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", etc. In South America, clubs are more likely to have proper names than to bear the city's name. Some clubs, like Hansa Rostock or Torpedo Moscow may have both.
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.
| Template:Country data Bhutan
| Royal Bhutan Army FC
|
| Template:Country data Botswana
| Botswana Defence Force XI
|
| Template:Country data Cambodia
| Army Division of Logistics, Royal Cambodian Air Force, Royal Navy
|
 Ecuador
| El Nacional
|
| Template:Country data Myanmar
| Army
|
| Template:Country data North Korea
| Haeju Army
|
| Template:Country data Pakistan
| Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy
|
| Template:Country data Singapore
| Singapore Armed Forces Football Club
|
 Trinidad and Tobago
| Defence Force
|
| Arsenal
| Factories creating weapons
|  Argentina
| Arsenal de Sarandí
|
 England
| Arsenal
|
| Template:Country data Honduras
| Arsenal Roatán
|
 Ukraine
| FC Arsenal Kiev
|
| Beer
|
| File:Flag of Eritrea.png Eritrea
| Asmara Brewery
|
 Ethiopia
| Harrar Beer Botling
|
| Cobre-
| Spanish for copper, after association with copper mining
|  Chile
| Club de Deportes Cobreloa, Club Deportes Cobresal
|
| 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) or bought by a company (e.g. Red Bull Salzburg)
|  Austria
| Red Bull Salzburg
|
 Colombia
| La Equidad
|
 Germany
| Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Wacker Burghausen
|
 Mexico
| Cruz Azul
|
| England
| Vauxhall Motors, Rolls Royce Leisure, Billingham Synthonia (An ICI fertiliser brand), Sunderland Nissan, Cammell Laird
|
 Netherlands
| Philips Sport Vereniging
|
 Russia
| Lada Togliatti, FC Torpedo-RG, FC Torpedo-ZIL
|
 Turkey
| Türk Telekomspor
|
 USA
| Red Bull New York
|
 Wales
| Airbus UK
|
| 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.)
|
| 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.)
|
| Industrial Revolution
| formed during the late Victorian Industrial boom
| England
| Middlesbrough Ironopolis F.C.
|
| Metallurgy
| Foolad, Zob Ahan, and Mes: Persian for Steel, Steelworks, and Copper. Vasas: "Vas- és Fémmunkások" Hungarian for "Iron and Steel Workers"
| Iran
| Foolad F.C., F.C. Zob Ahan, Mes Kerman F.C.
|
 Hungary
| Budapesti Vasas Sport Club
|
| File:Flag of Latvia.png Latvia
| FK Liepājas Metalurgs
|
| Russia
| Metallurg Krasnoyarsk, Metallurg Lipetsk, Metallurg-Kuzbass Novokuznetsk
|
| Ukraine
| Metalurh Donetsk, Metalurh Nikopol, Metalurh Zaporizhia, FC Stal Alchevsk
|
 Poland
| Stal Mielec
|
| Germany
| Stahl Eisenhüttenstadt
|
|
| Stålkameratene
|
| Mining
| Górnik: Polish for miner
Zagłębie: Polish for coalfield
Minero: Spanish for miner
Colliery: Coal mine
| 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
|
| Poland
| Górnik Łęczna, Górnik Polkowice, Górnik Wieliczka Górnik Zabrze, Zagłębie Lubin, Zagłębie Sosnowiec
|
| Template:Country data Venezuela
| Atlético Club Mineros de Guayana
|
| Municipal
| Indicates a club formed by workers of, or associated with, a city hall or otherwise related local government unit.
| Template:Country data Guatemala
| CSD Municipal
|
 Peru
| Deportivo Municipal
|
| File:Flag of El Salvador.png El Salvador
| Once Municipal
|
| Navy
| Malavan: Persian for Sailor
| Iran
| Malavan F.C.
|
| Petroleum
| Naft: Persian for Petrol
|  Angola
| Académica Petróleo Kwanda Soyo, Atlético Petróleos do Huambo, Atlético Petróleos do Namibe, Atlético Petróleos Luanda
|
| Template:Country data Bolivia
| Oriente Petrolero
|
| Colombia
| Alianza Petrolera
|
| Ecuador
| Esmeraldas Petrolero
|
| Iran
| Sanat Naft F.C.
