'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.
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
In Europe, many (if not most) clubs are named after their towns or
cities (e.g. "
"), In South America, clubs are
more likely to have names that don't bear the city's name. Some
clubs, like
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
In a few cases there are even common misconceptions about the
official name of the club. A common example being
, where their proper official
names are simply Rangers F.C. and Celtic F.C. Another
misunderstanding is
| Topic |
Meaning |
Country |
Clubs |
| Armed forces |
For sport clubs affiliated with
the armed forces of a country. See also
CSKA. |
|
MOIK
Baku |
|
Belize Defence
Force |
|
Royal
Bhutan Army FC |
|
Botswana Defence Force XI |
|
Army Division of Logistics,
Royal Cambodian Air Force,
Royal Navy |
|
El Nacional |
|
Royal Engineers A.F.C. |
|
Budapest Honvéd FC |
|
Angkatan Tentera
Malaysia FA |
|
Army |
|
Haeju
Army |
|
4.25
Sports Group |
|
Pakistan
Army, Pakistan Navy |
|
Steaua
Bucharest |
|
Singapore Armed Forces
Football Club, Singapore Armed Forces Sports
Association |
|
Defence
Force |
Arsenal |
Factories creating weapons |
|
Arsenal de Sarandí |
|
Arsenal |
|
Arsenal
Roatán |
|
FC Arsenal
Tula |
|
FC Arsenal
Kyiv |
| Beer |
|
|
Asmara Brewery |
|
Harrar Beer Botling |
|
Sporting
Cristal |
|
FK ČSK
Pivara |
|
FC Obolon
Kyiv |
| Carpentry |
|
|
Mobilieri Ponsacco |
|
TVMK (Tallinna
Vineeri-ja Mööblikombinaat) |
| Cobre- |
Spanish for copper,
after association with copper mining |
|
Club de Deportes
Cobreloa, Club Deportes
Cobresal |
|
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). |
|
Quilmes |
|
Red
Bull Salzburg |
|
Red Bull
Brasil |
|
La
Equidad |
|
Vauxhall Motors, Rolls Royce Leisure, Billingham Synthonia (An ICI fertiliser brand), Sunderland Nissan, Cammell Laird |
|
Bayer 04
Leverkusen, Wacker
Burghausen, Carl Zeiss Jena |
|
Skoda
Xanthi |
|
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 |
|
Semen
Padang |
|
Cisco Roma |
|
Honda Motor,
Honda Locks, Mitsubishi Mizushima,
Sony Sendai, TDK |
|
Inti Gas
Deportes, Total Clean |
|
Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Busan I'Park, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma |
|
Cruz
Azul |
( )
|
Sheriff
Tiraspol |
|
Philips Sport
Vereniging |
|
Lada
Togliatti, FC Torpedo-RG, FC Torpedo-ZIL |
| ( ) |
Tatung |
|
Türk
Telekomspor |
|
KPMG
United |
|
Red Bull
New York |
|
Airbus UK, Technogroup Welshpool
Town |
| Electrical |
Bargh: Persian for Electricity |
|
Bargh
Shiraz F.C., Bargh Tehran
F.C. |
|
Emelec (The club was founded by the
E.M.E.L.E.C.
