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:
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.
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.
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.
| 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 |
 Egypt |
El Geish, Haras El Hodood |
 England |
Royal Engineers A.F.C. |
 Hungary |
Budapest Honvéd FC |
 Malaysia |
Angkatan Tentera Malaysia FA |
 Myanmar |
Army |
 North Korea |
April 25, Haeju Army |
 South Korea |
Sangju Sangmu Phoenix |
 Pakistan |
Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy |
 Philippines |
Air Force, Philippine Army |
 Singapore |
Singapore Armed Forces Football Club, Singapore Armed Forces Sports Association |
 Trinidad and Tobago |
Defence Force |
| Arsenal |
Factories creating weapons |
 Argentina |
Arsenal de Sarandí |
| Egypt |
El-Entag El-Harby, El Tersana |
| England |
Arsenal |
 Honduras |
Arsenal Roatán |
 Russia |
FC Arsenal Tula |
 Ukraine |
FC Arsenal Kyiv |
 Libya |
Tersanah S.C. |
| Beer |
|
 Eritrea |
Asmara Brewery |
 Ethiopia |
Harrar Beer Botling |
 Northern Ireland |
Lisburn Distillery |
 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). |
 Austria |
Red Bull Salzburg |
 Brazil |
Audax RJ (former Sendas Pão de Açúcar Esporte Clube), Audax SP (former Pão de Açúcar Esporte Clube), Red Bull Brasil |
 Colombia |
La Equidad |
| Egypt |
Ghazl El-Mehalla, Arab Contractors, Enppi, Petrojet, Asyut Petroleum, Suez Cement, Al Aluminium, Al Koroum, Al Etisalat, Gasco, Al-Rebat We Al-Anwar, Abu Qair Lel Asmeda |
| England |
Vauxhall Motors, Rolls Royce Leisure, Billingham Synthonia (An ICI fertiliser brand), Sunderland Nissan, Cammell Laird |
 Finland |
FF Jaro, Finnairin Palloilijat |
 France |
Evian Thonon Gaillard |
 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 FC |
 Indonesia |
Semen Padang |
| Italy |
Cisco Roma |
 Japan |
Honda Motor, Honda Locks, Mitsubishi Mizushima, Sony Sendai, Yokogawa Musashino |
| Peru |
Inti Gas Deportes, Total Clean |
| South Korea |
Ulsan Hyundai, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Busan I'Park, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma |
 Mexico |
Cruz Azul |
 Moldova
( Transnistria) |
Sheriff Tiraspol |
 Netherlands |
Philips Sport Vereniging |
 Poland |
Dolcan Ząbki, Elana Toruń, KSZO Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, Stilon Gorzów Wielkopolski, Stomil Olsztyn, Termalica - Bruk-Bet Nieciecza |
| Russia |
Lada Togliatti, FC Torpedo-RG, FC Torpedo-ZIL, FC Volgar-Gazprom Astrakhan, FC KAMAZ Naberezhnye Chelny, FC Avtodor Vladikavkaz, FC Kavkaztransgaz-2005 Ryzdvyany, FC MITOS Novocherkassk, FC Bashinformsvyaz-Dynamo Ufa, FC Nosta Novotroitsk, FC SOYUZ-Gazprom Izhevsk, FC Serp i Molot Moscow, |
 ROC ( Chinese Taipei) |
Tatung |
 Turkey |
Türk Telekomspor, THY Spor |
 Turks and Caicos Islands |
KPMG United |
 United States |
magicJack, New York Red Bulls |
 Wales |
Airbus UK, Technogroup Welshpool Town |
| Construction |
|
Egypt |
Arab Contractors |
| United States |
Columbus Crew |
| 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 |
| Harbour |
Arka refers to Noah's Ark |
Poland |
Arka Gdynia |
| Industrial Revolution |
formed during the late Victorian Industrial boom |
England |
Middlesbrough Ironopolis F.C. |
| Industrial |
|
Egypt |
Ghazl Al Mahalla, Al Entag Al Harby |
 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" |
Egypt |
Al Alaminium |
| Iran |
Foolad F.C., F.C. Zob Ahan, Mes Kerman F.C. |
| Hungary |
Vasas SC |
| Turkey |
Demir Çelik Karabükspor |
| South Korea |
Pohang Steelers |
 Latvia |
FK Liepājas Metalurgs |
| Russia |
Metallurg Krasnoyarsk, Metallurg Lipetsk, Metallurg-Kuzbass Novokuznetsk, FC Metallurg-Oskol Stary Oskol, FC Metallurg Vyksa |
 Romania |
Oţelul Galaţi |
| Ukraine |
Metalurh Donetsk, Metalurh Nikopol, Metalurh Zaporizhia, Stal Alchevsk, Metalist Kharkiv |
| Poland |
Stal Mielec, Stal Stalowa Wola |
| Germany |
Stahl Eisenhüttenstadt |
 Norway |
Stålkameratene |
 Uzbekistan |
FK Metallurg Bekobod |
| Mining |
GKS: Polish for miner sport clubs
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 |
GKS Bełchatów, GKS Jastrzębie, GKS Katowice, GKS Tychy, Górnik Konin, Górnik Łęczna, Górnik Polkowice, Górnik Wałbrzych, Górnik Wieliczka Górnik Zabrze, Zagłębie Lubin, Zagłębie Sosnowiec |
 Venezuela |
Atlético Club Mineros de Guayana |
| Ukraine |
Shakhtar Donetsk |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Rudar Ugljevik, Rudar Kakanj, Buducnost Banovici |
| Municipal |
Indicates a club formed by workers of, or associated with, a city hall or otherwise related local government unit.