|
| Police
| For football clubs affiliated with a police force
| Template:Country data Botswana
| Police XI
|
| Template:Country data Cambodia
| Military Police
|
 China
| Vanguard Hubei Police Academy
|
| Ecuador
| Escuela Superior de Policía (ESPOLI)
|
| England
| Metropolitan Police, West Midlands Police
|
| Template:Country data India
| Punjab Police
|
| Template:Country data Iraq
| Al-Shorta
|
| File:Flag of Lithuania.png Lithuania
| Sostinės Policija Vilnius
|
| Template:Country data Isle of Man
| Police
|
| Template:Country data Nepal
| Mahendra Police Club
|
| Template:Country data Uganda
| Police FC
|
| Railroad workers
| Rah Ahan (Persian), Ferro Carril (Spanish), for Railroad (noun). Ferroviário (Portuguese) for Railroad (adjective).
| Argentina
| Ferro Carril Oeste, Rosario Central (from Central Argentine Railway)
|
 Brazil
| Ferroviário Atlético Clube, Associação Ferroviária de Esportes
|
| England
| Darlington Railway Athletic, Harrogate Railway Athletic, Leigh RMI
|
| Iran
| Rah Ahan F.C.
|
| Template:Country data Mozambique
| Clube Ferroviário da Beira, Clube Ferroviário de Maputo, Clube Ferroviário de Nampula
|
| Ship-building
| After the Cammell Laird ship yard
| England
| Cammell Laird F.C.
|
| Textile
| Nassaji: Persian for Textile Industry
| Argentina
| Textil Mandiyú
|
 Croatia
| NK Varteks Varaždin
|
| Iran
| Nassaji Mazandaran F.C.
|
| Template:Country data Mozambique
| Grupo Desportivo da Companhia Têxtil do Punguè
|
| Tractor manufacturing
|
| Iran
| Teraktor Sazi F.C.
|
| Russia
| Rotor Volgograd
|
| General
|
|  Italy
| SPAL 1907 (Società Polisportiva Ars et Labor)
|
| Topic
| Meaning
| Country
| Clubs
|
| Academical
| Affiliation with academics. See also Estudiantes, University, Polytechnic.
|  Bulgaria
| Akademik Sofia, Akademik Svishtov
|
 Denmark
| Akademisk Boldklub
|
| Germany
| Akademischer BC 1897 Charlottenburg, Akademischer SC 1893 Berlin
|
| Template:Country data Mozambique
| Associação Académica de Maputo
|
 Portugal
| Académica de Coimbra
|
 Scotland
| Hamilton Academical
|
| Old Boys
| 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
|
| Young Boys
| Named in contrast to nearby club Old Boys Basel (see Old Boys above)
|  Switzerland
| BSC Young Boys
|
| Polytechnic
| Affiliation with academics. See also Academical, Estudiantes, University.
| Template:Country data Moldova
| FC Politehnica Chişinău
|
 Romania
| FC Politehnica Iaşi, Politehnica Ştiinţa Timişoara
|
| Students
| Affiliation with students. See also Academical, Polytechnic, University.
| Argentina
| Estudiantes de La Plata, Estudiantes de Río Cuarto, Estudiantes de Buenos Aires
|
| Brazil
| Estudiantes Sport Club
|
| Peru
| Estudiantes de Medicina
|
| Romania
| Sportul Studenţesc
|
| Template:Country data Venezuela
| Estudiantes de Mérida
|
| University
| Affliation with universities. See also Academical, Estudiantes, Polytechnic.
| Template:Country data Bolivia
| Club Universitario
|
| Brazil
| Sport Club Ulbra, Universidade Estácio de Sá Futebol Clube
|
| Chile
| Club Deportivo Universidad Católica, Club de Fútbol Universidad de Chile, Club Deportivo Universidad de Concepción
|
| File:Flag of Costa Rica.png Costa Rica
| Club de Futbol Universidad de Costa Rica
|
| Ecuador
| Liga Deportiva Universitaria (Quito)
|
| England
| Cambridge University A.F.C., University of Exeter, Oxford University A.F.C.
|
 Ireland
| University College Dublin A.F.C.
