Whether it be due to location, a historical event or, quite often, for social and political reasons, the concept of a footballing rivalry is what maintains the huge interest and appeal in the sport. Every team in the world is bound up in a supposed hatred of another side. The majority of footballing rivalries stem from local feuds. Those derbies, though, can be taken to extremes due to religious or, as mentioned, political differences.
This is a diverse list of the greatest rivalries in football. Some are fierce between rival supporters off-the-pitch with the on-field action taking a back seat whilst some have only been created due to the success of the two teams.
DER KLASSIKER: Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund in Germany
This one is an example of a rivalry being formed due to the on-pitch success and quality of the sides, rather than an off-the-field hatred between the supporters. That isn’t to say there is no animosity between the two sets of fans, though. Bayern Munich are quite widely disliked in Germany as a dominant force in one country tends to be. A representation of wealth and power that is criticised by a Borussia Dortmund fan base that prides itself on the close connection and relationship they have with the players they follow.
This rivalry is more of an on-pitch battle, though, with Borussia Dortmund’s Revierderby against Schalke taking the crown as Germany’s biggest derby. For the purpose of variety in this article, though, the modern day’s two most successful clubs going at it in Der Klassiker is worth mentioning.
DER KLASSIEKER: Ajax vs Feyenoord in the Netherlands
Despite also being known as “The Classic”, Ajax and Feyenoord’s rivalry is a more fierce depiction of footballing feuds. This is a match between two sides that attempt to embody the city in which they come from. Quite simply and well put would be to describe it as the artists of Amsterdam against the workers of Rotterdam. That is a cultural perspective but also one that is reflected on the pitch, or at least is suggested.
Ajax are known for their free-flowing style of play that focuses on the notion of “Total Football” instilled and perpetuated by Johan Cruyff whilst Feyenoord, much like the reputation of Rotterdam, leans more to a direct and pragmatic style of football. Aside from the philosophical meaning of the rivalry, it has been one of the more violent games in football’s history as well. Throughout the rivalry’s recent history it has been the subject of banning orders on the whole of a travelling away support due to the quite extreme level of violence at games between the two. Riots, arson and the attacking of opposition players in a reserve team match have all been just some of the recent incidents between the two.
A famous Dutch saying goes: “while Amsterdam dreams, Rotterdam works”.
THE NORTH-WEST DERBY: Liverpool vs Manchester United in England
Much like Der Klassieker in the Netherlands, this rivalry is as much cultural as it is on the pitch. Manchester and Liverpool, as cities, have shared a mutual dislike of each other and rivalries between the two cities goes beyond football. The two major cities in the historical boundaries in the county of Lancashire share a lot of similar traits and tendencies, yet the inhabitants have always been bound by rivalry.
The rivalry is widely understood to have begun when Mancunian merchants decided to construct the Manchester Ship Canal because it would be a more affordable way of exporting and importing goods; it was an idea opposed by Liverpool’s politicians and raised tensions between the dockers and labourers of each city.
This match, specifically, is considered the biggest rivalry in England with the large hatred of each other accompanied by genuinely impressive on-pitch successes. They are the two most successful clubs in England and it remains one of, if not the, most hotly anticipated fixture in the English calendar – even if the excitement of the actual match tends to be a let-down, in recent seasons.
DERBY D’ITALIA: Inter Milan vs Juventus in Italy
This is another rivalry that has been born out of an on-the-pitch dislike due to the successes of both clubs. That isn’t to say it hasn’t been mired in scandal, though.
There has been a long-standing mutual dislike between the two sets of supporters and the fixture itself has always been a rivalry. It has, however, taken on a new meaning and level of importance this century. Calciopoli saw Juventus relegated for crimes involving influencing match officials and the league and Inter were the recipients of one of the two titles that Juve were stripped of. However, Inter were also accused of the same crimes as the Old Lady and conspiracy theories, as ever in Italian football, remain rife as to why certain punishments were handed to some clubs and not to others.
Since then, there has been two spells of dominance in Italy with Inter winning four successive titles after being handed one and Juventus then winning nine in a row after a year in which AC Milan won the title under future two-time Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri.
Now, it remains one of the fiercest rivalries on the pitch and, with Inter the reigning champions, it looks set to be another season whereby the derby of Italy is decisive in the title race.
EL CLASICO: Barcelona vs Real Madrid in Spain
Culture often plays a part in the formation of a footballing rivalry and whilst the cultural differences remain important in this clash, it is more a political divide that provides the backdrop to, arguably, football’s biggest match.
Catalonia vs Castilla will forever be a divisive topic. It is a match between those that believe they are on the side of the people and fighting for independence away from the regime and the state that seeks to control. Football can often be the encapsulation of or tool for a greater message and cause. This match is an example of that.
From the 11-1 in 1943 to Basque dominance in the 80’s, a pig’s head thrown at Luis Figo and all the way through to the early 2010’s run of Spring Clasico’s between Jose Mourinho’s Madrid and Pep Guardiola’s Barca. El Clasico remains at the forefront of the footballing world; albeit this summer’s loss of Leo Messi, a few years after Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure, highlights the fact it might not actually be the most important match in Spain’s title race anymore.