Baladeyet: Arabic for municipal.
|
Egypt |
Baladeyet El Mahalla |
 El Salvador |
Once Municipal |
 Guatemala |
CSD Municipal |
| Peru |
Deportivo Municipal |
| Poland |
MKS Kluczbork |
 Uganda |
Kampala City Council |
| Navy |
Malavan: Persian for Sailor
Flota: Polish for Fleet |
Iran |
Malavan F.C. |
| Philippines |
Philippine Navy |
| Poland |
Flota Świnoujście |
| Patriots |
Named for Patriot missile system in United States Army at Ft. Bliss |
United States |
Chivas El Paso Patriots |
| Petroleum |
Naft: Persian for Petrol |
 Angola |
Académica Petróleo Kwanda Soyo, Atlético Petróleos do Huambo, Atlético Petróleos do Namibe, Atlético Petróleos Luanda |
| Mexico |
Salamanca F.C. |
 Bolivia |
Oriente Petrolero |
| Colombia |
Alianza Petrolera |
| Ecuador |
Esmeraldas Petrolero |
| Egypt |
Enppi, Petrojet, Asyut Petroleum |
| Iran |
Sanat Naft F.C. |
| Russia |
Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, FC Khimik Dzerzhinsk, Neftyanik Buguruslan, FC Khimik Koryazhma |
| Ukraine |
FC Naftovyk-Ukrnafta Okhtyrka |
| Police |
For football clubs affiliated with a police force.
El Shorta: Arabic for police.
|
Botswana |
Police XI |
| Cambodia |
Military Police |
 China |
Vanguard Hubei Police Academy |
| Ecuador |
Escuela Superior de Policía (ESPOLI) |
| Egypt |
Ittihad El Shorta |
| England |
Metropolitan Police, West Midlands Police |
| India |
Punjab Police |
 Iraq |
Al-Shorta |
 Lithuania |
Sostinės Policija Vilnius |
| Malaysia |
PDRM FA |
 Isle of Man |
Police |
 Macau |
Polícia de Segurança Pública |
 Nepal |
Mahendra Police Club |
| Uganda |
Police FC |
| Poland |
Gwardia Warszawa |
| Singapore |
Home United, Police SA |
| Railroad workers |
Rah Ahan (|Persian), Al Sekka Al Hadid: Arabic for railway, Ferro Carril (Spanish), for Railroad. Ferroviário (Portuguese) for Railroad. The "CFR" in CFR Cluj is Căile Ferate Române, the Romanian state railway system. Vasutas means "railroad worker" in Hungarian, Kigwancha means "locomotive" in Korean, Demir means "iron" in Turkish. KKS (Polish) for railway sport clubs. |
Argentina |
Ferro Carril Oeste, Rosario Central (from Central Argentine Railway) |
| Brazil |
Ferroviário Atlético Clube, Associação Ferroviária de Esportes, Esporte Clube Noroeste, Ituano Futebol Clube, Paulista Futebol Clube |
| Egypt |
Al Sekka Al Hadid |
| England |
Darlington Railway Athletic, Harrogate Railway Athletic |
| Germany |
1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig |
| Hungary |
Debreceni Vasutas Sport Klub |
| North Korea |
Kigwancha |
 Scotland |
Inverurie Loco Works F.C. |
| Iran |
Rah Ahan F.C. |
 Mozambique |
Clube Ferroviário da Beira, Clube Ferroviário de Maputo, Clube Ferroviário de Nampula |
| Poland |
Kolejarz Stróże, KKS Lech Poznań, Polonia Warsaw |
| Romania |
CFR Cluj |
| Russia |
FC Lokomotiv Moscow, FC Lokomotiv Liski |
| 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 |
| Egypt |
Ghazl El-Mehalla |
| India |
JCT FC (Jagatjit Cotton and Textile Football Club) |
| Iran |
Nassaji Mazandaran F.C. |
| Mozambique |
Grupo Desportivo da Companhia Têxtil do Punguè |
| Spain |
SD Textil Escudo |
| Russia |
Tekstilshchik Ivanovo, |
| Tractor manufacturing |
|
Iran |
Teraktor Sazi F.C. |
| Russia |
Rotor Volgograd |
| Uzbekistan |
FK Traktor Tashkent |
| Generic |
|
Italy |
SPAL 1907 (Società Polisportiva Ars et Labor) |
| Topic |
Meaning |
Country |
Clubs |
| Academic |
Affiliation with academics. See also Estudiantes, University, Polytechnic. |
 Bulgaria |
Akademik Sofia, Akademik Svishtov |
| Colombia |
Academia F.C. |
 Denmark |
Akademisk Boldklub |
| Germany |
Akademischer BC 1897 Charlottenburg |
 Portugal |
Académica de Coimbra |
| Russia |
Sportakademklub Moscow, Akademiya Togliatti |
| Scotland |
Hamilton Academical, Wick Academy |
| AZS |
AZS means in Academic Sports Association in polish language. |
Poland |
AZS Wrocław |
| 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 a polytechnical institution. 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 |
| Brazil |
Estudantes Sport Club |
| Peru |
Estudiantes de Medicina |
| Mexico |
Estudiantes Tecos |
| Turkey |
Galatasaray |
| Technical College |
|
Ecuador |
Técnico Universitario |
| New Zealand |
Christchurch Technical, Dunedin Technical |
| University |
Affiliation with universities. See also Academical, Estudiantes, Polytechnic. |
| Argentina |
Juventud Unida Universitario |
| Australia |
