Regardless of whether you follow football at grassroots level in the United Kingdom or are a regular at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, football songs and anthems will be heard in abundance. Hundreds of fanbases across the planet will all claim to have the “best” or “most iconic” anthem in all of football but they can't all be right, can they?
So, what are the most famous football anthems? Let's take a look…
The ten most famous football anthems
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Roma, Roma, Roma – AS Roma
In tenth place, and certainly not because it isn't one that gets the juices flowing, is AS Roma's aptly named “Roma Roma Roma.” It was composed by Antonello Venditti and is an emotionally charged song about not only the football club but the City of Rome, too. It's effectively one big love letter to the Eternal City and when a packed-out Stadio Olimpico belts it out pre-match, it makes you believe anything is possible.
Marching on Together – Leeds United
Marching on Together has been sung by home fans at Elland Road ever since 1972 when the club reached the FA Cup final. The original recording of the song was sung by squad members from the 1972 team, as well as supporters and it proved so popular that the Leeds faithful have sung it every week ever since. Not only is the song played before every home match, but it is also heard as the teams come back out after half time.
Stern des Sudens – Bayern Munich
Stern des Sudens, which translates to “Star of the South” is the unofficial anthem of Bayern Munich with the lyrics reflecting Bavarian culture and the club's dominance of German football. The chorus is instantly recognisable for anyone who has ever visited the Allianz Arena with the upbeat and heavy nature of the song incredibly catchy. One of the loudest renditions of the song came before the 2013 Champions League final at Wembley when Bayern overcame Borussia Dortmund.
Blue Moon – Manchester City
Compared to other anthems on this list, Blue Moon hasn't been sung by Manchester City fans for nearly as long which is why it doesn't find itself higher. For whatever reason, City fans decided to adopt the song in 1990 during a match against Liverpool at Anfield 60 years after it was first released.
The song has since become City's anthem with fans now singing it before every home game at the Etihad Stadium. Sometimes, the club will even put on a light show to accompany it or speed the original up to encourage more enthusiasm.
Manchester United Calypso – Manchester United
Unlike their biggest rivals, Manchester United don't have a pre-match anthem that they religiously sing before every home game. However, the Manchester United Calypso is undoubtedly the club's most famous and iconic song and when sung at the right speed and tempo is one of the best anthems out there. The song has transcended generations with it first being sung on the terraces at Old Trafford in the 1950s as an ode to Matt Busby and his Babes.
Hala Madrid – Real Madrid
Hala Madrid is more than just a token phrase that new signings make whenever they sign for the club and are presented in front of the Bernabeu. It's actually the name of the club's anthem and its chorus is often heard at the end of Real Madrid games after they've achieved a positive result. The melody is stirring and just encapsulates the mystique and inevitability of Real Madrid as a winning machine.
I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles – West Ham
Despite not being as big a football club as many of the others on this list, there is no denying that “I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles” is one of the most famous and iconic football anthems in the world. The concept of a bubble-blowing machine being used while the players walk out of the tunnel is alien to most but it works and helps to create a formidable atmosphere.
It's one of the longest-standing anthems on this list with the club's association with the song dating back to the 1920s.
Cant del Barca – Barcelona
Barcelona are blessed with the largest football stadium in Europe and when all 99,000 fans at the Camp Nou are serenading their players with Cant del Barca, the world stops to listen. The song was released in 1974 to commemorate the 75th birthday of the football club and it has stuck with the Barca faithful ever since. The lyrics are about what Barcelona means as a sporting institution and to remind those who don the famous shirt that they represent more than just a football club.
Football's Coming Home – England
Somehow, the gimmicky football song “Footballing' Coming Home” released by David Baddiell and Frank Skinner in 1996 has become a monster of a football anthem. The song was originally about Euro 96 being held in England 30 years after the Three Lions won the World Cup, also on home soil. It should have just been a one-off hit but fans have made it the go-to song for every single international tournament England now play in.
You'll Never Walk Alone – Celtic and Liverpool
The most famous football anthem in the world is “You'll Never Walk Alone”. While plenty of clubs have sung this over the years (who sang it first is an argument for another day), the two clubs who are most synonymous with it are Liverpool and Celtic. The singing of You'll Never Walk Alone before big European matches at Anfield and Celtic Park is anticipated almost as highly as the football with countless players and managers over the years crediting the song for giving them the push they needed to get over the line.
You'll Never Walk Alone at Liverpool
You'll Never Walk Alone at Celtic
Other incredible football anthems worth watching
Ajax – Three Little Birds
Sheffield United – Greasy Chip Butty
Hibernian – Sunshine on Leith
Perhaps less famous worldwide, it really doesn't get better than Hibs fans singing Sunshine on Leith. And the greatest ever rendition came after the Scottish Cup final in 2016. You can hear the emotion bursting out of a green-and-white end, celebrating a first competition win since 1902 after nine consecutive defeats in the final.
Spine-tingling international football anthems
Welsh football anthem
Sweet Caroline – England
Argentina football anthem