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R/£ The world's greatest soccer derbies
November 15, 2008 Edition 1
50 - Gremio v Internacional
Gremio was founded by the huge community of German immigrants to the southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre in 1903 and the team was restricted to immigrants. Internacional started in 1909, opening their doors to all, so early derbies were all about Germans against the local masses.
49 - Tenerife v Las Palmas
Both teams are based in the Canary Islands which, although they are just off the coast of Morocco, belong to Spain. Away games see both clubs making long flights to the mainland, but on derby day fans hop on ferries and hovercrafts for the trip between Tenerife and Grand Canaria.
48 - Mohun Bagan v East Bengal
India's big derby draws crowds of 120,000 to Calcutta's Salt Lake stadium. Mohun Bagan, founded in 1889, is the country's oldest club while East Bengal was formed in 1920. Mohun Bagan, playing in bare feet, won their first league title in 1911.
47 - Sarajevo v Zeljeznicar
Incidents are few at this derby in Sarajevo in the young Bosnian league, due mainly to the terrible siege and civil war that led to independence in the 1990s. Both clubs' grounds were practically battle fields during the war with the pitches having to be cleared of landmines before matches.
46 - Asec Abidjan v Africa Sports
These two sides, both founded in 1948, dominate the Ivory Coast league with either taking the top two places for the past 23 seasons.
45 - Anderlecht v Club Brugge
Two of Belgium's top clubs are split - as is the nation - between French and Flemish speaking communities. Brussels-based Anderlecht is French and ruled during the 1950s and 60s while Flemish Brugge won the league three years on the trot in the 70s.
44 - FC Copenhagen v Brondby
Denmark's big derby is called the "New Firm" with Brondby founded in 1964 in the drab industrial section of the city while Copenhagen, who have a huge white-collar fan base, came about after a merger of minor clubs in 1992. Copenhagen have a "cool" image while their rivals have a "big fat chip on their shoulder".
43 - Alianza Lima v Universitario
Peru's main derby is known as the "Super Classic". Universitario is the elitist club founded by well-heeled students in 1924 and Alianza, formed 23 years earlier, have their roots in the indigenous people and descendants of African slaves. The first derby in 1928 ended in a riot and the atmosphere has been electric ever since.
42 - Arsenal v Tottenham
This north London rivalry dates back to 1913 when Arsenal left their Woolwich ground in south London and moved to Highbury, just four miles from Spurs' White Hart Lane home. Very few players, with the exception of Pat Jennings and Sol Campbell, have played for both clubs.
41 - Beitar Jerusalem v Hapoel Tel Aviv
It's more like war when Israel's biggest and richest club Beitar Jerusalem meets Hapoel. Beitar have their origins in the Zionist youth movement and many of their fans back the right-wing Likud party while Hapoel have ties with left-wing politics and trade unions.
40 - Hajduk Split v Dinamo Zagreb
These two have dominated the Croatian league since it was formed in 1991 and the derby is a classic north v south clash, with politics, nationalism and, in recent seasons, racism not far below the surface.
39 - Barcelona v Emelec
Ecuador's derby not only brings the city of Guayaquil to a standstill, but most of the country. Barcelona was founded in 1925 by Catalan immigrants and Emelec four years later by George Capwell, an American executive of the Empresa Electrica electricity company.
38 - Rapid Wien v Austria Wien
The Vienna derby, first played in 1911, is the highlight of the Austrian season. Rapid were initially called the Vienna Workers' Football Club and Austria were known as Amateure after being formed by members of the Vienna Cricket and Football Club.
37 - Basle v Zurich
Although Grasshopper is Zurich's city rivals, there is a history of animosity between Zurich and Basle. The pair have dominated the Swiss league in recent years and the championship decider in 2006 - labelled the "Disgrace of Basle" - ended in fighting between players, coaching staff and fans.
36 - Raja Casablanca v Wydad Casablanca
Violence - on and off the field - is a frequent occurrence at Morocco's big derby. Raja, formed in 1949, have their roots in the struggle against colonial power France. Last year a derby was played behind closed doors following crowd problems.
35 - America v Deportivo Cali
More than 80 fans were injured in a riot that erupted during this derby in the Colombian city of Cali earlier this year. Deportivo have their roots in the city's elite while America is the club of the masses and were financed by Cali's cocaine cartels… until they found themselves black-listed by US authorities and are now barred from even having a bank account in Colombia.
34 - Genoa v Sampdoria
Genoa, formed in 1893 as the Genoa Cricket and Athletic Club, is Italy's oldest club but were forced to change their name to Genova 1893 by the Fascists in the 1930s. Derbies are always passionate affairs, but rarely nasty.
33 - CSKA Sofia v Levski Sofia
Bulgaria's "Vechnoto" (eternal derby) has a history of political interference, violence and tragedy with a mass brawl in the 1985 Cup Final clash and a fan being killed during the 2001 derby.