|
| Mexico
| Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, Club Universidad Nacional, Club Deportivo UANL
|
| Peru
| Universitario de Deportes, Universidad San Martín de Porres
|
| Romania
| FC Universitatea Craiova, Universitatea Cluj, Universitatea Craiova
|
| Scotland
| Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh University
|
 South Africa
| Pretoria University FC
|
 Spain
| AD Universidad de Oviedo, Universidad de Las Palmas CF
|
| Template:Country data Venezuela
| Universidad de Los Andes Fútbol Club
|
| 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
| Argentina
| 9 de Julio de Rafaela, 9 de Julio de Morteros, Sportivo 9 de Julio Río Tercero (July 9)
|
| Ecuador
| Club 9 de Octubre (October 9)
|
| Portugal
| Sociedade União 1º de Dezembro (December 1)
|
| Labour Day
|
| Angola
| Estrela Clube Primeiro de Maio
|
| Portugal
| Associação Naval 1º de Maio
|
| Political change
|
| Brazil
| Clube 15 de Novembro, Esporte Clube XV de Novembro (Piracicaba), Esporte Clube XV de Novembro (Jaú) (November 15, 1889)
|
| Template:Country data Yemen
| May 22 San'a' (May 22, 1990)
|
| Year of establishment
| Club names containing a reference to the year in which the club was established
(clubs are listed in chronological order by country)
|  Belgium
| Eendracht Aalst 2002
|
 Finland
| Pallokerho-35, Tampereen Peli-Pojat-70, Klubi-04
|
| Germany
| 1860 München, Hannover 96, SV Darmstadt 98, 1899 Hoffenheim, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Schalke 04, Mainz 05, Paderborn 07, SG Wattenscheid 09, 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam 71
|
| Netherlands
| Be Quick 1887, UDI '19, ADO '20, Quick '20, HSC '21, Be Quick '28, CSV '28, Achilles '29, Zwaluwen '30, Excelsior '31, PKC '83
|
| Other
| For unidentified and unclassified days and dates in club names
| Angola
| Clube Desportivo Primeiro de Agosto (August 1)
|
| Template:Country data Bolivia
| Club 27 de Mayo (May 27), 31 de Octubre (October 31)
|
 Paraguay
| Club 12 de Octubre (October 12), Club Atlético 3 de Febrero (February 3), Club 2 de Mayo (May 2)
|
| Topic
| Meaning
| Country
| Clubs
|
| Angels
| After their original home ground, the Angel Ground, itself named after a nearby hotel.
| England
| Tonbridge Angels F.C.
|
| Argyle
| Named after The Argyle Tavern or Argyle Terrace, both in Plymouth.
| England
| Plymouth Argyle F.C.
|
| Ittihad
| Arabic for "the union", meaning the merger of clubs or clubs founders
| File:Flag of Saudi Arabia.png Saudi Arabia
| Al-Ittihad (Jeddah)
|
| File:Flag of Libya.png Libya
| Al-Ittihad (Tripoli)
|
| Dons
| Named after the nickname of MK Dons' predecessors, Wimbledon F.C.
| England
| Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
|
| North
| Clubs that originated 'north' of a specific place
| England
| Glossop North End A.F.C., Preston North End
|
| East
| Orient = from the East, Leyton is in East London
| England
| Leyton Orient
|
| Park Avenue
| The club originally played at the Park Avenue ground
| England
| Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
|
| Rangers (Glasgow)
| The club founder saw the name Rangers in a Rugby annual
| Scotland
| Rangers F.C.
|
| 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 F.C., Wycombe Wanderers
|
| Republic of Ireland
| Sligo Rovers
|
| Scotland
| Raith Rovers
|
| Trinity
| The club was formed in 1873 by the vicar of the Holy Trinity Church
| England
| Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
|
| United
| Often (but not always) refers to the result of a merger. "Pers-" is short for "Persatuan," Indonesian for "United".
| Template:Country data Indonesia
| Persib, Persik Kediri, Persipura Jayapura
|
| various
| Manchester United, Newcastle United, West Ham United, D.C. United, Colchester 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
|
| Stanley
| Named after the Stanley Arms on Stanley Road, Accrington.
| England
| Accrington Stanley
|
| Villa
| Named after Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel in Aston, Birmingham.
| England
| Aston Villa
|
| Topic
| Meaning
| Country
| Clubs
|
| Ahly
| Arabic for "national"
|  Egypt
| El-Ahly
|
| File:Flag of Qatar.png Qatar
| Al-Ahli (Doha)
|
| Albion
| Archaic name for Great Britain
| England
| Brighton & Hove Albion, Burton Albion
|
| Scotland
| Stirling Albion
|
| Arabi
| Al-Arabi is the Arabic for "Arab".
| Template:Country data Kuwait
| Al Arabi Kuwait
|
| File:Flag of Qatar.png Qatar
| Al-Arabi Sports Club
|
 Panama
| CD Árabe Unido
|
| Armenia
| Clubs founded by and for members of the Armenian diaspora.
| Argentina
| Club Deportivo Armenio
|
| Assyria
| Clubs founded by and for members of the Assyrian diaspora.
