Quiz: How many Bundesliga clubs' nicknames do you know?
Many German football clubs have their own nicnkames. But where do they come from? And what do they mean? Take our quiz and find out.
Wolves, Lilies and an Old Lady - how well do you know the Bundesliga?
Many German football clubs have their own nicknames - some of them are simply based on the club's colours - like Werder Bremen ("green and whites"). Others are named after the region the club comes from - for example SC Freiburg, the 'Breisgauer'; Breisgau being a region in South Germany. Other nicknames are not as easy to guess and have an historical background ...
Which club is called the 'Geißböcke' ('the billy goats')?
Hint: This club's city is located on the river Rhine and is well known for its carnival ...
1. FC Köln
On February 13th 1950, during the carnival season, a local circus gifted the club a young billy goat. The circus owner said "FC" would need a lucky charm. The goat was named after then-manager Hennes Weisweiler. Since then, 'Hennes' (and his successors!) have supported their team at every home match!
Which team is called 'die Schwarz-Gelben' (the black and yellows)?
Hint: This club is regarded as the strongest national challenger to Bayern Munich and its mascot is a bee ...
Borussia Dortmund
The nickname of Borussia Dortmund (BVB) is based on the club's colors, but they haven't always played in black and yellow. In the early days, the players wore blue, white and red. The club changed its colors to black and yellow just before WW1. Ironically given their big rivals, the colors of the city of Dortmund are actually red and white!
Which club is known simply as "Die Roten"? (the Reds)
Hint: You either love them or you hate them ...
Bayern Munich
Germany's most successful team are often simply known as 'the Reds.' Bayern Munich initially played in blue and white, the colors of the state of Bavaria and which local rivals 1860 Munich still wear. They first wore red in 1906. Ironically however, the colors of the city of Munich itself are actually yellow and black!
Which club is known as the 'Bundesliga Dinosaur'?
Hint: The club is located in the north of Germany and has never been relegated from the Bundesliga ...
Hamburger SV
For 50 years Hamburg (HSV) have been playing in Germany's first division. Since the foundation of the Bundesliga in 1963-64, HSV have always been a part of it, making them the only founder member that has never been relegated. That is why Hamburg are known as the Bundesliga Dinosaur. Another nickname is the 'Rothosen' (red shorts).
Which team is called the 'Alte Dame' (the 'Old Lady')?
Hint: This club is located in the German capital and plays in the stadium shown in the picture above. On the horizon one can see one of the most well known landmarks of the city ...
Hertha BSC
There are different theories about where this nickname comes from. The most likely: The club's founders had taken a day trip on a steam ship called 'Hertha', with a blue and white funnel. That inspired them to name their club 'Hertha' too. When the club was founded (1892) Hertha was a common name for girls. But over the years, the name became outdated which is how Hertha became the "Old Lady".
Which team is known as "die Fohlen' (the 'foals')?
Hint: this club is Cologne's arch-rival ...
Borussia Mönchengladbach
In the mid-1960s, Borussia Mönchengladbach's squad mainly consisted of very young players. The team had a very offensive and enterprising style and therefore was compared with foals. Today it's the team's recognized nickname.
Which team calls itself 'Die Roten Bullen' ('red bulls')?
Hint: This should be an easy one...
RasenBallsport Leipzig
Though the club from Leipzig is officially named RasenBallsport (RB) Leipzig, everyone knows that 'RB' originally stood for 'Red Bull' who founded the club in 2009. The energy drink manufacturer's symbol is two red bulls and so the club's mascot is a red bull too.
Which team is also known as the 'Knappen' ('miners')?
Hint: The club's home town is deeply rooted in mining and is located in Germany's industrial Ruhr region ...
FC Schalke 04
During the Industrial Revolution, the Ruhr area was characterized by mining and so was the city of Gelsenkrichen and the district of Schalke. Today, Schalke is still strongly connected with its mining past and the players' tunnel even resembles a mine shaft! That is why the club is called 'Knappen'. 'Knappe' is a German word for miner.
Which club is known as the 'Wölfe' ('the wolves')?
Hint: Besides football, the town is well known for its car manufacturing ...
VfL Wolfsburg
The 'Wolfsburg' castle belonged to the noble Von Bartensleben family which ruled over the area during the 13th century. The animal on the family's badge was a wolf. The town of Wolfsburg was founded in 1937 as the location of the Volkswagen car factory where the predecessor of the Volkswagen Beetle was produced. After World War II the city continued to grow and kept the wolf as a an emblem.
Which club is called 'die Lilien' ('the lilies')?
Hint: The flower is also part of the city's emblem ...
SV Darmstadt 98
The lily is the symbol on the badge of the city of Darmstadt, so it became the football club's symbol too. Lilies symbolically stand for purity and the Mother of God. It is believed that the lily also stands for Darmstadt's municipal church that is dedicated to Mary.
Who on earth are the "Fuggerstädter"?
Hint: A name that even many Germans don't know, this city is located in Bavaria, just north-west of Munich ...
FC Augsburg
The Fugger family were a wealthy family from Ausgburg during the Renaissance era. Due to their influence in the town, Augsburg came to be known as the "Fuggerstadt" - the Fugger town. Nowadays, the local football team also carries the name.