32 - AIK Stockholm v Djurgardens
There is often trouble between fans during Stockholm's Tvilling (Twin) derby resulting in a heavy police presence in the Swedish capital on derby day. AIK's supporters are known as the Black Army while Djurgardens fans are called "Jarnkaminerna" (Iron Stoves) because their players are normally very physical.
31 - Ferencvaros v Ujpest
During Hungary's communist era, Ujpest were the police team while Ferencvaros were known for their anti-communist leanings and this fiery Budapest derby was renowned for its annual bloodletting. Since the political changes of 1989 nothing much changed with an upsurge in violent fan culture.
30 - Cerro Porteno v Olimpia
The rivalry between Paraguay's oldest clubs based in the capital of Asuncion goes back to 1912. Cerro, known as "The Cyclone", is the nation's most popular team but Olimpia have won the most championship titles.
29 - Rosario Central v Newell's Old Boys
This derby in Argentina's second city of Rosario goes back 100 years. Newell were founded by English schoolmaster Isaac Newell and their support base is elitist compared to that of Central who were the club of local boy Che Guevara.
28 - Liverpool v Manchester United
While Liverpool v Everton and United v City in Manchester are the city derbies, the most coveted thing of all - silverware - is at stake when the Reds and Red Devils clash in this Lancashire derby. United have won the European Cup twice to Liverpool's five… Liverpool have 18 league titles (but niks since 1989) while United are closing in on 17.
27 - Corinthians v Santos
Pele, who spent all his career in Brazil at Santos, recently called this the world's greatest derby. He scored more goals against Corinthians than any other team. "I had nothing against them, I just had to quieten that incredible mass of people quickly, otherwise their fans would win the game for them," he said.
26 - Slavia Prague v Sparta Prague
First played in 1896, the clash in the Czech Republic's capital is continental Europe's oldest derby. Both clubs survived communist occupation and name changes by the former Moscow-controlled authorities.
25 - Kaizer Chiefs v Orlando Pirates
Chiefs, formed after a breakaway from Pirates in 1970, are South Africa's most popular club. The two were founding members of the township professional league in 1971. There is seldom trouble between fans though a stampede in 2001 left 43 people dead.
24 - Steaua Bucharest v Dinamo Bucharest
Romania's big derby has a murky history. During the Ceausescu dictatorship, Steaua represented the army, Dinamo were the team of the secret police… politics played a huge role. These days crowds cause most of the trouble with Dinamo fans burning a section of Steaua's stadium in 1997.
23 - Spartak Moscow v CSKA Moscow
A relatively new rivalry born after the break-up of the Soviet Union in the early 90s. CSKA were regarded as Moscow's third club after Spartak and Dynamo but big money from oil and energy poured into CSKA's coffers allowing them to buy big-name players. Fan violence is common while Spartak supporters often display a racist element.
22 - Pirouzi v Esteghlal
This match in the Iran capital of Tehran is Asia's biggest derby attracting crowds of 90,000. Following ugly scenes when a referee was accused of bias in 1995, foreign refs have been called in. Until 2006 only males were permitted at games.
21 - Nacional v Penarol
Dating back to the 19th century, this derby in Montevideo, Uruguay, is the oldest outside Britain. Both clubs have their origins in British railway workers as well as Italian and Spanish immigrants.
20 - America v Guadalajara
The "clasico" of Mexican football pits Mexico City-based America, who have the support of the upper classes, against Guadalajara, who represent the rural areas. Guadalaljara, nicknamed "Goats", use only Mexican players. The two sides account for 80% of fans in Mexico.
19 - Racing Club v Independiente
These Buenos Aires clubs are Argentina's third and fourth most popular sides, their grounds are 400 metres apart and they first clashed in 1931. Matches are seldom dull with the last derby at Independiente's ground being abandoned in a cloud of teargas as Racing fans fought with police and broke up half the stadium.
18 - Corinthians v Sao Paulo
The traditional derby of the huge Brazilian city of Sao Paulo is Corinthians against Palmeiras, but that has been overtaken by Sao Paulo v Corinthians.
17 - Benfica v Porto
Scandals and behind-the-scenes power struggles have dogged the great north-south divide in Portuguese football in recent years. There is usually a flurry of yellow and red cards on derby day.
16 - Athletic Bilbao v Real Sociedad
Until recently both clubs had a policy of fielding only Basque players so the derbies were more a display of solidarity against Spain and the rivalry not as fierce as derbies elsewhere.
15 - Milan v Internazionale
The rivalry dates back to 1908 and when these Italian giants clash it is regarded as the most intimate derby in world football as the clubs share the San Siro Stadium.
14 - Olympiakos v Panathinaikos
The big Greek derby has been the root of much trouble with the clubs agreeing not to sell tickets to visiting fans. The passion goes beyond soccer. All team sports in Greece were banned for two weeks in 2006 after fans of the clubs clashed at a women's volleyball match.