|  Sweden
| Assyriska Föreningen
|
| Beitar
| Refers to Betar, for "Brit Yosef Trumpeldor", a Zionist youth movement founded in 1923.
|  Israel
| Beitar Jerusalem F.C., Beitar/Shimshon Tel Aviv F.C.
|
| Bohemians
| After Bohemianism
| Republic of Ireland
| Bohemians
|
| Bohemians
| After Bohemia
|  Czech Republic
| Bohemians 1905
|
| Borussia
| Latin name for Prussia.
| Germany
| Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Borussia Fulda, Borussia Neunkirchen
|
| Celtic
| Clubs founded by and for members of the Irish diaspora.
| England
| Farsley Celtic A.F.C., Stalybridge Celtic F.C.
|
| Ireland
| Cork Celtic, Wayside Celtic F.C.
|
 Northern Ireland
| Donegal Celtic, Lurgan Celtic F.C.
|
| Scotland
| Celtic F.C.
|
| Chief
| Reflecting tribal origins of home town
| South Africa
| Kaizer Chiefs
|
| United States
| Atlanta Chiefs
|
| Croatia
| Clubs founded by and for members of the Croatian diaspora.
|  Australia
| Adelaide Croatia Soccer Club, SC Croatia, Sydney Croatia, North Perth Croatia, Newcastle Croatia, Whyalla Croatia, Fremantle Croatia, Gwelup Croatia
|
 Canada
| Toronto Croatia,
|
| Germany
| Croatia Berlin
|
| Español
| Refers to the Spanish people.
| Argentina
| Club Social, Deportivo y Cultural Español
|
| Chile
| Unión Española
|
| Spain
| RCD Espanyol
|
 Uruguay
| Central Español
|
| Germania, Alemannia
| Alternative names of Germany.
| Germany
| BFC Germania, Alemannia Aachen
|
| Guaraní
| Name of a group of culturally related indigenous peoples of South America.
| Brazil
| Guarani Futebol Clube, Guarany Futebol Clube
|
| Paraguay
| Club Guaraní
|
| Hibernia
| Clubs founded by and for members of the Irish diaspora.
|  Malta
| Hibernians F.C.
|
| Scotland
| Hibernian F.C.
|
| 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, Internazionale Torino
|
| Italy
| Clubs founded by and for members of the Italian diaspora.
| Argentina
| Sportivo Italiano
|
| Chile
| Audax Club Sportivo Italiano
|
| Australia
| Marconi Stallions
|
| Template:Country data Venezuela
| Deportivo Italia
|
| Monarchy
| Real is Spanish for Royal. Koninklijke is a Dutch equivalent. Spanish clubs with the "Real" name, as well as the Honduras club Real España, enjoy the patronage of the Spanish monarchy.
| Belgium
| Royal Antwerp FC
|
| Template:Country data Bolivia
| Real Potosí
|
| Colombia
| Real Cartagena, Real Santander
|
| Template:Country data Honduras
| Real España
|
| Netherlands
| Koninklijke HFC
|
| Spain
| Real Madrid, Real Mallorca, Real Zaragoza, Real Sporting de Gijón, Real CD Espanyol de Barcelona
|
| National
|
| Brazil
| Nacional FC
|
| Colombia
| Atlético Nacional
|
| Ecuador
| El 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
|
| Pogoń
| Polish for "knight-in-pursuit", depicted on the Pogoń Litewska, the Polish Coat of Arms.
| Poland
| Pogoń Lwów, Pogoń Szczecin
|
| Polonia, Lechia
| Alternative names of Poland.
| Poland
| Polonia Warsaw, 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
|
| Template:Country data Venezuela
| Portuguesa Fútbol Club
|
| Revolution
| Named after the American Revolution
| USA
| New England Revolution
|
| Saint
| Santos is Portuguese and Spanish for saints.
| Brazil
| Santos FC
|
| Mexico
| Santos Laguna
|
| Angola
| Santos de Angola
|
| File:Flag of Costa Rica.png Costa Rica
| Santos de Guápiles
|
| 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
| Template:Country data Belarus
| Slavia Mozyr
|
| Template:Country data 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
|
| 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.
| File:Flag of Estonia.png Estonia
| FC Ajax Lasnamäe
|
| Malta
| Rabat Ajax F.C.
|
 Morocco
| Ajax Kenitra
|
| Netherlands
| AFC Ajax, Ajax Sportman Combinatie
|
| South Africa
| Ajax Cape Town
|
| United States
| Ajax Orlando Prospects
|
| Alexandra
| Club names containing a reference to Princess Alexandra.
