The Biggest Rivalries in Football

Football is a tribal sport. Hooliganism has blighted the game around the world since the mid-twentieth century. Local derbies split towns and cities. Some rivalries are regional, dividing a nation. Religious rivalries, based on historical prejudices, cause fierce rivalries between clubs and their sets of supporters. Bitter geopolitical issues cause intense rivalries between nations. 

Rinus Michels, the manager of the great Netherlands teams of the 1970s, once stated that “football is war.” George Orwell wrote that “sport is war minus the shooting.” Bill Shankly, Liverpool’s revered manager, once remarked that “some people think football is not a matter of life and death, it’s much more serious than that.” SportsBoom.com ranks the twelve biggest rivalries in football. 

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12. Soweto Derby | Kaiser Chiefs versus Orlando Pirates

The biggest rivalry in South Africa is the Soweto Derby between Kaiser Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. Chiefs and Pirates first played in 1970 during apartheid. There have been 85 official matches played across several tournaments. Chiefs lead Pirates with 28 wins to 25. There have been 32 draws. Although heated, the derby is friendly compared to the crazy clashes in Europe. 

11. Der Klassieker | Ajax versus Feyenoord

Der Klassieker is an inter-city rivalry between Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord, which started in 1921. Ajax and Feyenoord are Holland’s most successful clubs, sharing 52 Eredivisie titles and five UEFA Champions League titles. Ajax is the Netherlands’ most illustrious club, winning 75 major honours to Feyenoord’s 39.

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10. Derby della Madonnina | AC Milan versus Internazionale

The two most decorated clubs in Italy contest the Derby di Milano. Milan and Inter Milan first met in 1930. They share 39 Serie A titles, Milan 20, Inter 19. Milan edges Inter with trophies, 49-46. This local derby gets the blood flowing in northern Italy. The Ultras often cause games to stop because of flares and crowd trouble. There is no love lost between these two Milan clubs. 

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9. Merseyside Derby | Liverpool versus Everton

Formally known as the ‘Friendly Derby,’ it is anything but. Liverpool formed in 1892 after Everton’s owner moved the club across Stanley Park to Goodison Park following a dispute with John Houlding, the landlord. The first Merseyside Derby meeting was two years later, in 1894. Liverpool is England’s most successful club and one of the greatest teams in the world.

Everton has struggled since leaving Anfield Road. The club live in the shadows of their illustrious neighbours. The best the Blues can hope for is putting a spoke in the Reds’ English Premier League title chances. Liverpool leads the derby with 99 wins to 68, with 77 draws.

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8. Derby della Capitale | Roma versus Lazio

The Capital Derby is ferocious. Roma and Lazio are not Italian powerhouses, but their ‘Eternal City’ rivalry is a tinder box of emotion and violence. Lazio is infamous for its fascist and Nazi supporters known as Ultras. The passion often boils over, and there have been many deaths through fan violence that have blighted this Rome derby. 

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7. Derby of the Eternal Adversaries | Olympiakos v Panathinaikos

Known as the ‘Mother of all battles,” this capital city derby divides Athens. Olympiakos leads Panathinaikos 87 – 57, with 77 draws since their first clash. Violence often accompanies these capital derbies for Greek football supremacy. 

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6. Northwest Derby | Liverpool versus Manchester United

Not called the “Northwest Derby,” but sometimes referred to because of geographical location of both clubs. Technically, not a derby. But Liverpool versus Manchester United is one of the biggest football rivalries in the world. Just over thirty miles separates Liverpool from Manchester in the northwest of England. 

It is one of the most-watched matches. The worldwide support for the two clubs is like El Clásico. Liverpool and United are the two most successful teams in England. Their support base stretches around the globe. Although not violent like many other derbies, this matchup is famous for political and geographical reasons, not class or religion.

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5. Old Firm | Celtic versus Rangers

The Old Firm most the most heated football rivalry in Britain. This matchup is a battle of religious and political beliefs that has divided Glasgow, Scotland’s biggest city, for over a century. Celtic has its roots in Irish nationalism. Rangers have ties to the Protestant Grand Orange Lodge. Religious bigotry and sectarianism fuel the flames of this two-team city, and violence always follows an Old Firm clash. 

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4. Paulista Derby | Palmeiras v Corinthians

The Paulista Derby is considered one of the most volatile in Brazil. Palmeiras and Corinthians are two of the most successful clubs in Brazil and have been playing each other since 197. The Alviverde have won 55 major honours, Time do Povo 50. This São Paulo derby splits families and friendships. There has been 380 Paulista derbies. Palmeiras has 135 wins, Corinthians 129, with 116 draws. 

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3. Fla-Flu | Flamengo v Fluminense

Fluminense versus Flamengo is known as Fla-Flu. This derby holds the world record for the largest crowd (attendance: 194,603 in 1963) at the hallowed Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Flamengo is the most successful of the two, winning 61 major titles to Fluminense’s 44. The rivalry began when dissatisfied Fluminense supporters joined Flamengo to start a new club in 1911. Like Liverpool and Everton, this derby divides families and friendships. 

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2. Superclásico | River Plate v Boca Juniors

The Superclásico is the fiercest football rivalry in Argentina. River Plate and Boca Juniors are the two most decorated teams. The term “clásico” was coined to describe the Buenos Aires clubs and has been used to describe worldwide football rivalries, including Barcelona versus Real Madrid in Spain.

Boca Juniors has a large Italian immigrant support base. The working class club is known as “Xeneizes,” which translates to “Genovese” because of the city of Genoa in Liguria, Italy. River Plate are called “Los Millonarios” (The Millionaires) because of their upper-class support. Boca Juniors has won 74 major honours; River Plate has 72 titles.