Australian National University Football Club |
| 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, Wits University F.C., NMMU F.C. |
| Spain |
AD Universidad de Oviedo, Universidad de Las Palmas CF |
 Thailand |
Bangkok University FC |
| 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 |
Nueve de Julio, Nueve de Julio de Morteros, Nueve de Julio de Río Tercero (July 9) |
| Ecuador |
Club 9 de Octubre (October 9) |
| Portugal |
Sociedade União 1º de Dezembro (December 1) |
| International Workers' Day |
|
Angola |
Estrela Clube Primeiro de Maio |
| Portugal |
Associação Naval 1º de Maio |
| Political change |
|
 Albania |
17 Nëntori (former name of KF Tirana from the day of November 17, 1944 in which Tirana was liberated after a fierce battle between the Communists and the people of Tirana against the German forces) |
| 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 |
April 25 (April 25, 1932—claimed by North Korea as the founding date of its armed forces, the Korean People's Army) |
 Yemen |
May 22 Sana'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 |
 Canada |
Vancouver 86ers (founded in 1986 in the centenary of Vancouver founding in 1886) |
| 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, 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam 71, FC Gütersloh 2000, FCR 2001 Duisburg |
| 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 |
| Russia |
FC Krasnodar-2000 (dissolved) |
| 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) |
| Russia |
Pskov-747 Pskov (747 is the favorite number of the club's founder and owner), FC Bataysk-2007 (after the club received professional status in 2007) |
 Paraguay |
Club 12 de Octubre (October 12), Club Atlético 3 de Febrero (February 3, after the date when the club's city was founded), Club 2 de Mayo (May 2, after the military unit Regimiento de Infantería 1 "2 de Mayo" where the founders served) |
| 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 |
| Arsenal |
Named after their original foundation by workers of the Royal Arsenal factory. |
England |
Arsenal |
| Great Chicago Fire |
Officially founded on October 8, 1997, the 126th anniversary of this pivotal event in the history of Chicago. |
USA |
Chicago Fire |
| 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 |
| East |
Orient = from the East, Leyton is in east London |
England |
Leyton Orient |
| Dons |
Named after the nickname of MK Dons' predecessors, Wimbledon F.C. |
England |
Milton Keynes Dons |
| Forest |
The club originally played at the Forest Recreation Ground |
England |
Nottingham Forest |
| 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 |
| Homeless |
Rovers, Wanderers. Excursionistas translates roughly as "The Voyagers". Originally a team without a home ground |
Argentina |
Excursionistas |
| Chile |
Santiago Wanderers |
| England |
Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Bristol Rovers, Tranmere Rovers, Wanderers, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wycombe Wanderers |
 Malta |
Sliema Wanderers |
| Republic of Ireland |
Bray Wanderers, Sligo Rovers |
| Scotland |
Albion Rovers, Raith Rovers |
 Uruguay |
Montevideo Wanderers |
| Ittihad |
Arabic for "the union", meaning the merger of clubs or clubs founders |
Egypt |
Al Ittihad Al Sakandary, Ittihad El Shorta |
 Israel |
Ittihad Bnei Sakhnin |
| Libya |
Al-Ittihad (Tripoli) |
 Saudi Arabia |
Al-Ittihad (Jeddah) |
| 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 |
| Moors |
Taken from the nickname for Moor Green following a merger. |
England |
Solihull Moors |
| North |
Clubs that originated 'north' of a specific place |
Australia |
North Queensland |
| Russia |
FC Sever Murmansk |
| England |
Farnborough North End, Glossop North End, Preston North End |
| Park Avenue |
The club originally played at the Park Avenue ground |
England |
Bradford Park Avenue |
| 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 |
| Sounders |
From Puget Sound, on whose eastern shore the city of Seattle lies. |
United States |
Seattle Sounders (NASL), Seattle Sounders (USL), Seattle Sounders FC, Seattle Sounders Women |
| Stanley |
Named after the Stanley Arms on Stanley Road, Accrington. |
England |
Accrington Stanley |
| 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-" or "P" is short for "Persatuan", Indonesian for "United". "Birlik" means "Union" in Turkish. |
Argentina |
Unión de Santa Fe |
 Armenia |