| England
| Crewe Alexandra
|
| Aris
| After the Greek God of War.
|  Greece
| Aris Thessaloniki
|
| File:Flag of Cyprus.png Cyprus
| Aris Limassol
|
| Template:Country data Luxembourg
| Aris Bonnevoie
|
| Armando Picchi
|
| Italy
| Armando Picchi Calcio
|
| Arminia
| From Arminius a chieftain who defeated a Roman Army in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.
| Germany
| Arminia Bielefeld, Arminia Hannover
|
| Arturo Fernández Vial
|
| Chile
| Club Deportivo Ferroviario Almirante Arturo Fernández Vial|
|
| Atlas
| Club names containing a reference to Atlas.
| Mexico
| CF Atlas
|
| Guillermo Brown
|
| Argentina
| Club Almirante Brown, Club Atlético Almirante Brown, Club Atlético Brown, Club Social y Atlético Guillermo Brown
|
| Colocolo
|
| Brazil
| Colo-Colo de Futebol e Regatas
|
| Chile
| Colo-Colo
|
| Dalmacio Vélez Sársfield
|
| Argentina
| Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield
|
| Hercules/Heracles
| After the Greek demi-god.
| Greece
| Iraklis F.C.
|
| Netherlands
| Heracles Almelo
|
| Spain
| Hércules CF
|
| Hermann Aichinger
|
| Brazil
| Clube Atlético Hermann Aichinger
|
| Hotspur
| Named after Henry Percy, aka Henry Hotspur
| England
| Tottenham Hotspur
|
| Jahn
| Named after Friedrich Ludwig Jahn.
| Germany
| SSV Jahn Regensburg
|
| Joan of Arc
|
|  Réunion
| SS Jeanne d'Arc
|
 Senegal
| ASC Jeanne d'Arc
|
| Jorge Wilstermann
|
| Template:Country data Bolivia
| Club Jorge Wilstermann
|
| José Joaquín Olmedo
|
| Ecuador
| Centro Deportivo Olmedo
|
| José Gálvez
|
| Peru
| Club José Gálvez
|
| Luis Ángel Firpo
|
| File:Flag of El Salvador.png El Salvador
| C.D. Luis Angel Firpo
|
| Martín Ledesma
|
| Paraguay
| Club Martín Ledesma
|
| Newell
| Named by ex-pupils of the English High School of Rosario in homage to its director and football coach, English immigrant Isaac Newell
| Argentina
| Newell's Old Boys
|
| Renato Curi
|
| Italy
| Renato Curi Angolana
|
| Rio Branco
| Named after the Baron of Rio Branco.
| Brazil
| Rio Branco Atlético Clube, Rio Branco Esporte Clube, Centro Esportivo Rio Branco
|
| Rob Roy
|
| Scotland
| Kirkintilloch Rob Roy F.C.
|
| Robin Hood
|
| Template:Country data Suriname
| SV Robinhood
|
| Rutherford B. Hayes
|
| Paraguay
| Club Presidente Hayes
|
| Shimshon Douri
| The club was formed in memory of Shimshon Douri, a former Maccabi Tel Aviv player who died in the War of Independence.
| Israel
| Shimshon Tel Aviv F.C.
|
| Silvio Pettirossi
|
| Paraguay
| Club Silvio Pettirossi
|
| Simón Bolívar
|
| Template:Country data Bolivia
| Club Bolívar
|
| Vasco da Gama
| Named after Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama.[3]
| Brazil
| Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama, Associação Desportiva Vasco da Gama
|
| Template:Country data India
| Vasco SC
|
| Victoria
| Named after Queen Victoria.
| England
| Northwich Victoria, Biddulph Victoria
|
| Zico
|
| Brazil
| Centro de Futebol Zico Sociedade Esportiva
|
| Topic
| Meaning
| Country
| Clubs
|
| Amateur
| Referring to the amateur origins of the club.
| England
| Fulwood Amateurs F.C.
|
| Athletics
| Club names containing a reference to athletes or athletics.
| Angola
| Petro Atlético
|
| Brazil
| Atlético Mineiro, Atlético Paranaense, Atlético Goianiense, Atlético Acreano
|
| England
| Charlton Athletic, Grays Athletic, Oldham Athletic, Wigan Athletic
|
| Scotland
| Dunfermline Athletic, Forfar Athletic
|
| Spain
| Athletic Bilbao, Atlético Madrid
|
| Casuals
| Clubs originating in amateur status teams.
