AuthorSports Billy There’s no denying that certain clubs out there are a lot “cooler” than others; however, how do these sides differentiate from other more “mundane” and mainstream sides out there? Now I don’t want to sound like a tragic parent by using the word “cool”, but I couldn’t think of a better word that sums up that certain something that some teams have. Is it a kit that makes a club cool? Some of the world’s great sides hold a certain mystique due to their iconic strip – a uniform so distinct and unusual that just seeing it conjures up memories of amazing past performances. Is it the players that make a club cool? Does a team become cool because it is littered with a galaxy full of stars or are they cool because a side is full of “no-names” that constantly put in honest performances?
Is a stadium the key to a club begin considered cool? Are past memorable matches or performances over a season what makes a club cool? Now defining which teams are “cool” is completely subjective, but for me some of the sides I consider cool are: FC St Pauli Now I know that this could be considered a real hipster shout, especially given the stance that the club has in terms of social matters (promoting equality for women, tolerance towards homosexuals, campaigns to destroy fascism etc – which is very cool in itself and a breath of fresh air in the cesspit that is football), but for me the reason I first thought they were cool was when I saw their kit – they predominantly play in brown and red, two colours that DO NOT go together, but when I saw their camouflaged away kit from 2005-2006, I thought that was excitingly different and that made them cool. Their kits have continued to challenge since then in terms of ever changing design and all manner of unusual and “trendy” sponsors. It also helps that the clubs alternative badge is a skull and crossbones! They also manage to be a cool side even despite playing the majority of their football in the German 2nd division. New York Cosmos Considering that football, or soccer, in the US was a minority sport in the 1970s the North American Soccer Leagues (NASL) Cosmos managed to attract some of the global games biggest stars to come and play for them, with two of these big names being Pele and Beckenbaur. These two legends, combined with the iconic green kit and contemporary badge design puts them firmly in the “cool” category for me. Playing in New York City also provides a layer of cool to them. Athletic Bilbao They are one of the 3 founding members of the Spanish Premier Division (the others being Real Madrid and FC Barcelona). They have never been relegated from the top flight. They are the 4th most successful club in Spain. They are one of only 3 sides in Spain that are owned by its members, and since its foundation the club has played exclusively with Basque players (as that’s the region in which they are based). All the aforementioned reasons make this team very cool. River Plate Two reasons make this team very cool. First, it’s the iconic kit - white shirt with the red sash across it. It’s an unmistakable kit that’s recognised the world over (along with their cross city rivals Boca). Secondly, some of the world’s best players have come from River Plate having started their career there, with examples being Higuain, Aimar, Saviola to mention just a few! Seattle Sounders A relatively new side when compared to the others in this list, but worthy of the mention nonetheless. They play in green, which although should be awful, is actually pretty cool. They play in an amazing stadium and are located in Seattle – one of the United States coolest cities. Djimi Traore also once scored an absolute thunder bastard of a goal for them too as season or so back, which no other team can ever boast of! Arsenal Yes, they may not have won the league for 10 years and they are struggling this season all over the place (despite making the FA Cup Final this morning), but Arsenal have an aura about them that’s just cool. They are from a cool part of London, their kit is iconic, and compared to other debt ridden big sides, they are a well-run outfit. Saying things like that, don’t expect to see me on Arsenal Fan TV giving my opinion anytime soon! Ajax For me, despite being a Liverpool fan, Ajax are THE coolest side. I was lucky enough to see them win the Champions League in ‘95 with a side that was home to some amazing players and some equally amazing performances. That season they won the European Cup they boasted the likes of Van der Sarr, Blind, Reiziger, the de Boers, Kluivert, George, Overmars, Seedorf and Davids! Legends of the game one and all. They were also home to the late great Cruyf for a number of years, introduced the notion of total football, and along with Arsenal have one of the world’s most iconic shirts. They also produced Dennis Bergkamp. Enough said! Honourable mentions for cool clubs must also go to Roma (Totti, the kit, Rome!), Juventus (the kit, the history, the name “the old lady”), Fulham (the original cool club in the 60s and 70s from a very cool part of London), Orlando Pirates (Garrrrrr!) and finally Atletico National (for their involvement with Pablo Escobar!). Dortmund and the Portland Timbers don’t make the list as they have become too cool and crossed over in to official Hipster territory! What other clubs would you consider ‘cool’? |
AuthorsJust Some Fans Writing About Football. Archives
June 2018
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