Yerevan United |
| Australia |
Gold Coast United, Adelaide United, Newcastle United Jets |
| Belgium |
KVSK United |
| Brazil |
União São João |
| England |
Carlisle United, Colchester United, F.C. United of Manchester, Leeds United, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Rotherham United, Scunthorpe United, Sheffield United, West Ham United, and many more |
| Finland |
Tampere United |
| Indonesia |
Persib Bandung, Persebaya Surabaya, Persiwa Wamena, Persela Lamongan, PSM Makassar, Persijap Jepara, Persiba Balikpapan, Persitara North Jakarta, PSMS Medan, PSPS Pekanbaru, Persita Tangerang, Persik Kediri, Persipura Jayapura, Gresik United, Manado United, Persija Jakarta, PSIS Semarang, PSS Sleman, Persema Malang, Persibo Bojonegoro, Persiraja Banda Aceh, Persiba Bantul, Persikab Bandung Regency, Persisam Putra Samarinda, Persidafon Dafonsoro, and many more |
| Japan |
JEF United Ichihara Chiba |
| Netherlands |
Alkmaar Zaanstreek-combinatie (AZ), Nijmegen Eendracht Combinatie (NEC), Noad Advendo Combinatie (NAC), Roda Juliana Combinatie Kerkrade (Roda JC), |
| Portugal |
União de Leiria |
| Republic of Ireland |
Limavady United |
| Scotland |
Ayr United, Dundee United |
| South Korea |
Incheon United, Seoul United |
 Sweden |
Carlstad United BK, FC Väsby United |
| Turkey |
Gençlerbirliği |
| United States |
D.C. United |
| Vélez Sársfield |
Founded in the Floresta district of Buenos Aires near the Vélez Sársfield 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 |
| Yamaga |
Named after Yamaga, a café in front of Matsumoto Station in Matsumoto, Nagano. |
Japan |
Matsumoto Yamaga F.C. |
| Topic |
Meaning |
Country |
Clubs |
| Alania |
|
Russia |
FC Alania Vladikavkaz |
| 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, Lowestoft Albion. |
| Scotland |
Stirling Albion |
| Uruguay |
Albion F.C. |
| Karelia |
|
Russia |
Karelia-Discovery Petrozavodsk |
| Altay |
|
Turkey |
Altay S.K. |
| Americans |
Usually, but not always, clubs made up of native citizens of the United States of America. |
United States |
Baltimore Americans, Philadelphia Americans, New York Americans, New York Yankees |
| Arabi |
Al-Arabi is the Arabic for "Arab". |
 Kuwait |
Al-Arabi SC (Kuwait) |
| Qatar |
Al-Arabi SC (Qatar) |
 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 |
| Mordovia |
|
Russia |
FC Mordovia Saransk |
| 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 |
FC Bohemians Praha |
| Borussia |
Latin name for Prussia. |
Germany |
Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Borussia Fulda, Borussia Neunkirchen, Wuppertaler SV Borussia |
| 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. |
England |
Farsley Celtic, Stalybridge Celtic, West Allotment Celtic |
| Ireland |
Cork Celtic, Wayside Celtic |
| Northern Ireland |
Donegal Celtic, Lurgan Celtic |
| Scotland |
Celtic |
| Spain |
Celta de Vigo |
| 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 |
Deportivo Español |
| Brazil |
Jabaquara Atlético Clube (founded as Hespanha Foot Ball Club) |
| 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. |
Argentina |
Guaraní Antonio Franco |
| 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 Juárez |
| Inter- |
International. |
 Andorra |
Inter Club d'Escaldes |
| Australia |
Inter Monaro |
| Azerbaijan |
FC Inter Baku |
| Brazil |
Sport Club Internacional |
| Finland |
FC Inter Turku |
| Italy |
F.C. Internazionale Milano, Internazionale Torino |
 São Tomé and Príncipe |
Inter Bom-Bom |
 Slovakia |
FK Inter Bratislava |
| United States |
Inter-Brooklyn Italians |
| Wales |
UWIC Inter Cardiff F.C. |
| Italy |
Clubs founded by and for members of the Italian diaspora. |
Argentina |
Sportivo Italiano |
| Australia |
Marconi Stallions |
| 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 |
| 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 |
 Solomon Islands |
Marist FC |
| Korean |
Korean diaspora |
Argentina |
Deportivo Coreano |
| Japan |
F.C. Korea, Osaka Korean FC, Korea FC United Shikoku |
| 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 |
| United States |
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 |
| Polish royal dynasties |
Jagiellon dynasty, Piast dynasty |
Poland |
Jagiellonia Białystok, Piast Gliwice |
| Polonia, Lechia |
Alternative names of Poland. |
Poland |
Polonia Warszawa, Polonia Bytom, 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 for the American Revolution, which began in the New England colonies. |