Company.) |
| ( ) |
Taipower |
|
Houston
Dynamo (Refers to Houston's energy-based industrial
economy) |
|
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 |
|
AS
Douanes |
|
AS
Douanes |
|
AS
Douanes |
|
Racing
de Casablanca was renamed Association des Douanes Marocains
(ADM) from 1969-1980s |
| Industrial Revolution |
formed during the late Victorian Industrial
boom |
|
Middlesbrough Ironopolis
F.C. |
| Industrial |
|
|
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" |
|
Foolad
F.C., F.C. Zob Ahan, Mes
Kerman F.C. |
|
Budapesti Vasas Sport Club |
|
FK Liepājas Metalurgs |
|
Metallurg Krasnoyarsk, Metallurg Lipetsk, Metallurg-Kuzbass
Novokuznetsk |
|
Metalurh Donetsk, Metalurh Nikopol, Metalurh Zaporizhia, Stal Alchevsk, Metalist Kharkiv |
|
Stal
Mielec |
|
Stahl Eisenhüttenstadt |
|
Stålkameratene |
|
Bethlehem Steel F.C. |
|
FK
Metallurg Bekobod |
| Mining |
Górnik: Polish for miner
Zagłębie: Polish for
coalfield
Minero: Spanish for
miner
Colliery: Coal mine
Shakhtar: Ukrainian for
miner
|
|
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 |
|
Atlético Minero |
|
Górnik Łęczna, Górnik Polkowice, Górnik Wieliczka Górnik
Zabrze , Zagłębie
Lubin, Zagłębie Sosnowiec |
|
Atlético Club Mineros de
Guayana |
|
Shakhtar Donetsk |
| Municipal |
Indicates a club formed by workers
of, or associated with, a city hall or otherwise related local
government unit. |
|
Once
Municipal |
|
CSD
Municipal |
|
Deportivo Municipal |
|
Kampala City Council |
| Navy |
Malavan: Persian for Sailor |
|
Malavan
F.C. |
| Patriots |
Named for Patriot Missile System in United
States Army at Ft.
Bliss |
|
El Paso
Patriots |
| Petroleum |
Naft: Persian for Petrol |
|
Académica Petróleo
Kwanda Soyo, Atlético Petróleos do
Huambo, Atlético Petróleos do
Namibe, Atlético
Petróleos Luanda |
|
Neftchi
Baku |
|
Oriente
Petrolero |
|
Alianza
Petrolera |
|
Esmeraldas
Petrolero |
|
Sanat Naft
F.C. |
| Police |
For football clubs affiliated with
a police force |
|
Police
XI |
|
Military
Police |
|
Vanguard Hubei Police
Academy |
|
|
Escuela Superior de Policía |
|
Metropolitan Police, West
Midlands Police |
|
Punjab
Police |
|
Al-Shorta |
|
Sostinės Policija
Vilnius |
|
PDRM FA |
|
Police |
|
Mahendra Police Club |
|
Police
FC |
|
Gwardia
Warszawa |
|
Home
United |
|
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. |
|
Ferro
Carril Oeste, Rosario Central
(from Central Argentine
Railway) |
|
Ferroviário Atlético
Clube, Associação
Ferroviária de Esportes |
|
Darlington Railway
Athletic, Harrogate
Railway Athletic |
|
1.
FC Lokomotive Leipzig |
|
Debreceni
Vasutas Sport Klub |
|
Inverurie Loco Works F.C. |
|
Rah Ahan
F.C. |
|
Clube Ferroviário da Beira,
Clube Ferroviário de
Maputo, Clube
Ferroviário de Nampula |
|
CFR Cluj |
|
FC
Lokomotiv Moscow |
|
Adana
Demirspor, Ankara
Demirspor... |
| Sailors |
Marinos: Spanish |
|
Central Coast Mariners |
|
Yokohama F. Marinos |
| Shipbuilding |
After the Cammell Laird ship
yard |
|
Cammell
Laird F.C. |
| Stevedores or longshoremen |
|
|
Waterside
Karori |
| Textile |
Nassaji: Persian for Textile Industry |
|
Textil
Mandiyú |
|
NK
Varteks Varaždin |
|
Nassaji Mazandaran F.C. |
|
Grupo
Desportivo da Companhia Têxtil do Punguè |
|
SD Textil
Escudo |
| Tractor
manufacturing |
|
|
Teraktor
Sazi F.C. |
|
Rotor
Volgograd |
|
FK Traktor
