Soccer club nicknames usually come from a club’s colors, its history, local industry, a famous emblem or the community that founded it. Arsenal are the Gunners because the club was formed by workers at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, West Ham United are the Hammers because of their roots at the Thames Ironworks, and Inter Milan are the Nerazzurri after their black and blue shirts. Some nicknames, like Juventus’s Old Lady, have origins that are debated. This guide lists the best-known nicknames in world football and explains where they come from.
Famous club nicknames
| Club | Nickname | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | The Gunners | Founded by workers at the Royal Arsenal munitions factory |
| Chelsea | The Blues | Blue kit; earlier known as the Pensioners |
| Liverpool | The Reds | Red kit |
| Manchester United | The Red Devils | Adopted in the 1960s |
| Tottenham Hotspur | Spurs | Named after Harry Hotspur, a medieval nobleman |
| Newcastle United | The Magpies | Black and white stripes |
| West Ham United | The Hammers, the Irons | Origins at the Thames Ironworks |
| Everton | The Toffees | Linked to local toffee shops near the early grounds |
| Juventus | La Vecchia Signora (The Old Lady) | Origin debated |
| Inter Milan | Nerazzurri | Black and blue shirts |
| AC Milan | Rossoneri | Red and black shirts |
| Barcelona | Blaugrana | Catalan for blue and deep red |
| Real Madrid | Los Blancos, Los Merengues | All-white kit |
| Atlético Madrid | Los Colchoneros | Red and white stripes like old mattress covers |
| Bayern Munich | Die Roten (The Reds) | Red kit |
| Boca Juniors | Xeneizes | Genoese immigrant founders |
| Celtic | The Bhoys | Associated with the club’s Irish heritage |
Nicknames from colors
The most common source of nicknames is a club’s colors. Chelsea and Everton are both known as the Blues, and Liverpool and Bayern Munich as the Reds. In Italy, color-based nicknames are especially common: AC Milan are the Rossoneri for their red and black stripes, Inter are the Nerazzurri for black and blue, Roma are the Giallorossi for yellow and red, and Lazio are the Biancocelesti for white and sky blue. Barcelona’s Blaugrana is Catalan for the blue and deep red of its shirts, while Real Madrid’s all-white kit gives them the name Los Blancos, sometimes also Los Merengues. Newcastle United are the Magpies because their black and white stripes resemble the bird.
Nicknames from history and industry
Many English clubs were founded by groups of workers, and their nicknames reflect those origins. Arsenal was formed in 1886 by workers at the Royal Arsenal, a munitions factory in Woolwich, south-east London, which is why the club is known as the Gunners and has a cannon on its crest. West Ham United began as Thames Ironworks Football Club in 1895, created by workers at a shipbuilding and ironworks company, giving the club its nicknames the Hammers and the Irons. Stoke City are the Potters because of the Staffordshire pottery industry. Norwich City are the Canaries, a name linked to the city’s history of canary breeding, and they wear yellow and green.
Nicknames from people and places
Tottenham Hotspur take their name from Sir Henry Percy, known as Harry Hotspur, a 14th-century nobleman whose family owned land in the Tottenham area. The club’s fans and players are commonly called Spurs. Sheffield Wednesday are the Owls, linked to the Owlerton area of Sheffield, where their Hillsborough ground is located. Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires are known as the Xeneizes, a word from the Genoese dialect, because the club was founded by Italian immigrants from Genoa in the La Boca neighborhood.
Adopted and marketing nicknames
Some nicknames were chosen or popularized later. Manchester United became widely known as the Red Devils in the 1960s, when manager Matt Busby adopted the name, which had been used by Salford’s rugby league club, and a devil later appeared on the club crest. Chelsea were long nicknamed the Pensioners, after the Chelsea Pensioners, retired soldiers who live at the nearby Royal Hospital, before the Blues became dominant. Leicester City’s Foxes nickname reflects the region’s fox hunting tradition, and a fox appears on the club crest.
Nicknames with debated origins
Juventus is known as La Vecchia Signora, the Old Lady. The origin is uncertain. One popular explanation is that it was an ironic joke, since the club’s name means youth in Latin, while another links it to the club’s age and status. Everton’s Toffees nickname is usually linked to toffee shops near the club’s early grounds, but accounts differ on which shop and how the name spread. Celtic are known as the Bhoys, a spelling associated with the club’s Irish roots, although the exact origin is debated. When nickname stories vary, reliable club histories are the best source.
Supporter names versus team nicknames
Some names refer mainly to fans rather than teams. Barcelona supporters are called culés, a name linked to fans sitting on the wall of the club’s early ground, while Atlético Madrid fans are also known as colchoneros. In Portugal, Benfica are the Eagles and Porto the Dragons, both names appearing on their crests. In Argentina, River Plate are the Millonarios, a nickname linked to big-money signings in the club’s early years.
Nicknames around the world
Club nicknames are a global tradition. In Brazil, Flamengo are known as Rubro-Negro for their red and black shirts, and Corinthians are affectionately called Timão, meaning big team. In South Africa, Kaizer Chiefs are known as Amakhosi, a Zulu word linked to chiefs or leaders. In Egypt, Al Ahly is often referred to as the Club of the Century, an honor the Confederation of African Football gave it in 2000. In Mexico, Club América are known as Las Águilas, the Eagles, and Guadalajara as Chivas, the goats. Many of these names appear on crests, merchandise and banners, and supporters use them far more often than official club names.
Why nicknames matter
Nicknames are more than labels. They connect clubs to their roots, whether industrial, geographic or cultural, and help create a sense of belonging among supporters. Many are woven into chants, mascots and club badges, and some are protected as trademarks. For newer fans, learning a club’s nickname is often the first step toward understanding its history and identity. Nicknames also travel: supporters abroad often adopt them in fan club names, making them part of a club’s global brand as well as its local heritage.
How to learn club nicknames
- Start with colors, since many nicknames describe kits.
- Look at club crests, which often feature the nickname’s symbol.
- Read club history pages for origins of historic names.
- Listen to commentary and chants, where nicknames are used constantly.
- Check reliable sources when stories conflict.
Common misconceptions
- That Arsenal’s nickname is about guns in general. It comes from the Royal Arsenal munitions works.
- That the Red Devils name is ancient. It was adopted in the 1960s.
- That every nickname has a clear origin. Several, like the Old Lady, are debated.
- That Spurs refers to horse riding. It comes from Harry Hotspur.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Juventus called the Old Lady?
The origin is debated; explanations include an ironic joke on the club’s youthful name.
Why are Arsenal called the Gunners?
The club was founded by workers at the Royal Arsenal munitions factory in Woolwich.
What does Blaugrana mean?
It is Catalan for blue and deep red, the colors of Barcelona’s shirts.