United States |
New England Revolution |
| Russian |
|
Russia |
Rusichi Oryol |
| Saint |
Santos is Portuguese and Spanish for saints. |
Angola |
Santos de Angola |
| Brazil |
Santos FC, São Paulo FC |
| Costa Rica |
Santos de Guápiles |
| Mexico |
Santos Laguna |
| Scotland |
St Johnstone, St Mirren |
| Wales |
The New Saints of Oswestry Town & Llansantffraid |
| 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 |
| Ingushetia |
|
Russia |
FC Angusht Nazran |
| Ukraine |
Clubs founded by and for members of the Ukrainian diaspora. |
Australia |
Inglewood Kiev, Essendon Lions, Melbourne Tridents, Sydney Tridents |
| Austria |
Dnipro Kornberg, Ukraina Salzburg |
| Canada |
Montreal Ukrainians, Toronto Karpaty, Toronto Tridents, Toronto Ukrainians, Ukraine United |
| Germany |
Berkut Ulm, Bohun Rosenheim, Bureviy Neumarkt, Tschornogora Augsburg, Dnipro Bamberg, Dnipro Bayreuth, Dnister Zuffenhausen, Lev Karlsfeld, Lev Mittenwald, Orlyk Berchtesgaden, San Pfarrkirchen, Sitsch Regensburg, Ukraina Ulm, USSC München, Zaporizhya Aschaffenburg |
 Great Britain |
Bila Roza (Yorkshire), London Kyiv FC, North West United (Lancashire), Nottingham Trident FC |
| United States |
Baltimore Dnipro, Bridgeport Ukrainians, Chicago Kryla, Cleaveland Lviv, Cleaveland Orlyk, Detroit Chernik, Elizabeth Ukrainians, Minneapolis Kiev, New York Ukrainians, Newark Ukrainian Sitch, Philadelphia Ukrainians, Rochester Ukrainians, Syracuse Sokil, Ukrainian Lions |
| Union |
Named for the Union of the Thirteen Colonies, of which the city of Philadelphia was the capital. |
United States |
Philadelphia Union |
| Topic |
Meaning |
Country |
Clubs |
| Borough |
Neighborhood or district |
Egypt |
Zamalek, Smouha |
| England |
Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Stevenage Borough, Eastbourne Borough, Radcliffe Borough, Hampton & Richmond Borough |
| Germany |
FC Schalke 04, FC St. Pauli |
| Italy |
Chievo, 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) |
| Japan |
Omiya Ardija, Shimizu S-Pulse, Urawa Red Diamonds (all former independent towns which merged into larger cities) |
| Netherlands |
Feyenoord |
| Norway |
Follo, Rosenborg, Strømsgodset, Vålerenga |
| Poland |
Widzew Łódź |
| South Africa |
Orlando Pirates |
| Sweden |
Hammarby |
| Turkey |
Galatasaray SK, Fenerbahçe SK, Beşiktaş J.K., Vefa S.K., Kasımpaşa S.K., Eyüpspor, Sarıyer G.K., Beykoz 1908 S.K.D., Maltepespor, Zeytinburnuspor, Anadolu Üsküdar 1908, Fatih Karagümrük, Kartalspor, Beylerbeyi S.K., Gaziosmanpaşa S.K., Güngören Belediyespor, Göztepe A.Ş., Bucaspor, Karşıyaka S.K. |
| Cerro |
Meaning hill in Spanish |
Paraguay |
Cerro Corá, Cerro Porteño |
| Uruguay |
C.A. Cerro |
| City |
|
Australia |
Adelaide City, Brisbane City SC |
| Brazil |
Americana, Coritiba, Criciúma, Duque de Caxias, Fortaleza, Grêmio Barueri, Salgueiro, Santos, São Caetano, Sport Recife |
| Canada |
London City, Toronto FC |
| Ecuador |
Cuenca (ECU) |
| Egypt |
El Mansoura, Desouk, Tanta, Kafr Al Sheikh, Al Hammam, Aswan, Sohag |
| 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, |
| Germany |
Hamburger SV, SC Freiburg |
| Ireland |
Cork City |
| Italy |
Città di Palermo |
| Japan |
Yokohama F.C. |
| Netherlands |
FC Groningen, FC Utrecht, FC Zwolle, VVV Venlo |
| Northern Ireland |
Armagh City, Derry City |
| Norway |
Oslo City |
| Poland |
Cracovia, GKP Gorzów Wielkopolski, Korona Kielce, ŁKS Łódź, Sandecja Nowy Sącz |
| Russia |
FC Rostov, FC Krasnodar, FC Nizhny Novgorod, FC Khimki, FC Istra, FC Gubkin, FC Kaluga, FC Astrakhan, FC Taganrog, FC Tyumen, FC Chelyabinsk, FC Chita, FC Magnitogorsk, FC Yelets, FC Moscow, FC Lukhovitsy, FC Kolomna, FC Dmitrov |
| Scotland |
Brechin City, Elgin City, Edinburgh City |
| Spain |
Ciudad de Murcia |
| Thailand |
Loei City, Mahasarakham City |
| UAE |
Al Wasl SC |
| Wales |
Cardiff City, Swansea City |
| County |
|
England |
Derby County, Notts County, Stockport County, Newport County |
| Scotland |
Ross County, Nairn County |
| State |
|
Brazil |
Bahia, Ceará, Goiás , Paraná |
| Forest |
Indicates a close proximity to a forest |
England |
Forest F.C., Forest Green Rovers, Forest Town, Waltham Forest, Nottingham Forest |
| Poland |
Puszcza Niepołomice |
| United States |
Portland Timbers |
| Hamlet |
|
England |
Dulwich Hamlet |
| Lake |
Ko: Japanese |
Japan |
MIO Biwako Kusatsu |
| United States |
Real Salt Lake |