Tashkent |
| Generic |
|
|
SPAL 1907
(Società Polisportiva Ars et Labor) |
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
| Topic |
Meaning |
Country |
Clubs |
| Academical |
Affiliation with academics. See
also Estudiantes, University,
Polytechnic. |
|
Akademik
Sofia, Akademik Svishtov |
|
Akademisk Boldklub |
|
Akademischer BC 1897
Charlottenburg |
|
Académica de Coimbra |
|
Hamilton Academical, Wick Adademy |
| Old Boys |
Named by and as a reference to
ex-pupils of a school |
|
Newell's
Old Boys |
|
BSC Old
Boys |
| Young Boys |
Named in contrast to nearby club
Old Boys Basel (see Old Boys above) |
|
BSC Young
Boys |
| Polytechnic |
Affiliation with academics. See
also Academical, Estudiantes,
University, Technical College. |
|
FC Politehnica
Chişinău |
|
FC
Politehnica Iaşi, Politehnica Ştiinţa
Timişoara |
| Students |
Affiliation with students. See also
Academical, Polytechnic,
University. |
|
Estudiantes de La Plata, Estudiantes de Río Cuarto,
Estudiantes de Buenos
Aires |
|
Estudantes Sport Club |
|
Estudiantes de Medicina |
|
Sportul Studenţesc |
|
Estudiantes de
Mérida |
| Technical
College |
|
|
Técnico
Universitario |
|
Christchurch Technical, Dunedin Technical |
| University |
Affiliation with universities. See
also Academical, Estudiantes,
Polytechnic. |
|
Universitario de Sucre |
|
Sport Club
Ulbra, Universidade
Estácio de Sá Futebol Clube |
|
Universidad
Católica, Universidad de
Chile, Universidad de
Concepción |
|
Universidad de Costa
Rica |
|
LDU Cuenca, LDU Loja, LDU Portoviejo,
LDU Quito,
Universidad
Católica |
|
Cambridge University, University of Exeter, Loughborough University,
Oxford University |
|
Universidad
Nacional Autónoma de Honduras |
|
University College Dublin
A.F.C. |
|
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 |
|
University-Mount Wellington |
|
Universitario de Deportes,
Universidad San
Martín de Porres, Universidad César
Vallejo, Universidad Técnica
de Cajamarca, IDUNSA |
|
FC
Universitatea Craiova, Universitatea Cluj |
|
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh University |
|
Pretoria University FC |
|
AD
Universidad de Oviedo, Universidad de Las Palmas
CF |
|
Bangkok University FC |
|
Universidad de Los
Andes Fútbol Club |
| Topic |
Meaning |
Country |
Clubs |
| Days of the
week |
Clubs named after a specific day of
the week |
|
Sheffield Wednesday |
|
Abergavenny Thursdays |
| Independence
Day |
Clubs named after the day of
independence of the country or city |
|
9 de
Julio de Rafaela, 9 de Julio
de Morteros, Sportivo 9 de Julio Río
Tercero (July 9) |
|
Club 9 de
Octubre (October 9) |
|
Sociedade União 1º de
Dezembro (December 1) |
| Labour Day |
|
|
Estrela Clube Primeiro de
Maio |
|
Associação Naval 1º
de Maio |
| Political
change |
|
|
Clube
15 de Novembro, Esporte Clube XV de
Novembro , Esporte Clube XV de
Novembro (November 15, 1889—the date of the coup that overthrew Emperor Pedro II and established Brazil
as a republic) |
|
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) |
|
4.25
Sports Group (April 25, 1932—claimed by North Korea as the
founding date of its armed forces, the Korean People's Army) |
|
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)
|
|
Eendracht Aalst 2002 |
|
Pallokerho-35, Tornion Pallo -47, Tampereen Peli-Pojat-70, Klubi-04 |
|
