The Ultimate Guide to European Soccer Chants & Songs

Aug 10

Chants turn a stadium into one voice. In Europe—where supporter culture is generations deep—knowing a few universal melodies and when to use them helps you fit in from Manchester to Marseille, Naples to Nijmegen.

Jump to: Golden rules • Starter pack (works anywhere) • League-by-league notes • Timing guide • DIY chant templates • How to learn fast • Respect & safety • Language crib sheet • What to bring

Golden rules (read before you sing)

Follow the capo/lead. Join the rhythm; don’t compete with it.
Keep it positive & lawful. No hate speech or discriminatory language—ever.
Mind the moment. Don’t start chants during injuries, a minute’s silence, or VAR checks.
Match volume & tempo. Early game = steady; late push = faster, louder.
Short & repeatable wins. 15–25 seconds per loop is perfect.

European “starter pack” (club-agnostic, travels anywhere)

These melodies are terrace staples across Europe. Swap in your club or player name.

Goal celebrations “Seven Nation Army” bassline — sing the “oh-oh-oh…” riff with a name. Perfect after goals or subs.
Away days “Allez, allez, allez” — simple rising chant with claps. Endless loop, crowd-friendly.
Pressure moments “Come on you [Reds/Blues/etc.]” — short and punchy for corners and presses.
Build-up “When the … go marching in” — slower early, faster late; swap “Saints” for your club.
Player love Name call-and-response — leader: first name; crowd: surname or “olé!”.
Post-goal bounce “Freed From Desire” pattern — bouncy loop to keep the party going.
Kickoff/comeback Viking clap — synchronized clap → pause → clap, speeding up with a rising roar.

League-by-league flavor notes (Europe)

Premier League (England & Wales)

Anthems and witty one-liners. Club songs like “Blue Moon” (Man City) or “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” (West Ham) bookend matches. During play, lean on short call-and-response and player-name riffs; save long anthems for walk-out and full-time.

La Liga (Spain)

Drums and melodic runs. “Vamos [Club]” and “Sí se puede” build pressure. Sustained “olé” waves follow long passing spells; time your entries after a big switch or chance created.

Serie A (Italy)

Ultras culture: capo-led with megaphones, long hymn-like choruses, choreographed claps and jumps. Learn the first lines of your club’s inno (anthem); follow the drum cues.

Bundesliga (Germany)

Safe-standing ends = 90-minute singing. “Schalalala” and bounce songs are staples. Club hymns (e.g., “Stern des Südens”) roll pre-match and post-match.

Ligue 1 (France)

Relentless drumlines and “Allez!” variants. Volume spikes after tifo displays and before second-half restarts.

Eredivisie (Netherlands) & Belgium

Melody-driven, catchy, and quick to learn. Call-and-response ripples across entire ends; lots of “olé” flourishes after flowing moves.

Portugal (Primeira Liga)

Anthem-style choruses with dramatic pauses; Viking clap and name-call chants land well.

Scotland

Thunderous anthems and sharp humor. Keep chants brisk and loud; away ends thrive on repetition.

Turkey & Greece

Wall-of-sound. Long capo-led unison stretches—pace yourself, hydrate, and respect local rhythms.

Timing guide: what to sing, when

Walk-out / pre-kickoff: club anthem; scarves up.
Kickoff–20’: steady drum-backed chant; short call-and-response.
Big chance / corner: quick “come on!” + clap pattern.
After a goal: short celebration riff (Seven Nation Army / Freed From Desire).
Trailing late: fast, repetitive belief chant to drive pressure.
Stoppage-time lead: slower anthem to steady nerves and keep possession calm.
Full-time win: club song; thank the players; a final bounce.

DIY chant templates (swap in your club)

We love you: “We love you, we love you, we love you [Club]…” → loop, accelerate, add claps.
On our way: “We’re on our way, we’re on our way, to [venue/cup] we’re on our way…”
Stand up if you love [Club]: only where standing is allowed; use as a momentum reset.
Ole, ole, ole: terrace filler; drop player names between loops.

How to learn fast (and save your voice)

Pre-match playlist: queue the melodies above so your group knows the cues.
First lines only: memorize the opening 6–8 words; hum the rest with the crowd.
Use vowels: “ah/oh/eh” carry better than consonant-heavy lines.
Rotate starters: switch chant leaders every few minutes; hydrate at halftime.

Respect & safety

Zero tolerance: no hate speech, slurs, or discriminatory content.
Family areas: keep language clean in mixed sections.
Local rules: pyro, rail climbing, and pitch incursions carry heavy penalties in many leagues.
Look out for each other: if someone needs space or help, contact a steward.

Quick language crib sheet

English: “Come on you [Reds/Blues]!”, “Let’s go [Club]!”
Spanish: “¡Vamos [Club]!”, “¡Sí se puede!”
Italian: “Forza [Club]!”, “Dai [Nome]!”
German: “[Club], vorwärts!”, “Steht auf, wenn ihr [Club] seid!”
French: “Allez [Club]!”, “Qui ne saute pas n’est pas [Club]!”
Portuguese: “Vamos [Clube]!”, “Eu acredito!”

Pack list for the singing end

Scarf Refillable water Small flag (if allowed) Throat lozenges Comfy shoes

Final whistle: Chants aren’t about perfect pitch—they’re about belonging. Learn a melody or two, follow your section’s lead, and sing for the badge. Got a great local twist? Record a clean 15–30s snippet, note the melody and when it’s used (e.g., “82’, chasing a goal”), and send it to hello@soccerchantsandsongs.com. We’ll feature the best.

Jennifer Halstead