| Mountains |
|
Canada |
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (refers to snow-capped mountains and ocean waves, both visible from the city of Vancouver) |
| Ocean |
Indicates a close proximity to an ocean |
 Nigeria |
Ocean Boys F.C. |
| Russia |
FC Okean Nakhodka |
| Portugal |
Beira-Mar |
| Canada |
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (see listing at "Mountains" above) |
| Prefecture |
Named after their home prefecture. If both a prefecture and its capital are homonyms, the club can be said to represent both. |
Japan |
Ehime F.C., F.C. Gifu, Tochigi S.C., F.C. Tokyo |
| River |
Rio: Portuguese |
Brazil |
River Atlético Clube, Clube Náutico Capibaribe |
| Argentina |
River Plate |
| Finland |
SC Riverball |
| Honduras |
Motagua |
| Poland |
Wisła Kraków, Wisła Płock, Odra Wodzisław, Odra Opole, Warta Poznań |
| Russia |
Volga Nizhny Novgorod, Irtysh Omsk, Volga Tver, Dnepr Smolensk, Sheksna Cherepovets, Volga Ulyanovsk, Tobol Tobolsk, Tobol Kurgan, Terek Grozny, Tom Tomsk |
| Portugal |
Rio Ave FC |
| Ukraine |
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk |
| United States |
Colorado Rapids (named for the rapids of the Colorado River) |
| Town |
|
Ecuador |
Macará |
| 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, Reading 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.
Wadi: Arabic for vale
|
Egypt |
Wadi Degla |
| England |
Port Vale, Aylesbury Vale, Pewsey Vale, Raynes Park Vale |
| 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 |
| Hermann Aichinger |
|
Brazil |
Clube Atlético Hermann Aichinger |
| Alexandra |
Club names containing a reference to Princess Alexandra. |
England |
Crewe Alexandra |
| Apollo |
|
Greece |
Apollon Kalamarias, Apollon Athens |
 Cyprus |
Apollon Limassol |
| Aris |
After the Greek God of War. |
Greece |
Aris Thessaloniki |
| Cyprus |
Aris Limassol |
 Luxembourg |
Aris Bonnevoie |
| Arminia |
From Arminius a chieftain who defeated a Roman Army in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. |
Germany |
Arminia Bielefeld, Arminia Hannover |
| Atlas |
Club names containing a reference to Atlas. |
Mexico |
Club Atlas |
| Argentina |
Club Atlético Atlas |
| Hristo Botev |
Named after Hristo Botev, Bulgarian poet and national revolutionary. |
Bulgaria |
Botev Plovdiv, Botev Vratsa |
| Simón Bolívar |
|
Bolivia |
Club Bolívar |
| 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 |
| Renato Curi |
|
Italy |
Renato Curi Angolana |
| 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) |
| 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. |
| Arturo Fernández Vial |
|
Chile |
Club Deportivo Ferroviario Almirante Arturo Fernández Vial |
| Luis Ángel Firpo |
|
El Salvador |
C.D. Luis Ángel Firpo |
| José Gálvez |
|
Peru |
Club José Gálvez |
| Rutherford B. Hayes |
|
Paraguay |
Club Presidente Hayes |
| Hercules/Heracles |
After the Greek demi-god. |
Greece |
Iraklis F.C. |
| Netherlands |
Heracles Almelo |
| Spain |
Hércules CF |
| Hertha |
Supposedly a Germanic deity. |
Germany |
Hertha BSC (Berlin), Hertha Zehlendorf |
| Hotspur |
Named after Henry Percy, aka Henry Hotspur |
England |
Tottenham Hotspur |
| Isma'il |
Named after Isma'il Pasha ( Khedive of Egypt and Sudan ) |
Egypt |
Isma'ily |
| Jahn |
Named after Friedrich Ludwig Jahn. |
Germany |
SSV Jahn Regensburg |
| Joan of Arc |
|
Réunion |
SS Jeanne d'Arc |
| Senegal |
ASC Jeanne d'Arc |
| Lech |
Named after Lech, legendary founder of Polish nation. |
Poland |
Lech Poznań |
| Vasil Levski |
Named after Vasil Levski, Bulgarian revolutionary and a national hero of Bulgaria. |
Bulgaria |
Levski Sofia |
| 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 F.C. |
| José Joaquín Olmedo |
|
Ecuador |
Centro Deportivo Olmedo |
| Silvio Pettirossi |
|
Paraguay |
Club Silvio Pettirossi |
| Armando Picchi |
|
Italy |
Armando Picchi Calcio |
| 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 |
| Ricardo Saprissa |
Named after the Salvadoran-born coach of the Costa Rica national team who provided the newly formed club with its first uniforms in 1935. |
Costa Rica |
Deportivo Saprissa |
| Skënderbeu |
Named after the Albanian national hero, Skanderbeg. |
Albania |
Skënderbeu Korçë |
| Spartacus |
The famous leader of the slaves in the Third Servile War, a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic (c. 73–71 BCE). |
Bulgaria |
PFC Spartak Pleven, FC Spartak Plovdiv, PFC Spartak Varna |