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 |
|
Be Quick
1887, UDI '19, ADO
'20, Quick '20, HSC
'21, Be Quick '28, CSV '28, Achilles '29,
Zwaluwen '30, Excelsior '31, PKC
'83 |
|
Gretna
F.C. 2008 |
| Other |
For unidentified and unclassified
days and dates in club names |
|
Clube Desportivo Primeiro de
Agosto (August 1) |
|
Club 27 de
Mayo (May 27), 31 de Octubre (October 31) |
|
Club 12
de Octubre (October 12),
Club Atlético 3 de
Febrero (February 3),
Club 2 de Mayo (May 2) |
| Topic |
Meaning |
Country |
Clubs |
| Angels |
After their original home ground,
the Angel Ground, itself named after a nearby hotel. |
|
Tonbridge Angels |
| Argyle |
Named after The Argyle Tavern or
Argyle Terrace, both in Plymouth. |
|
Plymouth Argyle |
| Great Chicago Fire |
Officially founded on October 8, 1997, the
126th anniversary of this pivotal event in the history of Chicago . |
|
Chicago
Fire |
| Ittihad |
Arabic for
"the union", meaning the merger of clubs or clubs founders |
|
Ittihad
Bnei Sakhnin |
|
Al-Ittihad |
|
Al-Ittihad |
| Dons |
Named after the nickname of MK
Dons' predecessors, Wimbledon F.C. |
|
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 |
|
Heart of Midlothian |
| North |
Clubs that originated 'north' of a
specific place |
|
North
Queensland |
|
Farnborough North End , Glossop North End , Preston North
End |
| East |
Orient = from the East, Leyton is in
East
London |
|
Leyton
Orient |
| Park Avenue |
The club originally played at the Park Avenue
ground |
|
Bradford Park Avenue |
| Forest |
The club originally played at the Forest
Recreation Ground |
|
Nottingham Forest |
| Queen of the
South |
A nickname for the club's home of Dumfries |
|
Queen of the South |
| Rangers
(Glasgow) |
The club founder saw the name
Rangers in a Rugby annual |
|
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. |
|
Chicago
Red Stars |
| Sounders |
From Puget Sound , on whose eastern shore the city of Seattle lies. |
|
Seattle Sounders , Seattle Sounders , 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 |
|
Sligo
Rovers |
|
Raith
Rovers |
| Mohun Bagan |
The club was named after the
palace, Mohun Bagan Villa, that was the site of the club's first
ground |
|
Mohun
Bagan |
| Trinity |
The club was formed in 1873 by the
vicar of the Holy Trinity Church |
|
Gainsborough Trinity |
|
Sportivo Trinidense |
| United |
Often (but not always) refers to
the result of a merger. "Pers-" is short for "Persatuan," Indonesian for "United". |
|
Persib,
Persebaya, Persiwa Wamena, Persela
Lamongan, PSM Makassar, Persijap Jepara, Persiba Balikpapan, Persitara Jakarta, PSMS Medan, PSPS
Pekanbaru, Persita Tangerang,
Persik Kediri, Persipura Jayapura |
|
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. |
|
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.) |
|
Club Atlético Vélez
Sársfield |
| Villa |
Named after Villa Cross Wesleyan
Chapel in Aston, Birmingham. |
|
Aston
Villa |
| Moors |
Taken from the nickname for
Moor Green following a merger. |
|
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 . |
|
Go Ahead
Eagles |
| Topic |
Meaning |
Country |
Clubs |
| Ahly |
Arabic for
"national" |
|
Al-Ahly |
|
Al-Ahli |
|
Al-Ahli |
|
Al-Ahly , Al-Ahly |
|
Al-Ahli |
|
Al-Ahli Football Club -
Dubai |
|
Al-Ahli |
|
Al-Ahli |
| Albion |
Archaic name for Great Britain |