| England
| Corinthian-Casuals F.C., Walton Casuals F.C.
|
| Cricket
| Club names containing a term for cricket. Usually, the club also had a cricket team in the past.
| Brazil
| Rio Cricket
|
| Italy
| Genoa C.F.C.
|
| Football
| Club names containing a term for football. Examples: balompié (Spanish), calcio (Italian).
| Brazil
| Guaratinguetá Futebol, RS Futebol
|
| Denmark
| Greve Fodbold
|
| Italy
| Ascoli Calcio 1898, Cagliari Calcio, Udinese Calcio
|
| Spain
| Albacete Balompié, Real Betis Balompié, Écija Balompié
|
| Gymnastics
| These clubs usually have a historical affiliation with gymnastics.
| France
| Olympique Gymnaste Club de Nice-Côte d'Azur
|
| Germany
| Turn und Spielvereinigung Koblenz
|
 Norway
| Larvik Turn & I.F.
|
| Spain
| Gimnàstic de Tarragona, RS Gimnástica de Torrelavega
|
| Turkey
| Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü
|
| Olympic Games
| Club names containing a reference to either the Olympic Games or the ancient city of Olympia, Greece.
| Template:Country data Azerbaijan
| FK Olimpik Baku
|
| Belgium
| Olympia Bruxelles
|
| File:Flag of Cyprus.png Cyprus
| Olympiakos Nicosia
|
| England
| Blackburn Olympic
|
| France
| Nîmes Olympique, Olympique Lyonnais, Olympique Marseille
|
| Greece
| Olympiacos F.C.
|
| Greece
| ASK Olympiakos Volos F.C.
|
| Greece
| Ethnikos Olympiakos Volos F.C.
|
| Template:Country data Honduras
| CD Olimpia
|
 Mali
| Cercle Olympique de Bamako
|
| Template:Country data Niger
| Olympic FC de Niamey
|
| Northern Ireland
| Derry Olympic
|
| Paraguay
| Olimpia Asunción
|
| Romania
| Olimpia Satu Mare
|
 Slovenia
| Olimpija Ljubljana
|
| Rambling
| Hillwalking
| Republic of Ireland
| Cobh Ramblers F.C.
|
| England
| Burnham Ramblers F.C.
|
| Racing
|
| 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 language).
| Brazil
| Desportiva Capixaba, Clube Esportivo de Bento Gonçalves, Sport Club do Recife
|
| Template:Country data Cape Verde
| Desportivo Ribeira Brava, Desportivo de Santa Cruz
|
| Chile
| Club Deportivo Huachipato, Club Deportivo O'Higgins, Deportivo Temuco
|
| Colombia
| Deportivo Cali
|
| England
| Woodley Sports, Mickleover Sports, Hullbridge Sports, Cowes Sports
|
| Netherlands
| Helmond Sport, Sportclub Heerenveen
|
| Peru
| Deportivo Wanka, Sport Boys
|
| Portugal
| Desportivo das Aves
|
| Spain
| Deportivo de La Coruña
|
| Turkey
| Bursaspor, Trabzonspor
|
| Stadium
| Club names containing the word "stadium." Examples: stade (French), stadion (Dutch and German).
| Belgium
| Stade Leuven
|
 Côte d'Ivoire
| Stade d'Abidjan
|
| France
| Stade Rennes, Stade Reims, Stade Brest 29, Stade Saint-Brieuc, Stade Bordelais, Stade Français Paris, Stade Laval, Stade Plabennecois
|
| Template:Country data Gabon
| Stade d'Akébé, AS Stade Mandji
|
| Mali
| Stade Malien
|
| Senegal
| Stade Mbour
|
| Topic
| Meaning
| Country
| Clubs
|
| CSKA
| CSKA means Central Army Sports Club in Slavic languages, indicates that the team was originally part of the army.