 Georgia |
FC Spartaki Tskhinvali |
 Kazakhstan |
FC Spartak Semey |
| Russia |
FC Spartak Moscow, FC Spartak Nalchik, FC Spartak Kostroma, FC Spartak Tambov, FC Spartak Yoshkar-Ola, FC Spartak Gorno-Altaysk |
| Serbia |
FK Spartak Ljig, FK Spartak Zlatibor Voda |
| Slovakia |
FC Spartak Trnava |
| Ukraine |
FC Spartak Ivano-Frankivsk |
| Teuta |
Named after the Illyrian queen Teuta. |
Albania |
Teuta Durrës |
| 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 |
| South Africa |
Vasco da Gama (South Africa) |
| 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 |
Vélez Sársfield |
| Victoria |
Named after Queen Victoria. |
England |
Northwich Victoria, Biddulph Victoria |
| Vikings |
|
Finland |
FC Viikingit |
 Iceland |
Knattspyrnufélagið Víkingur |
| Norway |
Viking Stavanger |
| 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 |
| 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. |
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 |
Athletic Club of St. Louis, 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. |
| Fencing |
|
Argentina |
Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata |
| 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, Calcio Catania |
| Spain |
Albacete Balompié, Real Betis Balompié, Écija Balompié |
| Gymnastics |
These clubs usually have a historical affiliation with gymnastics. |
Argentina |
Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, Gimnasia y Tiro de Salta |
| 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, 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, Olympic Charleroi |
 Cameroon |
Olympic Mvolyé |
| Cyprus |
Olympiakos Nicosia |
| Egypt |
El Olympi |
| England |
Blackburn Olympic, Rushall Olympic |
| France |
Nîmes Olympique, Olympique Lyonnais, Olympique Marseille |
| Greece |
Olympiacos F.C., Olympiakos Volou 1937 F.C. |
| Honduras |
CD Olimpia |
 Mali |
Cercle Olympique de Bamako |
| Niger |
Olympic FC de Niamey |
| Northern Ireland |
Derry Olympic |
| Paraguay |
Olimpia Asunción |
| Poland |
Olimpia Elbląg, Olimpia Grudziądz |
| 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 |
| Egypt |
Alexandria Sporting Club |
| England |
Woodley Sports, Mickleover Sports, Hullbridge Sports, Cowes Sports |
| Republic of Ireland |
Sporting Fingal |
| Netherlands |
Helmond Sport, Sportclub Heerenveen |
| Paraguay |
Sportivo Luqueño |
| Peru |
Deportivo Wanka, Sport Boys |
| Portugal |
Desportivo das Aves |
| Spain |
Deportivo de La Coruña, other clubs with RCD (Real Club Deportivo) |
| Turkey |
Bursaspor, Trabzonspor, Samsunspor... |
| USA |
Sporting Kansas City |
| 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 |
| Topic |
Meaning |
Country |
Clubs |
| Beitar |
The Betar movement, associated with Revisionist Zionism |
Israel |
Beitar Avraham Be'er Sheva F.C., Beitar Haifa F.C., Beitar Illit, Beitar Jerusalem F.C., Beitar Nes Tubruk F.C., Beitar Ramla F.C., Beitar Tel Aviv F.C., Beitar Tel Aviv Ramla 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 originally part of the army. |
Armenia |
CSKA Yerevan |
| Bulgaria |
CSKA Sofia |
| Moldova |
CSCA-Rapid Chişinău |
| Poland |
CWKS Legia Warszawa |
| 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 Stavropol, Dynamo Saint Petersburg, Dynamo Vologda, Dynamo Kostroma, Dynamo Kirov, Dynamo Barnaul, Dynamo Voronezh |
| Ukraine |
Dynamo Kyiv, FC Dinamo Luhansk |
| 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 Beit She'an, Hapoel Bnei Jadeidi, Hapoel Bnei Lod, Hapoel Bnei Tamra, Hapoel Hadera, Hapoel Haifa, Hapoel Herzliya, Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona, Hapoel Ironi Rishon LeZion, Hapoel Jerusalem, Hapoel Katamon, Hapoel Kfar Saba, Hapoel Kiryat Gat, Hapoel Kiryat Shalom, Hapoel Mahane Yehuda, Hapoel Marmorek, Hapoel Nazareth Illit, Hapoel Petah Tikva, Hapoel Ra'anana, Hapoel Ramat Gan, Hapoel Tayibe, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Hapoel Tiberias, Hapoel Tzafririm Holon, Hapoel Umm al-Fahm, Hapoel Yehud |
| 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, Lokomotiv Sofia |
| Germany |
Lokomotive Leipzig |
| Russia |
Lokomotiv Moscow, Lokomotiv Liski |
| Kazakhstan |
FC Lokomotiv Astana |
| Maccabi |
For Jewish teams, indicates that the team was originally part of the Maccabi sport society. |
Israel and others |
(see Maccabi (sports)) |
| Spartak |
For Eastern European teams, indicates that the team was originally part of the Soviet Spartak sport society or an equivalent. |