|
Brighton & Hove Albion,
Burton Albion, Witton Albion. |
|
Stirling Albion |
|
Albion
F.C |
| Altay |
|
|
Altay
S.K. |
Americans |
Usually, but not always, clubs made up of
native citizens of the United States of America. |
|
New York Americans, Baltimore Americans, Philadelphia Americans, New York Yankees |
| Arabi |
Al-Arabi is the Arabic for "Arab". |
|
Al Arabi
Kuwait |
|
Al-Arabi Sports Club |
|
CD
Árabe Unido |
| Armenia |
Clubs founded by and for members of
the Armenian diaspora. |
|
Club
Deportivo Armenio |
| Assyria |
Clubs founded by and for members of
the Assyrian diaspora. |
|
Assyriska Föreningen |
| Bayern |
German name
for Bavaria |
|
FC Bayern
Munich, SpVgg Bayern Hof,
FC Bayern Alzenau |
| Beitar |
Refers to Betar, for "Brit Yosef
Trumpeldor", a Zionist youth
movement founded in 1923. |
|
Beitar Jerusalem, Beitar Shimshon Tel Aviv |
| Bohemians |
After Bohemianism |
|
Bohemians |
| Bohemians |
After Bohemia |
|
Bohemians 1905 |
| Borussia |
Latin name for
Prussia. |
|
Borussia
Dortmund, Borussia
Mönchengladbach, Borussia Fulda,
Borussia Neunkirchen, Wuppertaler SV Borussia |
| Celtic |
Clubs founded by and for members of
the Irish diaspora. |
|
Farsley Celtic, Stalybridge Celtic |
|
Cork
Celtic, Wayside Celtic |
|
Donegal
Celtic, Lurgan Celtic |
|
Celtic |
|
Kearny
Celtic, Brooklyn Celtic |
| Chief |
Reflecting tribal origins of home
town |
|
Kaizer
Chiefs |
|
Atlanta
Chiefs |
| Croatia |
Clubs founded by and for members of
the Croatian diaspora. |
|
Adelaide
Croatia Soccer Club, SC
Croatia, Sydney Croatia, North Perth Croatia, Newcastle Croatia, Whyalla Croatia, Fremantle Croatia, Gwelup Croatia |
|
Toronto
Croatia |
|
Croatia
Berlin |
| Español |
Refers to the Spanish people. |
|
Club Social,
Deportivo y Cultural Español |
|
Unión Española |
|
RCD
Espanyol |
|
Brooklyn
Hispano |
|
Central Español |
| Germania,
Alemannia |
Alternative names of Germany. |
|
BFC
Germania, Alemannia Aachen,
TSV Germania Windeck |
| Hessen |
German name
for Hessia |
|
Hessen
Kassel |
| Guaraní |
Name of a group of culturally
related indigenous peoples of South America. |
|
Guarani Futebol Clube, Guarany Futebol Clube |
|
Club
Guaraní |
| Hibernia |
Clubs founded by and for members of
the Irish diaspora. |
|
Hibernians |
|
Hibernian |
| Hungaria |
Alternative name of Hungary. |
|
Hungaria |
| Indians |
|
|
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. |
|
Sportivo
Italiano |
|
Marconi
Stallions |
|
Italia
Shooters |
|
Audax Club Sportivo
Italiano |
|
Inter-Brooklyn Italians |
|
Deportivo
Italia |
| Marist |
Founded by members of a Marist
Brothers school |
|
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 |
|
Mohammedan SC,
Chittagong Mohammedan
SC |
|
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. |
|
Cercle
Brugge Koninklijke Sportvereniging, Club Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging,
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht,
Royal Antwerp FC |
|
Real Potosí |
|
Real
Cartagena, Real Santander |
|
Real
España |
|
Koninklijke
HFC, Koninklijke HC&VV,
Koninklijke UD |
|
Real
Madrid, Real Mallorca, Real Zaragoza, Real Sporting de Gijón, Reial CD Espanyol de Barcelona |
|
Real Salt
Lake |
| National |
|
|
Nacional FC |
|
Atlético Nacional |
|
El Nacional |
|
Club
Nacional |
|
C.D.
