The atmosphere at football games has always been a big part of turning up to matches. Over the years some clubs have earned reputations for having either great or quiet atmospheres but one thing cannot be denied – all clubs have come up with a funny chant or two over the years.
Here’s a list of some classics we’ve heard in the Premier League over the years:
Dele Alli
Dele Alli was a superstar for Tottenham Hotspur last season and the Spurs have a chant for the young Englishman, taking a shot at rivals Arsenal for splashing out £42.5 million for Mesut Özil whilst their number 10 cost only £5 million in comparison:
“We’ve got Alli,
Dele Alli,
I just don’t think you understand.
He only cost 5 mil,
He’s better than Özil,
We’ve got Dele Alliiiiiiii.”
[Tune: Billy Ray Cyrus – Achy Breaky Heart]
Robert Huth
German centre-back Robert Huth was a hit with Stoke City fans for many years until his departure to Leicester City. Standing at 6’3” he was a useful defender for Tony Pulis’ attacking set pieces and he was capable of playing a few long balls too. The Potters fans used to chant this:
“Huth! There it is”
[Tune: Tag Team – Whoomp! There it is]
Carlton Cole
Carlton Cole spent nine seasons in two spells at West Ham and despite the striker having a poor goals ratio and often being useless in front of goal, the Hammers fans had a special chant for him:
“Carlton Cole!
Always believe in yourself,
You’ve got the power to show,
You’re indestructible,
Always believe iiiiiin,
Carlton Cole!”
[Tune: Spandau Ballet – Gold]
Park Ji-sung
Something Manchester United used to chant about their South Korean star, Park Ji Sung wasn’t politically correct but went down well with the fans:
“Park, Park wherever you may be,
You eat dogs in your home country,
Could be worse,
You could be Scouse,
Eating rats in your council house.”
[Tune: She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain]
Christian Benteke
Prior to selling him to Liverpool, Aston Villa had a catchy chant for Belgian striker Christian Benteke back when he was scoring the goals to keep them in the Premier League:
“There’s a striker,
A Belgian striker called Christian Benteke”
[Tune: The Lion Sleeps Tonight]
Rudy Gestede
Aston Villa’s to attempt to replace Christian Benteke was by bringing in Rudy Gestede from the Championship. The 6’4” striker failed to deliver for the Villans before he was sold to Middlesbrough a few weeks ago. Fans of the West Midlands club did have this excellent chant for him though:
“Up front for Villa we’ve got Rudy Gestede,
With his big crazy hair,
He’s class in the air,
He leaps like a salmon,
Jump with him if you dare…
Rudy Rudy Rudy, ahhhhh ahhhhh,
Do ya, do ya, do ya do ya ahhh ahhh”
[Tune: Kaiser Chiefs – Ruby]
Mauricio Pochettino
When Mauricio Pochettino first arrived in England with Southampton in January 2013 he used a translator to speak to reporters. However, the Argentine began speaking English following his move to Tottenham Hotspur in May 2014 to which Saints fans responded with the following chant:
“Where’s your translator gone?”
Steven Gerrard
Liverpool needed seven points from their final three games to win the 2013-14 Premier League title. They finished the season with games against struggling Crystal Palace and Newcastle United but had Chelsea before. A Chelsea side who would be coming to Anfield either side of their UEFA Champions League semi-final matches against Atlético Madrid.
Brendan Rodgers’ side had very short football betting odds to avoid defeat, but at 0-0, captain Steven Gerrard slipped in midfield to set up Demba Ba one-on-one through which he gave his side the lead as Chelsea went on to win 2-0 and Liverpool finish second. The following season every team was chanting this at the former Reds captain:
“Steve Gerrard, Gerrard,
“He slipped on his f****** a***
“And gave it to Demba Ba,
“Steve Gerrard, Gerrard”
He subsequently left for the MLS.
The Touré Brothers
One of the most popular chants in recent times came from Manchester City fans towards current player Yaya Touré and his brother Kolo, who used to play for the club:
“Kolo, Kolo Kolo, Kolo Kolo, Kolo Touré,
Yaya, Yaya Yaya, Yaya Yaya, Yaya Touré…”
[Tune: No Limits – 2 Unlimited]
Bobby Zamora
Bobby Zamora was a popular figure down on the south coast at the start of the millennium as his goals helped fire Brighton and Hove Albion up through the fourth and third tiers of English football in back-to-back seasons. The Seagulls’ fans came up with a popular chant to the tune of Dean Martin’s That’s Amore:
“When the ball hits the goal,
It’s not Shearer or Cole,
It’s Zamora!”
After unsuccessful spells with Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham in the Premier League, Fulham took a gamble on him. It didn’t take long for their fans to realise the striker was useless at finding the back of the net in the top flight either and adapted the Brighton chant to this:
“When the ball hits your head,
And you’re sat in row Z,
That’s Zamora!”
[Tune: Dean Martin – That’s Amore]
Arsenal fans to Stoke
Two years ago whilst Arsenal were thrashing Stoke City at the Emirates, a message over the tannoy system announced to the away fans that trains back up north had been delayed. Arsenal taunted the Stoke fans with this chant:
“3-0 you can’t go home!”
Birmingham City to Aston Villa
Birmingham City had a rare venture in Europe during the 2011-12 season after winning the League Cup the previous season. During their four away trips around Europe they taunted their Second City rivals Aston Villa, despite actually playing Championship football themselves at the time:
“The city’s all yours,
The City’s all yours,
While we’re in Europe,
The city’s all yours!”