Hungary |
Békéscsaba (from 1970 to 1991 named Békéscsabai Előre Spartacus SC), Nyíregyháza Spartacus |
| Russia |
Spartak Moscow, FC Spartak Nalchik, Spartak Kostroma, Spartak Tambov, Spartak Yoshkar-Ola, Spartak Gorno-Altaysk |
| 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-ZIL, Torpedo Vladimir, Torpedo Armavir, Torpedo Rubtsovsk, Torpedo Miass, Torpedo Lyubertsy, |
| Ukraine |
FC Torpedo Zaporizhzhya |
| Spain |
AD Torpedo 66 |
| Vorwärts |
Armeesportvereinigung Vorwärts were the sports society of the East German Army. |
 East Germany/ Germany |
Vorwärts Berlin, currently Frankfurter FC Viktoria |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Russia |
FC Energiya Volzhsky |
| Faith |
Spanish: Fe |
Colombia |
Santa Fe |
| Fortune |
|
Denmark |
Fortuna Hjørring |
| Germany |
Fortuna Köln, Fortuna Düsseldorf, Fortuna Magdeburg |
| Netherlands |
Fortuna Sittard |
| Freedom |
"libertas" meaning "freedom" in Latin, Sloboda means freedom in Bosnian |
Italy |
Lucchese Libertas |
 San Marino |
A.C. Libertas |
| United States |
Miami Freedom, Washington Freedom |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina |
FK Sloboda Novi Grad, FK Sloboda Tuzla |
| Friendship |
Дружба |
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 |
| Russia |
Druzhba Maykop |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Philadelphia Independence |
| Invincibility |
|
England |
Folkestone Invicta |
 Liberia |
Invincible Eleven |
| Multiculturalism |
Cosmos is short for cosmopolitan |
San Marino |
S.S. Cosmos |
| South Africa |
Jomo Cosmos, OR Tambo Cosmos |
| United States |
New York Cosmos |
| 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 |
D.C. United, Philadelphia Union |
| Ukraine |
FC Yednist' Plysky |
| Victory |
Arabic: Al-Nasr |
Egypt |
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 |
| Russia |
FC Smena Komsomolsk-na-Amure |
| Serbia |
Mladost Lučani, Mladost Apatin |
| Switzerland |
BSC Young Boys |
| Tunisia |
Jeunesse Sportive Kairouanaise |
| Uruguay |
Rampla Juniors |
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) |
| AC St. Louis, A.C. Nagano Parceiro |
Athletic Club |
| A.F.C. |
Hull City 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-Étienne |
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 |
| B.S.C. |
Hertha BSC |
Berliner Sport-Club |
| B.V. |
BV Borussia Dortmind |
Ballspielverein - "Ball Club" in German |
| 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: "Sporting, Social and Cultural Club") |
| C.F. |
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 |
| C.R. |
CR Vasco da Gama |
Club de Regatas (Portuguese: "Rowing Club"). Vasco da Gama began as a rowing club before it established a football section. |
| 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, Liverpool F.C., Toronto FC, Puebla F.C., Chonburi FC |
Football Club in various languages |
| F.C.R. |
FCR 2001 Duisburg |
Fußballclub Rumeln — German for "Football Club", plus a reference to FC Rumeln-Kaldenhausen, the original home to this women's football club |
| 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.R.C. |
K.R.C. Genk |
Koninklijke Racing Club (Dutch: "Royal Racing 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 Budapest FC |
Magyar Testgyakorlók Köre (Hungarian: "Circle of Hungarian Fitness Activists") |
| N.K. |
NK Dinamo Zagreb, NK Drava Ptuj |
F.C. in Croatian and Slovenian |
| N.S.C. |
NSC Minnesota Stars |
National Sports Center, the multisport facility that owns the club |
| 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. |
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, Sport Club Internacional, SC Bastia, SC Freiburg, Sahel Sporting Club |
Sporting Club |
| Chicago Fire S.C., Erie Admirals SC, Tochigi S.C. |
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 Werder Bremen |
SV is the abbreviation for Sport Verein, meaning Sports Association |
| T.S.G. |
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, TSG Balingen, TSG Backnang 1919 |
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" |
England
Wales
Argentina
Ecuador
Portugal
Angola
Albania
Brazil
China
North Korea
Yemen
Belgium
Canada
Finland
Germany
Netherlands
Russia
Scotland
Bolivia
Paraguay
USA
Chile
Malta
Republic of Ireland
Uruguay
Egypt
Israel
Libya
Saudi Arabia
India
Australia
Armenia
Indonesia
Japan
South Korea
Sweden
Turkey