Nacional |
|
Naţional Bucureşti |
|
Nacional de Montevideo |
| Palestine |
Clubs founded by and for members of
the Palestinian diaspora. |
|
Club Deportivo Palestino |
|
Palestino
FC |
| Pogoń |
Polish for "knight-in-pursuit",
depicted on the Pogoń Litewska,
the Polish Coat of Arms. |
|
Pogoń
Lwów, Pogoń Szczecin |
| Polonia,
Lechia |
Alternative names of Poland. |
|
Polonia
Warszawa, Lechia
Gdańsk |
| Portugal |
Clubs founded by and for members of
the Portuguese diaspora. |
|
Lusitanos |
|
Associação
Portuguesa de Desportos, Associação
Atlética Portuguesa , Associação
Portuguesa Londrinense, Associação
Atlética Portuguesa Santista |
|
Toronto Supra Portuguese |
|
Ludlow
Lusitano, Newark
Portuguese |
|
Portuguesa Fútbol Club |
| Revolution |
Named after the American Revolution, which initially
broke out in the New
England colonies. |
|
New
England Revolution |
| Saint |
Santos is Portuguese and Spanish for saints. |
|
Santos
FC |
|
Santos
Laguna |
|
Santos de Angola |
|
Santos de Guápiles |
|
St
Johnstone, St Mirren |
| Schwaben |
German name for Swabia. |
|
TSV
Schwaben Augsburg |
| Scotland |
Clubs founded by and for members of
the Scottish diaspora. |
|
Scottish Wanderers |
| Serbia |
Clubs founded by and for members of
the Serbian diaspora. |
|
Fitzroy
City Serbia, Wollongong
Srbija, Berwick Kings
Krajina, Noble Park United,
Westgate Sindjelic, |
|
Serbian White Eagles |
| Slavia |
Refers to the Slavic peoples |
|
Slavia
Mozyr |
|
Slavija Istočno Sarajevo |
|
Slavia
Sofia |
|
Slavia
Praha |
|
Sława
Lwów |
|
Slavija Kragujevac, Slavija Novi Sad |
| Syriac |
Refers to Syriac. |
|
Syrianska
FC, Arameiska/Syrianska
KIF, Syrianska IF
Kerburan, Valsta Syrianska
IK |
| Turkey |
Clubs founded by and for members of
the Turkish diaspora. |
|
Türkiyemspor Berlin |
|
FC
Türkiyemspor |
| Ukranians |
|
Philadelphia Ukrainian-Nationals |
| Topic |
Meaning |
Country |
Clubs |
| Amateur |
Referring to the amateur origins of the club. |
|
Amateure SV |
|
Fulwood Amateurs F.C. |
| Athletics |
Club names containing a reference
to athlete or athletics.
In the United States, the term "athletics" refers to sport in
general, and not specifically to track and field athletics. |
|
Petro Atlético |
|
Atlético Mineiro , Atlético Paranaense, Atlético Goianiense, Atlético Acreano |
|
Atlético Nacional, Atlético Bucaramanga, Atlético Huila |
|
Charlton Athletic, Grays Athletic, Oldham Athletic, Wigan Athletic |
|
Club Atlético 3 de Febrero,
Club Atlético
Colegiales |
|
Dunfermline Athletic, Forfar Athletic, Alloa Athletic, Annan Athletic, Haddington Athletic |
|
Athletic
Bilbao, Atlético
Madrid |
|
Saint
Louis Athletica |
| Casuals |
Clubs originating in amateur status
teams. |
|
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. |
|
Rio
Cricket |
|
Genoa
C.F.C. |
| Football |
Club names containing a term for
football. Examples: futebol (Portuguese) balompié (Spanish), calcio (Italian). |
|
Guaratinguetá Futebol, RS Futebol, Paulínia Futebol Clube |
|
Greve
Fodbold |
|
Ascoli
Calcio 1898, Cagliari Calcio,
Udinese Calcio |
|
Albacete Balompié, Real Betis Balompié, Écija Balompié |
| Gymnastics |
These clubs usually have a
historical affiliation with gymnastics. |
|
Olympique Gymnaste
Club de Nice-Côte d'Azur |
|
Turn-
und Sportgemeinschaft 1899 Hoffenheim, Turn und Spielvereinigung Koblenz |
|
Larvik Turn & I.F. |
|
Gimnàstic de Tarragona, RS Gimnástica de
Torrelavega |
|
Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü |
| Olympic
Games |
Club names containing a reference to
either the Olympic Games or the
ancient city of Olympia , Greece . |
|
FK Olimpik
Baku |
|
Olympia Bruxelles |
|
Olympiakos Nicosia |
|
Blackburn Olympic, Rushall Olympic |
|
Nîmes