13 - Flamengo v Vasco da Gama
Rio de Janeiro police go on high alert when these old rivals clash in a violent city where tensions always seem to simmer just below the surface. They are Rio's two most popular clubs, hence the clash is known as "the derby of the multitudes".
12 - Juventus v Fiorentina
Juve's city rivals are Torino, but that local derby pales when compared to Juventus-Fiorentina clashes. Turin-based Juve are Italy's most-popular (and most hated) club with the animosity reaching boiling point when Florence club Fiorentina is the opposition.
11 - Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain
A north-south derby that only started when PSG were formed in 1970. Marseille had decades of tradition, and had their best years from 1989 when they won four championships in a row. But their chairman was found guilty of bribery and they were stripped of their 1993 title and the club demoted. Their return to the top flight in 1996 coincided with an increase in violence among PSG fans.
10 - Partizan Belgrade v Red Star Belgrade
Both clubs were founded in 1945 when Tito took power in the former Yugoslavia and both have suffered many of Serbia's upheavals especially from 1991 when civil war broke out. When the masses stormed parliament in 2000 to oust Slobodan Milosevic many in the crowds were hard-core fans from both clubs. But it was back to normal a week later on derby day when a mass brawl spilled onto the pitch.
9 - Betis v Sevilla
Spain's most ferocious city derby has been boiling over for 93 years. Hostilities commence at each match… in 2005 not only the fans fought but both coaching staffs and two years later Sevilla coach Juande Ramos was felled by a missile thrown by a Betis fan.
8 - Al Ahly v Zamalek
The derby between Cairo's two giants is Africa's biggest, often attracting crowds of 100,000. Al Ahly have their roots in the anti-colonial struggle against British rule while Zamalek are the team of the privileged. The two clubs have been battling it out for 90 years.
7 - Schalke v Borussia Dortmund
Both clubs, in the industrial heartland of Germany, have huge fan bases (Dortmund average 70,000 and Schalke 60,000) with their grounds a half-hour bus ride apart. Derbies date back to the 1920s when Schalke were top dogs while Dortmund rose to prominence after World War 2.
6 - Lazio v Roma
It's all about blind passion at Rome's "Derby Captale" which is played at the shared Olimpico Stadium. Organised fan groups, also know as the Ultra Movement, originated here where supporters cover an entire end of the stadium with huge coloured banners. Violence between fans and the police is common at most derbies.
5 - Ajax v Feyenoord
Not a city derby, but the "Klassieker" in Holland is as fiercely contested as any. Hooliganism in the 1970s led to war-like clashes in the 80s. Ajax fans call their counterparts "kakkerlakken" while Ajax's Jewish heritage is mocked by Feyenoord followers.
4 - Galatasaray v Fenerbahce
Very few derbies can match this one in Istanbul for its sheer intensity. Fenerbahce, whose stadium is in the Asian side of the city, are the best-supported club in Turkey while Galatasaray are based in the European side of town. Between the two they have won nine of the last 10 Turkish titles
3 - Celtic v Rangers
Glasgow's Old Firm derby has always been associated with sectarian politics. Celtic have their roots in the immigrant Irish Catholic community while Rangers have strong links to the Scottish Protestant community. Paradoxically though, Celtic's most successful manager Jock Stein was Protestant and Rangers recent captain Lorenzo Amoruso a practising Catholic.
2 - Boca Juniors v River Plate
This is one of the biggest derbies of them all, known simply as the "Superclasico". When Boca Juniors and River Plate clash, it is not only Buenos Aires or the whole of Argentina that feels the heat, it's a game followed by fans all over South America.
The clubs owe their existence to immigrants - mostly male - from Europe who settled in the Boca neighbourhood at the mouth of the huge River Plate. The men worked in the docks or meat packing plants where the clubs were born and were close neighbours in the working class area.
But that changed when River moved to the posh area of Nunez, building an ultra-modern stadium and making expensive signings. Boca remained in the dilapidated area of the docks, their fans similar to those immigrants who watched the first derby in 1908.
1 - Real Madrid v Barcelona
Former Barcelona manager Bobby Robson called this the biggest club game in world football, while others described Barca v Madrid as a lot more than a game.
"Every time Barcelona and Madrid meet, it's an act of rebellion against the established power, against centralism," said former Barca striker Hristo Stoichkov. No other game arouses so much conflict and patriotism… or political tensions. Root of the problem is the Catalan-Spanish divide that split the nation, especially during the Franco regime.
Barcelona defied the central government by waving Catalan flags and making stadium announcements in Catalan. Real was the team of the regime, their president Santiago Bernabeu was a right-wing hardliner who fought for Franco.
Compiled by Ian Sadler. Source: World Soccer Magazine
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