, Trelleborgs FF Football Society in Swedish
F.F.C. 1. FFC Frankfurt Frauenfußballclub (= Women's football club)
F.K. FK Crvena Zvezda, FK Atlantas F.C. in various countries
F.S.V. FSV Frankfurt Fußballsportverein - German for Football Sport Association
G.I.F. GIF Sundsvall "Gymnastic Sport Society" in Swedish
I.F. Brøndby IF, Hammarby IF, Helsingborgs IF, Vålerenga IF Fotball "Sport Society" in the Scandinavian languages
I.K. IK Brage, Västerås IK "Sport Club" in Swedish
J.K. Helsingin JK, JK Viljandi Tulevik F.C. in Finnish and Estonian
Beşiktaş J.K. Jimnastik Kulübü (Turkish: "Gymnastics Club")
K.S.V. Cercle Brugge K.SV. Koninklijke Sportvereniging (Dutch: "Royal Sport Union")
K.V. Club Brugge K.V. Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging (Dutch: "Royal Football Union")
M.S.V. MSV Duisburg German: Meidericher Sportverein (Meiderich Sport Association)
M.T.K. MTK Hungária FC Magyar Testgyakorlók Köre (Hungarian: "Circle of Hungarian Physical Activists")
N.K. NK Dinamo Zagreb, NK Drava Ptuj F.C. in Croatian and Slovenian
P.F.C. PFC CSKA Moscow Professional Football Club
P.S.V. PSV Philips Sport Vereniging (Dutch: Philips Sport Union)
R.C. R.C. Strasbourg, R.C. Lens Racing Club
R.C.D. RCD Mallorca, RCD Espanyol Spanish: Real Club Deportivo, Catalan: Reial Club Deportiu (both "Royal Sporting Club")
R.S.C. R.S.C. Anderlecht Royal Sporting Club
S.C. SC Bastia, SC Freiburg, Sahel Sporting Club Sporting Club
Chicago Fire S.C., Erie Admirals SC Soccer Club, in countries where "soccer" is the standard term for the sport (such as the USA and Canada)
S.G. SG Wattenscheid 09 German: Sportgemeinschaft (= Sport Community)
S.K. SK Brann, Lierse S.K., Fenerbahçe S.K., Galatasaray S.K., SK Rapid Wien, Västerås SK Sport/Sporting Club in various languages
SpVgg. SpVgg Unterhaching, SpVgg Greuther Fürth German: Spielvereinigung (= Games Association)
S.S. S.S. Lazio, S.S. Murata S.S. is the abbreviation for Società Sportiva, Sport Society in Italian.
S.S.C. S.S.C. Napoli S.S.C. is the abbreviation for Società Sportiva Calcio, Football (Soccer) Sport Society in Italian.
S.V. Hamburger SV SV is the abbreviation for Sport Verein, meaning Sports Association
T.S.G. TSG 1899 Hoffenheim German: Turn- und Sportgemeinschaft (= Gymnastics and Sport Community)
TSV or TuS TSV Crailsheim, TuS Koblenz German: Turn- und Sportverein (= Gymnastics and Sport Association)
U.C. U.C. Sampdoria, U.C. AlbinoLeffe U.C. is the abbreviation for Unione Calcio, Football Union in Italian.
U.S. U.S. Città di Palermo, U.S. Lecce U.S. is the abbreviation for Unione Sportiva, Sport Union in Italian.
VfB VfB Admira Wacker Mödling, VfB Auerbach, VfB Einheit zu Pankow, VfB Eppingen, VfB Fichte Bielefeld, VfB Fortuna Chemnitz, VfB Hermsdorf, VfB Hüls, VfB Lübeck, VfB Oldenburg, VfB Pößneck, VfB Stuttgart German for Verein für Bewegungsspiele (association for exercise games)
VfL VfL Bochum, VfL Gummersbach, VfL Halle 1896, VfL Klafeld-Geisweid 08, VfL Osnabrück, VfL Wolfsburg German for Verein für Leibesübungen (association for physical exercises)
VfR VfR Aalen, VfR Bürstadt, VfR Mannheim, VfR Schlesien Breslau, VfR Wormatia Worms German for Verein für Rasenspiele (association for lawn games)
V.V. Maastrichtse VV, K. Sint-Truidense V.V. (F.C. in Dutch)
Y.R.K.V. Y.R. K.V. Mechelen Yellow Red Koninklijke Voetbalclub—the team's colours in English, plus the Dutch for "Royal Football Club"

[edit] References

  1. ^ This men's team is owned and operated by Brigham Young University, whose athletic nickname is Cougars. However, it does not participate in NCAA competition, instead playing in the USL Premier Development League. The BYU women's soccer team, which also uses the Cougars nickname, does compete in the NCAA structure.
  2. ^ Club named after suburb of Dolphin's Barn
  3. ^ "Histórico". NetVasco. http://www.netvasco.com.br/historia/historico/. Retrieved 2007-06-23. 
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_club_names"
Languages