Olympique, Olympique
Lyonnais, Olympique
Marseille |
|
Olympiacos
F.C., ASK Olympiakos Volos
F.C., Ethnikos
Olympiakos Volos F.C. |
|
CD
Olimpia |
|
Cercle Olympique de Bamako |
|
Olympic FC de Niamey |
|
Derry
Olympic |
|
Olimpia Asunción |
|
Olimpia
Satu Mare |
|
Olimpija Ljubljana |
| Rambling |
Hillwalking |
|
Cobh
Ramblers F.C. |
|
Burnham Ramblers F.C. |
| Racing |
|
|
Racing Montevideo |
|
Racing
Santander |
|
Racing
Strasbourg |
|
Racing Avellaneda |
| Rowing |
These clubs usually have a
historical affiliation with rowing. |
|
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). |
|
Desportiva Capixaba, Clube Esportivo de Bento
Gonçalves, Sport Club do
Recife |
|
Desportivo Ribeira Brava, Desportivo de Santa Cruz |
|
Club Deportivo Huachipato,
Club Deportivo O'Higgins,
Deportivo Temuco |
|
Deportivo
Cali, Deportivo Pereira,
Deportes Quindío, Deportes Tolima, Deportivo Pasto, Depor
FC |
| England |
Woodley
Sports, Mickleover Sports , Hullbridge Sports , Cowes
Sports |
|
Sporting
Fingal |
|
Helmond
Sport, Sportclub Heerenveen |
|
Deportivo
Wanka, Sport Boys |
|
Desportivo das
Aves |
|
Deportivo de La Coruña, other
clubs with RCD (Real Club Deportivo) |
|
Bursaspor,
Trabzonspor... |
| Stadium |
Club names containing the word
"stadium." Examples: stade (French), stadion (Dutch and German). |
|
Stade
Leuven |
|
Stade
d'Abidjan |
|
Stade
Rennes, Stade Reims, Stade Brest 29, Stade Saint-Brieuc, Stade Bordelais, Stade Français Paris,
Stade Laval, Stade Plabennecois |
|
Stade d'Akébé, AS Stade Mandji |
|
Stade
Malien |
|
Stade
Mbour |
| Tennis |
Football department was added to
tennis club. |
|
Tennis Borussia Berlin |
| Topic |
Meaning |
Country |
Clubs |
| CSKA |
CSKA means Central Army Sports Club
in Slavic languages, indicates that
the team was originally part of the army. |
|
CSKA
Yerevan |
|
CSKA Sofia |
|
CSCA-Rapid Chişinău |
|
CSCA
Bucureşti |
|
PFC CSKA
Moscow |
|
CSKA
Dushanbe |
|
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. |
|
KS Dinamo
Tirana |
|
FC Dinamo
Minsk, FC Dinamo Brest |
|
Dinamo
Zagreb |
|
Dünamo
Tallinn |
|
FC Dinamo
Batumi, FC Dinamo Sokhumi,
FC Dinamo Tbilisi |
|
Berliner FC Dynamo , SG Dynamo
Dresden |
|
FK Dinamo-Rīnuži/LASD |
|
FC Dinamo
Bender |
|
FC
Dinamo Bucureşti |
|
Dynamo
Moscow, Dynamo Bryansk,
Dynamo Makhachkala, Dynamo Stavropol |
|
Dynamo
Kyiv, FC Dinamo Luhansk |
| Hapoel |
Hebrew for The Worker, an
Israeli sport association, with links to trade unionism |
|
(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. |
|
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. |
|
Lokomotiv Plovdiv |
|
Lokomotive Leipzig |
|
Lokomotiv Moscow, Lokomotiv Liski |
| Maccabi |
For Jewish teams, indicates that the team was
originally part of the Maccabi
sport society. |
|
(see Maccabi ) |
| Spartak |
For Eastern
European teams, indicates that the team was originally part of
the Soviet Spartak sport society or an
equivalent. |
|
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. |
|
FC
Torpedo Kutaisi |
|
FC
Torpedo Moscow, FC Torpedo-RG,
FC Torpedo-ZIL |
|
FC
Torpedo Zaporizhzhya |
|
AD Torpedo
66 |
| Vorwärts |
Armeesportvereinigung
Vorwärts were the sports society of the East German Army. |
|
Vorwärts Berlin/Frankfurt |
| Zenit |
For Eastern
European teams, indicates that the team was originally part of
the Soviet Zenit sport society or an
equivalent. |
|
Zenit Čáslav |
|
Zenit Saint Petersburg
|
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" |
", "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).
" "Betis", or "Crusaders".
and eastern Europe) also have sponsors in their
club names, e.g. Red Bull
Salzburg
and Irish
nationalism
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