EL GRAN DERBI: Real Betis vs Sevilla in Spain
Whilst El Clasico remains a rivalry between Spain’s two biggest clubs and it is a rivalry that is built upon a hatred, of sorts; it isn’t a geographical derby, and it’s arguably not the game with the most hate and derision between the two sets of supporters.
Andalusia is known as the ‘frying pan of Spain’ due to the extreme climate throughout the majority of the year. It is the quintessential stereotype of what Spain is in England. Dusty, hot, flamenco and Tapas. It also hosts the most fiercely competed local derby in the country: Sevilla vs Real Betis.
As ever with a footballing rivalry, it stems from political divide. Internal politics, though. Sevilla FC split inside the club and that led to the formation of Sevilla Balompie, which eventually merged with Betis Football Club to become Real Betis Balompie.
Two of the best stadiums in football, the Benito Villamarin and Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, play host to an aggressive and fiery derby that matches the stereotyped culture of its region.
INTERCONTINENTAL DERBY: Fenerbahce vs Galatasaray in Turkey
In this article, there is no rivalry that stretches beyond borders. All ten of the chosen fixtures involve teams from the same country; as does this one. The hint in the game’s title will give it away, though; they aren’t in the same continent.
It is the only ‘local derby’ that pits two teams against each other from different continents. Galatasaray are based and represent the European side of the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul whilst Fenerbahce are on the Asian side. There were once plans to merge the teams but that never happened.
Hooliganism is a problem, and always has been, in Turkish football and the two biggest sides in Turkey represent no difference to that. Murder, rioting and fighting do and have occurred across the entire country, not least in the city itself.
URUGUAYAN CLASICO: Nacional vs Penarol in Uruguay
Clasico del futbol Uruguayo was first played in 1900. This 121-year-old rivalry is between, as ever, the two most successful teams in their country: Nacional and Penarol (Penarol were formerly known as “CURCC” – Central Uruguay Railway Cricket Club). That is a complicated story, though, and controversy remains as to whether or not Penarol continued CURCC’s general legacy or whether it is a different club entirely.
The Montevideo-based fixture has its rivalry stem from British workers who formed CURCC and the general dislike of that over time. Argentinian cricket, for example, collapsed when Argentina and New Zealand were fairly equal in terms of quality because a British sport was marginalised due to the reputation of Britain and the want to get away from colonialist ideas.
The idea that this is why the rivalry was created between Nacional and Penarol can be shown by Miguel Prudencio Reyes Viola, Nacional’s one-time employee, becoming a cult hero for shouting “Arriba Nacional” on the touchline; a phrase out of touch with the British influence.
SUPERCLASICO: Boca Juniors vs River Plate in Argentina
In 2018, Boca Juniors and River Plate were set to meet in the Copa Libertadores final for the first time ever. It was set to be a two-legged affair, as always. However, the match was mired in controversy and scandal as the second leg had to moved to the Bernabeu in Madrid due to crowd trouble as the players attempted to arrive at Monumental for River’s home leg. Boca’s coach was attacked, leaving several players with injuries and genuine fears for their safety led to its postponement – twice.
It was the Superclasico super final that had already been hyped to unprecedented levels in Europe and the UK for a South American fixture; it wasn’t supposed to pan out how it did. It was, though, a brilliant explanation and outline of just how fierce the rivalry is – for anyone that didn’t know.
It is, as ever, a rivalry born out of politics. The two sides were formed in the working-class docklands of La Boca in Buenos Aires but River moved to the affluent, upper-class area of Nunez in 1925 and have since took on the nickname “Los Millonarios”.
It is regularly and often described as the biggest derby and rivalry in the world.
THE OLD FIRM DERBY: Celtic vs Rangers in Scotland
Hatred. It’s more than just two sets of football supporters disliking the other. This is two sets of people that hate each other’s beliefs and values.
Celtic are the team whereby, traditionally, their supporters have been Irish-Scots that support and represent Ireland and Catholicism. Rangers, on the other hand, would quite literally be viewed as the opposite, being typically Protestant, Loyalist and Conservative.
Dilution in importance in terms of the results of the matches is an issue for the rivalry with the format and structure of Scottish football meaning the two sides will definitely meet three times in the league, four times if they avoid a historical and almost impossible collapse in form as well as any potential cup matches in the campaign; which are likely due to their dominance over the domestic competitions in Scotland.
England’s second-city derby, Egypt’s Cairo derby, the derby of the eternal enemies in Greece… there are so many historical and storied encounters between teams throughout the world. It adds a unique level to football as the level of hatred and animosity that is often shared in these matches isn’t reflected in other sports. It is a sport that can mirror general aspects of life – and all of the intricacies and complexities within it. Triviality provoking anger and socio-political issues ‘meaning more’ highlight the extreme nuances of day-to-day being; all captured and explored by a 90-minute game in which one team tries to kick it in a net more times than the other one.
