So we here in the States often find the football mania that consumes the rest of the world rather perplexing. MLS is on the upswing, but still we Americans haven't quite grasped the passion that football brings out in our brethren worldwide. Even for our domestic sports (outside, perhaps, of Boston, that well known drinking town with a baseball problem) Americans do not approach anywhere near the level of enthusiasm that, say, fans of West Allotment Celtic must muster up to stand in the cold, wet British winter to watch their lads play.
The question does arise though... Who ARE the most football crazy fans in the world?
To my mind, there are four leading candidates: England, Italy, San Marino, and Sark.
England has a strong case. They're the originator of the sport, and have the deepest league system in the world, with 24 levels to the football pyramid, consisting of over 140 distinct leagues. While exact numbers are not easily available, Wikipedia estimates that there are 7000 teams playing league football in England. The FA Cup is the most prestigous national trophy in all of football. The rivalries run deep (I have recently been chastised by my Chelsea friends for showing an ex-Tottenham player's wife where to find replica kit for him). The Premier League is, without a doubt, the world's toughest league, and is also the most popular. The Big 4 are among the world's most recognizable sporting brands. No Briton is without a team, and even those who hate the sport still follow it closely (I have an English coworker who believes Rugby is the only suitable sport to support, and even he follows England's results, if only to laugh gleefully when they lose).
Italy has the most... ummmm... passionate fans of football as a whole. The department of statistics I pulled out of my ass tells us that 37% of all roadflares sold in Italy eventually end up on a soccer pitch (56% on the San Siro).
Italy has somehow opened a time warp to 80s England and pulled all of the worst elements of their fandom through, while leaving all the good bits (like the pies - mmmmmmm pies) behind. They do have the righteous indignation against UEFA interference down, too. The mere words "Lazio supporter" strike fear into all who hear them. They are the current holders of the World Cup, and all the members of that squad play domestically. Should one doubt the miracles that can happen in Italy, he need only read "The Miracle of Castel di Sangro" by Joe McGinniss. The level of crazy that operates the teams is also beyond compare. With the possible exception of Vladimir Romanov, no one can come close to the Italian madness. Juventus is partially owned by a company which is a front for Muammar al-Gaddafi. In fact, Gaddafi's son actually has played for Udinese and Perugia, and is considered to be one of the worst players ever in Serie A. It should be noted that he only played one game for each and served long drug suspensions. Cagliari is owned by a man who apparently hates the club. Plus the whole nation looks like a giant foot kicking a ball. Yes, there is no doubt that football in Italy is damn crazy.
San Marino is an interesting case. With a population of only 30000 it still manages to support a 2 division, 15 team professional football system, 2 separate knockout cups, a national team AND a team in another nation's league system. ...and yes, Virginia, there is a Brazilian playing in the domestic league (Aldair, in fact, for you Roma fans out there). In fact, when you do the math, 1.2% of the entire population plays professional football. The Campionato Sammarinese sends a team to the preliminary rounds of the Champions League, and is entered into the European Championship (though their population does give them a handicap of McClarenian proportions). They are the only nation to have both a domestic league AND field a team in another country's league system (San Marino Calcio in Serie C1).
Sark is the smallest nation in Europe (and, as of this writing, the last feudal nation in the world), with a population of 610 and an area of 2 square miles. For comparison's sake, please note that the percentage of Sark required to house a football pitch, if applied to the United States, would encompass an area over twice the size of Rhode Island. While there is no domestic league, Sark HAS fielded an international squad. While they have been outscored 70-0 in the course of their international career, at 16 players for a match, Sark can claim that a whopping 2.8% of the population has played international football. Just think - had Benitez managed them, the entire population might have seen playing time.
So who takes it? Whose passion reigns supreme?!!?!
I have to give it to San Marino. With 30000 people and 16 teams, 2 knockout cups, and over a freaking percent of the population playing professional football, there is no comparison. While Sark's numbers can't be denied, they haven't played internationally since 2003. San Marino has games year in and out, and the dual league status can't be beat. Plus they are techically a part of the giant boot kicking ball phenomenon that is their peninsula. Most important to me, though, is that Lorenzo Amoruso, former Blackburn Rover, is playing for Cosmos. Any league that rescues the second worst signing in Blackburn history (the first being, of course, Graeme Souness) has a place in my heart.