|  Armenia
| CSKA Yerevan
|
| Bulgaria
| CSKA Sofia
|
| Template:Country data Moldova
| CSKA-Agro Stauceni
|
| Russia
| PFC CSKA Moscow
|
| Template:Country data 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
|
| Template:Country data Belarus
| FC Dinamo Minsk, FC Dinamo Brest
|
| Croatia
| Dinamo Zagreb
|
| File:Flag of Estonia.png Estonia
| Dünamo Tallinn
|
| File:Flag of Georgia.png Georgia
| FC Dinamo Batumi, FC Dinamo Sokhumi, FC Dinamo Tbilisi
|
| Germany
| Berliner FC Dynamo, SG Dynamo Dresden
|
| File:Flag of Latvia.png Latvia
| FK Dinamo-Rīnuži/LASD
|
| Template:Country data Moldova
| FC Dinamo Bender
|
| Romania
| FC Dinamo Bucureşti
|
| Russia
| Dynamo Moscow, Dynamo Bryansk, Dynamo Makhachkala, Dynamo Stavropol
|
| Ukraine
| Dynamo Kyiv, FC Dinamo Luhansk
|
| Hapoel
| Hebrew for The Worker, an Israeli sport association, with links to trade unionism
| Israel
| Hapoel Kfar Saba F.C., Hapoel Petah Tikva F.C., Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C.
|
| Lokomotiv
| For Eastern European teams, indicates that the team was originally part of the Soviet Lokomotiv sport society or an equivalent.
| Bulgaria
| Lokomotiv Plovdiv
|
| Germany
| Lokomotive Leipzig
|
| Russia
| Lokomotiv Moscow
|
| Maccabi
| For Jewish teams, indicates that the team was originally part of the Maccabi sport society.
| Belgium
| Maccabi Antwerp, Maccabi Bruxelles
|
| France
| Maccabi Paris
|
| Germany
| Makkabi Berlin, Maccabi Düsseldorf
|
| Israel
| Maccabi Haifa, Maccabi Tel Aviv
|
| Romania
| Maccabi Bucureşti
|
| USA
| Maccabi Los Angeles
|
| Spartak
| For Eastern European teams, indicates that the team was originally part of the Soviet Spartak sport society or an equivalent.
| Russia
| Spartak Moscow, Spartak Vladikavkaz
|
| Torpedo
| For Eastern European teams, indicates that the team was once part of the Soviet republican VSS Trud.
| File:Flag of Georgia.png Georgia
| FC Torpedo Kutaisi
|
| Russia
| FC Torpedo Moscow, FC Torpedo-RG, FC Torpedo-ZIL
|
| Ukraine
| FC Torpedo Zaporizhzhya
|
| 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
|
| Topic
| Meaning
| Country
| Clubs
|
| Courage
| Template:Lang-de
Template:Lang-pt
Template:Lang-es
| 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
|
| Fortune
|
| Denmark
| Fortuna Hjørring
|
| Germany
| Fortuna Köln, Fortuna Düsseldorf, Fortuna Magdeburg
|
| Netherlands
| Fortuna Sittard
|
| Friendship
|
| France
| Union Amicale Cognac, Amicale Sportive de Poissy, Amicale Sportive Vitré
|
| Germany
| Sportfreunde Lotte, Sportfreunde Seligenstadt, Sportfreunde Siegen
|
| Italy
| F.S. Sestrese Calcio 1919
|
| Template:Country data Luxembourg
| Les Amis de la Moselle Remerschen, FC Amis des Sports Luxembourg
|
| Template:Country data Namibia
| Friends
|
| Northern Ireland
| Ballyclare Comrades F.C.
|
| Norway
| Hamarkameratene, Mandalskameratene
|
| Harmony
|
| Belgium
| V.C. Eendracht Aalst 2002
|
| Germany
| Eintracht Frankfurt, Eintracht Braunschweig, Eintracht Duisburg 1848, Eintracht Friedrichshagen, Eintracht Mahlsdorf, Eintracht Trier, Eintracht Nordhorn
|
| Switzerland
| Concordia Basel
|
| Health and wellbeing
|
| England
| Armthorpe Welfare, Askern Welfare, Blackwell Miners Welfare, Blidworth Welfare, Brodsworth Welfare, Calverton Miners Welfare, Clipstone Welfare, Gedling Miners Welfare, Glasshoughton Welfare, Holbrook Miners Welfare, Nostell Miners Welfare, Staveley Miners Welfare, Thoresby Colliery Welfare, Welbeck Colliery Welfare
|
| Netherlands
| Tot Heil Onzer Ribbenkast
|
| Scotland
| Danderhall Miners Welfare, Lochore Miners Welfare, Whitehill Welfare
|
| Hope
|
|  Benin
| Espoir FC
|
 Cameroon
| Espérance FC
|
| France
| Espérance Sportive Troyes Aube Champagne
|
| Template:Country data Niger
| Espoir FC
|
| File:Flag of Rwanda.png 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
|
| Template:Country data Madagascar
| AS Fortior
|
| Netherlands
| Excelsior '31, Excelsior Maassluis, Excelsior Rotterdam
|
| Independence
| Template:Lang-fa
| Argentina
| Club Atlético Independiente
|
| Brazil
| Independência Futebol Clube, Independente Esportes Clube Macaé
|
| Colombia
| Independiente Medellín
|
| Iran
| Esteghlal Tehran F.C., Esteghlal Ahvaz F.C.
