The supporters of Fluminense Football Club are usually related to the upper classes of Rio de Janeiro. However, the popularity of the club reaches beyond the city limits. Recent polls have estimated the number of supporters to be between 1.3% and 3.7% of the Brazilian population. Considering a population of 185 million people, that would account for numbers between 2.73 and 6.84 million.
The best attendance ever observed in a match of Fluminense was registered on December 15, 1963 in a rally against Flamengo. On that day, an impressive amount of 194,000 people showed up at the Maracanã stadium. This occasion remains as the stadium’s record for a match between clubs.
Considering the interstate clashes, the derby against Corinthians is perhaps the most representative among the various confrontations with big Brazilian clubs played for Fluminense, given the fact that these clubs often intersect at decisive moments in their stories, either by the end Rio Cup, the direct contest in several Tournaments Rio-São Paulo since 1940, or by the qualifying rounds of the Championship or Cup of Brazil.
Boca Juniors is traditionally regarded as the club of Argentina’s working class, in contrast with the supposedly more upper-class base of cross-town arch rival Club Atlético River Plate.
Boca Juniors claims to be the club of “half plus one” (la mitad más uno) of Argentina’s population, but a 2006 survey placed its following at 40%, still the largest share. They have the highest number of fans, as judged by percentage in their country.
The Boca-River Superclásicorivalry is one of the most thrilling derbies in the world. Out of their 327 previous meetings, Boca have won 121, River 105 and there have been 101 draws. After each match (except draws), street signs cover Buenos Aires at fans’ own expense, “ribbing” the losing side with humorous posters. This has become part of Buenos Aires culture ever since a Boca winning streak in the 1990s.
Boca fans are known as Los Xeneizes(the Genoese) after the Genoese immigrants who founded the team and lived in La Boca in the early 20th century.
Peñas (fan clubs) exist in a number of Argentine cities and abroad in countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Spain, Israel and Japan.[55]
Boca Juniors are particularly popular in Japan because of the club’s success in recent years at the Intercontinental Cup held in Japan
. All over the world, fans are drawn to Boca by the club’s international titles, and by the success of Boca players who went on to play in European football such as Hugo Ibarra, Rodolfo Arruabarrena, Diego Cagna, Enzo Ferrero, Roberto Abbondanzieri,Nicolás Burdisso, Fernando Gago, Diego Maradona, Claudio Caniggia, Gabriel Batistuta, Juan Román Riquelme and Carlos Tévez.
Boca have fans throughout Latin America and also in parts of the United States where there has been Latin immigration and where in July 2007, after the club had toured pre-season, it was reported that the club were considering the possibility of creating a Boca Juniors USA team to compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) with New York City, Miami, Los Angeles and Arizonamentioned as possible locations.
Olympiakos fans are renowned for their passionate and fervent support to their team, with the atmosphere at home matches regarded as intimidating.
Olympiakos traditional fanbase comes from the city of Piraeus, where the club is based, as well as a good part of the rest of the Athens area.
The club’s popularity increased during the 1950s after winning consecutive titles and setting several records, and they became the best-supported football club in the country.
Olympiakos used to represent the working class, but the club has always attracted fans from all the social classes and their fanbase is not associated with any specific social group anymore.
Traditionally, Olympiakos ’ main rival is Panathinaikos and their so-called derby of the eternal enemies is the classic rivalry in the Athens area and Greek football in general. The two teams are the most successful and most popular Greek football clubs, and the rivalry is also indicative of social, cultural and regional differences.
Napoli is the fourth most supported football club in Italy with around 8% of Italian football fans supporting the club. Like other top clubs in the country, Napoli’s fanbase goes beyond the Italian border; it has been estimated by the club that there are around 5 to 6 million fans worldwide.
Napoli have several rivalries, the most significant of which is with Roma. In terms of location Napoli and Roma are quite close, together they compete in the Derby del Sole (“Derby of the Sun”), a rivalry which was at its peak in the 1980s. There are also strong rivalries with Lazio and Hellas Verona, as well as local Campanian ones with Salernitana and Avellino.
Conversely, the fans of Napoli have a long standing friendship with Genoa, which goes back to 1982, and with Palermo and Catania. On the last day of the 2006–07 season, the club drew 0–0 with Genoa ensuring both were promoted back into Serie A; Genoa ultras could be seen holding up banners saying “Benvenuto fratello napoletano“, meaning “Welcome, Neapolitan brother”.
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney’s spectacular overhead kick against Manchester City has been voted the greatest goal in the history of the English Premier League.
Rooney’s strike, which sealed a 2-1 derby victory for United at Old Trafford in February 2011, was on a shortlist of 10 goals in a poll organized by the Premier League to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Luis Suarez scored a magnificent goal from almost 50 yards to complete a brilliant hat-trick in a 3-0 Premier League win for Liverpool against Norwich City at Carrow Road.
The Uruguayan struck twice in the space of four minutes midway through the first half to put the Reds in command.
Former Marseille striker Bakary Kone scored a fantastic goal after a thrilling team workout. Lekhwiya avenged the late defeat that they suffered at the hand …
