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 15 most famous football anthems
Roma, Roma, Roma – AS Roma
Starting off the list, 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.
One issue with this one is that Stadio Olimpico is very rarely sold out. While fans did turn up in their droves when Jose Mourinho was at the club, attendances are usually poor which makes it difficult for the anthem to reverberate around the stadium.
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.
While the sped-up version is largely disliked by the club's supporters, the slower version does have the potential to get the hairs raising on the back of your neck, particularly on a European night at the Etihad Stadium.
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. If you've ever marvelled at a Man Utd away end, then it is likely that this is a song that the travelling Red Army have been singing on loop for a prolonged period.
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. The song reached international prominence during the Hammer's Europa Conference League run in 2022/23 when they went all the way to win the club's first-ever European trophy.
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. Interestingly, one of the best renditions of Cant del Barca in recent times came at the Olympic Stadium before the 2023/24 home El Clasico. Barcelona have temporarily moved into the stadium while Camp Nou renovations take place.
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
Juventus – Storia Di Un Grande Amore
Juventus are undeniably one of the largest football clubs in Europe, so it’s no surprise that their popular anthem, “Storia Di Un Grande Amore,” features prominently. Only those who have experienced a match at the Allianz Arena in Turin can fully appreciate the significance of this song to the Old Lady when playing at home.
Storia Di Un Grande Amore is an essential part of the club's support base, especially in the intense atmosphere it creates when opponents visit one of Italy's most iconic stadiums. Often described as a heartfelt and emotional song, Storia Di Un Grande Amore won a contest in 2005, becoming a popular anthem among millions of Juventus supporters.
Galatasaray – Galatasaray Masi
When discussing legendary Turkish football clubs, Galatasaray certainly stand out, especially known for having the best anthem. Playing at Rams Park can be a challenging experience for most visiting teams; it often feels like a nightmare. This is particularly true when fans sing “Galatasaray Masi” in unison before kick-off, creating an electrifying atmosphere. For that, Galatasaray is renowned as the Conqueror of Europe for a reason.
Atletico Madrid – Himno Atletico de Madrid
You would be mistaken to ignore Atletico Madrid when it comes to football clubs with the best anthems. Despite not being as successful as their city rivals, Atleti have become a football powerhouse in Spain, especially since Diego Simeone took over the reins at Civitas Metropolitano in 2011.
Himno Atletico de Madrid is one theme song that Atletico Madrid fans have sung for many years now and it ranks highly among the best football anthems in the world today.
Late-night matches at Civitas Metropolitano become a nightmare for visiting teams when Atleti fans resort to chorusing Himno Atletico de Madrid.
Arsenal – North London Forever
While the vast majority of anthems on this list go back decades, Arsenal's ‘North London Forever' is an anthem that has only become synonymous with the club in the last couple of years. The song was officially released by Louis Dunford in 2022 as a love letter to his hometown, Islington, North London.
Very quickly after that, the club started to play the song before kick-off at home matches at the Emirates Stadium, and it didn't take long for fans to join in with the chorus with scarves aloft, much in the same way Liverpool fans do before matches with You'll Never Walk Alone.
Due to the recency of the anthem, many fans have used it as a stick to beat Arsenal fans with, labelling it ‘manufactured'. However, all of the anthems on this list started somewhere and were once ‘new'.
Sevilla – Himno Centenario
Loosely translated as “Centennial Anthem,” Sevilla's Himno Centenario is more popular in European competitions than in La Liga, and for good reason. Sevilla are renowned as the legends of the Europa League, having won the tournament a record seven times. The club's theme song, Himno Centenario, has always been the centrepiece of their success, especially during those memorable nights when fans passionately sing along to the lyrics of this beloved anthem.
“Himno Centenario” is not only an emotional anthem for Sevilla but also a celebration of victory. The song was released by local Spanish artist El Arrebato in 2005 and was quickly embraced by Sevilla fans as their club anthem. During home games, “Himno Centenario” is sung before every match by both fans and players.
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
Wales fans had the time of their lives at Euro 2016 when their country defied all odds by making it to the semi-final of the tournament. However, their performances on the pitch weren't the only thing that caught the eye, with the fans' renditions of the Welsh national anthem also spectacular.
Sweet Caroline – England
It's fair to say that England's official national anthem, ‘God Save the King', is far from the most inspiring anthem in the world. So much so that Sweet Caroline has effectively become the football team's ‘unofficial' anthem in recent times.
Argentina football anthem
The Argentine national anthem couldn't be further from ‘God Save the King' in that it really does get the juices flowing. Their rendition of it before the World Cup final in 2022 was spine-tingling, as you can see in the video below.