|
| Invincibility
|
| England
| Folkestone Invicta
|
| Speed
| Template:Lang-fr
Template:Lang-la
| Netherlands
| Celeritas, Robur et Velocitas, Velocitas 1897, Vitesse, Vitesse Delft, Vitesse 1892, Vitesse '08, Vitesse '22, Vitesse '63
|
| Strength
| Template:Lang-la
Template:Lang-he
| Australia
| Sydney Hakoah
|
| Austria
| Hakoah Vienna
|
| Template:Country data 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).
| Peru
| Alianza Lima, Alianza Atlético
|
| File:Flag of El Salvador.png El Salvador
| Alianza F.C.
|
| Victory
| Template:Lang-ar
| File:Flag of Saudi Arabia.png Saudi Arabia
| Al-Nasr
|
| Template:Country data United Arab Emirates
| Al-Nasr Sports Club
|
| Australia
| Melbourne Victory FC
|
| Wealth
|
| Colombia
| Club Deportivo Los Millonarios
|
| Wisdom
| Template:Lang-ar
| File:Flag of Lebanon.png 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
|
| Template:Country data Belize
| Juventus (Belize)
|
| Brazil
| EC Juventude, CA Juventus
|
| Cameroon
| Jeunesse Bamiléké
|
| Template:Country data Cape Verde
| Juventude do Norte
|
| Colombia
| Atlético Junior
|
| 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
|
| Template:Country data Luxembourg
| Jeunesse Esch, Jeunesse Hautcharage, Jeunesse Sportive Verlorenkost
|
| Morocco
| Jeunesse Massira
|
| Romania
| Juventus Bucureşti
|
| Serbia
| Mladost Lučani, Mladost Apatin
|
| Switzerland
| BSC Young Boys
|
| Tunisia
| Jeunesse Sportive Kairouanaise
|
| Uruguay
| Rampla Juniors
|
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. | 1. FC Kaiserslautern, 1. FC Nuremberg, 1. FC Köln | 1. FC stands for First Football Club
|
| A.C. | A.C. Milan, A.C. Siena | A.C. is the abbreviation for 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 | 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. e.g. AFC Wimbledon was formed after the original Wimbledon F.C. became the MK Dons.
|
| A.S. | A.S. Roma, A.S. Livorno Calcio, A.S. Monaco, A.S. Saint-Etienne | A.S. is the abbreviation for Associazione Sportiva, Sport Association in Italian.
It also means Association Sportive in French
|
| A.Z. | AZ | Alkmaar Zaanstreek – from the 1967 merger of Alkmaar '54 and FC Zaanstreek
|
| B.K. | Rosenborg BK | Ballklub – "Ball Club" in Norwegian
|
| 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.F. | CF Atlas, CF Estrela da Amadora | Club de Fútbol (Spanish), Clube de Futebol (Portuguese)
|
| 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. | Toronto F.C., F.C. Dallas, FC Barcelona, Sevilla FC | Football Club in various languages
|
| 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
|
| J.K.
| Helsingin JK, JK Viljandi Tulevik | F.C. in Finnish and Estonian
|
| Beşiktaş J.K. | Jimnastik Kulübü, Turkish for "Gymnastics Club"
|
| MSV | MSV Duisburg | German: Meidericher Sportverein (Meiderich Sport Association)
|
| N.K. | NK Dinamo Zagreb, NK Drava Ptuj | F.C. in Croatian and Slovenian
|
| P.F.C. | PFC CSKA Moscow | Professional Football Club
|
| R.C. | R.C. Strasbourg, R.C. Lens | Racing Club
|
| R.C.D. | RCD Mallorca, RCD Espanyol | Real Club Deportivo
|
| R.S.C. | R.S.C. Anderlecht | Royal Sporting Club
|
| S.C. | S.C., SC Bastia, Sahel Sporting Club | Sporting Club
|
| S.G. | SG Wattenscheid 09 | German: Sportgemeinschaft (= Sport Community)
|
| S.K. | SK Brann, Lierse S.K., Fenerbahçe S.K., Galatasaray S.K. | Sport/Sporting Club in various languages
|
| SpVgg. | SpVgg Unterhaching | 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)
|
England
Scotland
Republic of Ireland
