Ranking which football club has the best fans is difficult. What should you really take into account when judging teams?
- The size of the fan base?
- How passionate the fans are on game day?
- Or, the number of trophies the team has won?
Well, in this top 10, we decided to do a mix of all of these factors. A good fan base has to be loyal, engaged, dedicated, and passionate. But there’s more; the influence that the fans have over the club was also taken into account.
- Borussia Dortmund
- Galatasaray
- Liverpool
- AS Roma
- Barcelona
- Manchester United
- Napoli
- Atletico Madrid
- Real Madrid
- Celtic
10- Celtic FC
Celtic fans are incredible. The atmosphere in the stadium is amazing and provides a unique experience. To say the fans are dedicated is an understatement. Packed stadiums are the norm for this Glasgow outfit, which isn’t an issue when you have an incredible number of followers.
The Catholic origin of the club helped establish this well-defined fanbase and it’s one of the reasons fans are so dedicated to the club. This passion goes beyond the pitch and makes for a unique connection between the supporters and their club.
9-Real Madrid
Real Madrid is one of the biggest clubs in Europe, if not the biggest. The Spanish club has fans all over the world and claims that its fanbase is the biggest one in the world, with a potential global fan base of around half a billion people. Madrid fans often like to remind fans of other Spanish clubs of this fact.
Their fans are dedicated, especially during big games. Usually, the club is a strong candidate to win all the competitions they participate in and when the moment gets complicated their fans never quit on them. This mentality is one of the qualities about both the club and its fans that is greatly admired.
8 -Atlético Madrid
At number eight, we have Atlético de Madrid. Yes, another Spanish club, more precisely another club based in Madrid. Even if their biggest rival, Real Madrid, has won more trophies and has more fans around the world, Atlético fans are really passionate and have always stuck by their club.
With their coach Diego Simeone and their style of play, Atlético gives off the vibes of a South American club. The passion and the energy of the fans is transmitted to the pitch. Even if they have received more funds from investors in recent years, Atlético de Madrid players have been characterised by giving it all during a match.
This is echoed by their fans who remain loud throughout matches, singing songs and providing all forms of musical support.
7- Napoli
Of course, there had to be an Italian club on this list! Napoli is one of the most historical clubs in Italy and the world. Diego Maradona changed this club. Arguably, they are not only the biggest club in Naples, but also the biggest club in southern Italy.
Even if Napoli has won some trophies, they are not the most successful club in Italy. Yet, it’s never easy to beat them, especially at home. Their fans provide vocal support from the stands, which is almost thunderous and can be extremely intimidating for opponents. Winning a game in the Stadio San Paolo is always hard.
6- Manchester United
Manchester United is considered one of the biggest clubs in the world and like Real Madrid, also has fans all over the world. The Alex Ferguson era was the best time for the Manchester United fans as the team was a strong candidate to win in all competitions they participated in.
With high expectations remaining after Ferguson’s retirement, the fans have suffered during the last few years as the club has not been as competitive as they would like. But even with their struggles, the Red Devil’s supporter base remains strong.
Old Trafford still publishes huge attendance numbers with fans constantly pushing the team to be better. Their fans are an example of a loyal and exigent fan base.
5- Barcelona
FC Barcelona is the third Spanish club in this list! The golden era of Barcelona ended relatively recently and this period allowed the team to build a strong fan base. It’s another club with a global fanbase. You really do see Barcelona shirts pop up everywhere!
The motto of Barcelona “Mes Que un club” really gives a unique atmosphere to the stadium. The motto also rings true in that the club is a huge symbol in Cataluña.
Barcelona’s youth academy “La Masia” is very important and their fans prefer that first team players come from this academy. In recent years, it has become one of the club’s identifying qualities. This is confirmed by their style of play, which has been pretty consistent over the years.
4- Liverpool
Liverpool is hugely popular in England and internationally. The anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is an indication of how dedicated their fans are. As with Barcelona’s motto, it indicates the solidarity amongst fans of club and helps give a unique experience that not a lot of other teams can provide.
The fans passion for the club is confirmed with their frenzied support during home games against their biggest rivals, Manchester United. During these games, exchanges between fans can get heated.The players always feel that their fans have their back.
3- AS Roma
With Napoli already appearing on this list, you may already have an idea of how Italians can be really passionate about their clubs. The stadium’s intimidating atmosphere and the team’s ultras show how Roma fans are different.
The loyal supporters have earned huge respect and admiration by the football community. Totti is the perfect embodiment of the loyalty that both players and fans have towards the club. Their fanbase is not as big as other teams but their fans have proved to us that the bond with their club is unique.
2- Galatasaray
Galatasaray is not a club that is hugely popular outside of Turkey. But within the Turkish borders and specially in Istanbul, the team is strongly supported. Their fans are known to create one of the most, if not the most, hostile atmosphere for away teams.
Some international players, such as Ryan Giggs, have admitted that they had never seen anything like it. The only problem is that sometimes their fans can be too excessive. On several occasions, objects have been thrown onto the pitch during games.
Yet, the fans know how to treat the players of the team and sometimes they are even treated as “gods”. With all the tension, the loud fans and their songs, the away team is never comfortable.
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1- Borussia Dortmund
Of course, Borussia Dortmund had to be in first position. The German club has incredible fans and everyone knows it. They are loyal, passionate, and dedicated. During home games, they create an amazing atmosphere.
Their stadium is one of the biggest in Germany and supporters take advantage of this. It can be very intimidating to play at Signal Iduna Park, especially when almost 80 000 seats are filled with only Dortmund fans. According to some statistics, 94% of tickets are sold to home fans.
The Yellow Wall is also something you can’t miss. It’s a combination of admiration and intimidation. Not many teams can provide this passion and energy during a game. Even if Bayern Munich has more trophies, Dortmund have always been a competitive team with wonderful fans who push them forward.
Feyenoord should be top 5
Celtic park should be middle table of the best supporting team