The question does arise though... Who ARE the most football crazy fans in the world?
To my mind, there are four leading candidates: England, Italy, San Marino, and Sark.
England has a strong case. They're the originator of the sport, and have the deepest league system in the world, with 24 levels to the football pyramid, consisting of over 140 distinct leagues. While exact numbers are not easily available, Wikipedia estimates that there are 7000 teams playing league football in England. The FA Cup is the most prestigous national trophy in all of football. The rivalries run deep (I have recently been chastised by my Chelsea friends for showing an ex-Tottenham player's wife where to find replica kit for him). The Premier League is, without a doubt, the world's toughest league, and is also the most popular. The Big 4 are among the world's most recognizable sporting brands. No Briton is without a team, and even those who hate the sport still follow it closely (I have an English coworker who believes Rugby is the only suitable sport to support, and even he follows England's results, if only to laugh gleefully when they lose).
Italy has the most... ummmm... passionate fans of football as a whole. The department of statistics I pulled out of my ass tells us that 37% of all roadflares sold in Italy eventually end up on a soccer pitch (56% on the San Siro).
Italy has somehow opened a time warp to 80s England and pulled all of the worst elements of their fandom through, while leaving all the good bits (like the pies - mmmmmmm pies) behind. They do have the righteous indignation against UEFA interference down, too. The mere words "Lazio supporter" strike fear into all who hear them. They are the current holders of the World Cup, and all the members of that squad play domestically. Should one doubt the miracles that can happen in Italy, he need only read "The Miracle of Castel di Sangro" by Joe McGinniss. The level of crazy that operates the teams is also beyond compare. With the possible exception of Vladimir Romanov, no one can come close to the Italian madness. Juventus is partially owned by a company which is a front for Muammar al-Gaddafi. In fact, Gaddafi's son actually has played for Udinese and Perugia, and is considered to be one of the worst players ever in Serie A. It should be noted that he only played one game for each and served long drug suspensions. Cagliari is owned by a man who apparently hates the club. Plus the whole nation looks like a giant foot kicking a ball. Yes, there is no doubt that football in Italy is damn crazy.
San Marino is an interesting case. With a population of only 30000 it still manages to support a 2 division, 15 team professional football system, 2 separate knockout cups, a national team AND a team in another nation's league system. ...and yes, Virginia, there is a Brazilian playing in the domestic league (Aldair, in fact, for you Roma fans out there). In fact, when you do the math, 1.2% of the entire population plays professional football. The Campionato Sammarinese sends a team to the preliminary rounds of the Champions League, and is entered into the European Championship (though their population does give them a handicap of McClarenian proportions). They are the only nation to have both a domestic league AND field a team in another country's league system (San Marino Calcio in Serie C1).
Sark is the smallest nation in Europe (and, as of this writing, the last feudal nation in the world), with a population of 610 and an area of 2 square miles. For comparison's sake, please note that the percentage of Sark required to house a football pitch, if applied to the United States, would encompass an area over twice the size of Rhode Island. While there is no domestic league, Sark HAS fielded an international squad. While they have been outscored 70-0 in the course of their international career, at 16 players for a match, Sark can claim that a whopping 2.8% of the population has played international football. Just think - had Benitez managed them, the entire population might have seen playing time.
So who takes it? Whose passion reigns supreme?!!?!
I have to give it to San Marino. With 30000 people and 16 teams, 2 knockout cups, and over a freaking percent of the population playing professional football, there is no comparison. While Sark's numbers can't be denied, they haven't played internationally since 2003. San Marino has games year in and out, and the dual league status can't be beat. Plus they are techically a part of the giant boot kicking ball phenomenon that is their peninsula. Most important to me, though, is that Lorenzo Amoruso, former Blackburn Rover, is playing for Cosmos. Any league that rescues the second worst signing in Blackburn history (the first being, of course, Graeme Souness) has a place in my heart.
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