The construction of the Royal Hospital in the Chelsea area began on March 11, 1682. In addition to the main purpose, it also became a nursing home for former military personnel. Then no one could even think that this event would give the nickname to the “blue” team in London. In Russia, Chelsea are called «aristocrats». In England, they say «pensioners» much more often. It is because of the neighborhood with the Royal Hospital. Sports tells the story of football clubs' most unusual nicknames.
Kangaroos from Prague
An unusual animal flaunts on the emblem of the Czech Bohemians. Kangaroo doesn't seem like the most obvious choice for a European club. But only until the moment when you learn a little more about the team.In 1927, an offer came from Australia to hold a friendly match against Czechoslovakia. The final meeting did not take place, however, a club from the Prague district of Vrsovice went to the Green Continent. For the sake of the tour, the team even changed its name to «Bohemians», which translates as «Czechs». 19 matches (14 wins, two draws, three losses). The players brought home two kangaroos as a gift to the President of Czechoslovakia, Tomas Masaryk. From that moment on, this beast appeared on the emblem of the team. We also decided to keep the name that was used during the tour.
Now the club continues to play in the elite division of the Czech championship. Ex-soldier Tomasz Necid, familiar to Russian fans, plays in its composition. And the president of the club is the man whose «invention» hurt the fans of the Russian national team in 2018 — Antonin Panenka. .jpg»/
Flying Donkeys
Football clubs «Verona» and «Chievo» for many years «share» one city. Of course, this turned into a fundamental confrontation. Verona performed much more successfully than its neighbors. The team often played in the top division, and in 1985 even became the champion of Italy.History “Chievo” looks more modest. The club managed to reach Serie D (the fourth division) only in 1975. In addition, the team played at the home stadium of principal rivals. Of course, Verona fans could not do without jokes. One of them was the phrase «Rather donkeys start flying than Chievo will be in Serie A».
Laughed about it until 2001. It was then that the team made its debut in the major leagues. The club immediately took fifth place, and in the next two seasons they stayed in the top 10. Very sad fans of «Verona» was in 2002. Their favorites were relegated and did not appear in Serie A for 11 years. For «Chievo» the nickname «Flying donkeys» was fixed.
However, the story did not have a happy ending. In 2019, Chievo left Serie A, and then financial difficulties began. In the summer of 2021, the team was disbanded. Although the fans did not have to grieve for a long time. In September of the same year, the club was re-established under the name Chievo 2021. A new «flight» to Serie A has begun.
What are the «Arabs» doing in Scotland?
Dundee United are known by the nickname «the tangerines» because of the distinctive color of the kit and logo. In this case, the team is also called «Arabs». Why? In December 1963, the club faced a problem that is well known to Russian football. Dundee United were due to play a home game, but heavy weather caused the pitch to freeze over. To save the situation, they sprinkled it with sand. The fans immediately had an association with the desert and the Arabs.
However, this is far from the only fact worth knowing about. In 1966, the team reached European competition for the first time in history. In a two-legged confrontation, the club knocked Barcelona out of the Fairs Cup with a total score of 4:1 (2:0, 2:1).
After 20 years, the rivals met again. If you think that the Catalans have taken revenge, then you are mistaken. «Dundee» reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup, winning with a total score of 3:1 (1:0, 2:1).
Now the team continues to play in the top flight of Scotland. Who knows, maybe soon there will be a new chance to upset your beloved opponent.
Gnomes on the football field
The club from the city of Genk was doomed to receive the nickname «miners» or » miners» due to the developed coal industry. Of course, it didn't work without it. However, the team has another rather unexpected name.Some people call «Genk» «Smurfs», because of the club's colors — blue and white. The club was founded in 1988. His appearance was at the peak of the popularity of cartoon blue gnomes. In the 80s they released an animated series based on comics, and in the 90s they released games on the «Game Boy» and «Super Nintendo».
In a short history, the team became the Belgian champion four times. She also won the National Cup five times, and the Super Bowl twice.
The case in the cap
In Russia, too, not without nicknames. If «meat», «horses» and others are still widely known among fans, then many have already forgotten about the performance of «caps» in the RPL.
In 1997, the Torpedo-ZIL team appeared in Moscow. In 2001, she reached the major leagues, but soon changed her name. At first the club was renamed into «Torpedo-Metallurg», then — into «Moscow». Later, President Yuri Belous said that the last name required permission from the interdepartmental commission. The influence of Yuri Luzhkov helped to significantly speed up the process.
The mayor of the capital regularly attended the matches of the team. The club got a nickname in honor of the attribute that everyone associated with Luzhkov.
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"He asked me what the team would be called, except for the official version. I replied that journalists write «citizens», and the fans say «caps» or «beekeepers». Luzhkov smiled and said: «Well, good,» Belous later shared.
In 2005, Moscow became the first RPL club for Leonid Slutsky. With him, the team showed the best results, finishing fifth, sixth and fourth. Despite this, in 2007 the coach was fired.
The history of «Moscow» was short-lived. After the 2009 season, the team announced that they would not participate in the next Russian championship due to financial problems. The club spent another year in the amateur league, after which it ceased to exist.
