Ten of the best British football chants
A number of readers may remember when we wrote an article ranking the 20 Premier League clubs’ respective walk-on music, which you can find here. Well in celebration of the match-going football fan, this time we’ve decided to put together a list of our ten favourite football songs chanted by supporters of British football clubs. It’s always special when a fanbase takes a well-known (or in some cases not so well-known) song and puts their own twist on it to create a piece of viral footballing magic.
These songs/chants are in no particular ranking order, so don’t take it personally if a particular favourite of yours isn't first on the list!
MO SALAH, EGYPTIAN KING (LIVERPOOL)
Like them or loathe them, Liverpool fans have always held a good reputation in the football chants department, their supporters always looking for new unique songs in which to get behind the players with. It took a little while for them to come up with an appropriate tribute to Egyptian star Mo Salah, but what they eventually created was a fitting tribute. A twist on James’ popular hit ‘Sit Down’, this chant is now a favourite at both the famous Kop and away in Europe as proven below.
STOP CRYING FRANK LAMPARD (LEEDS UTD)
It would have to be a good chant to get Leeds Utd fans to sing a song from a Mancunian band and this one does not disappoint. A spin on Oasis track ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’, this chant was born out of the rivalry between Leeds and Derby County in the Championship after some serious needle had developed between the two clubs following the famous ‘spygate’ affair midseason. After Leeds completed a league double over Frank Lampard’s side, the two teams proceeded to meet in the play-off semi-finals, where Leeds triumphed again in the first leg. Lampard, however, would have the last laugh as his men overturned a 0-1 aggregate deficit at Elland Road to book their place in the final, ultimately losing to Aston Villa. Fortunately for Leeds fans, the pain didn’t last too long as they were promoted as league champions the following season, whilst Derby remain in the Championship. Lyrics below!
“All of the spies”
“Were hidden away”
“Just try not to worry”
“You’ll beat us some day”
“We beat you at home”
“We beat you away”
“Stop crying Frank Lampard”
HERE WE GOOOOOO…SAKA AND EMILE SMITH-ROWE (ARSENAL)
A recent chant born just this season, it’s safe to say that Arsenal fans have struck gold with this play on the Status Quo song ‘Rockin All Over The World’, which pays tribute to two of their brightest young stars. Both Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe have lit up the Premier League for the Gunners this season and are certainly worthy of the song. Whilst Arsenal supporters can often be the target of jokes from other fanbases, it’s time to put some well-deserved respect on their name for this one. Warning, you may find it stuck in your head after listening!
I’LL GIVE IT TO POSTECOGLOU (CELTIC)
Celtic fans have certainly taken to new boss Ange Postecoglou since the Australian took over the reins at Parkhead this summer. With the Scottish League Cup already won, the Bhoys are on the hunt for more and the Christmas period saw the Celtic supporters pay tribute to Postecoglou with a festive song. Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’ has always been a festive favourites and Celtic fans have taken it to a new level with this chant, replacing the line “I’ll give it to someone special” to “I’ll give it to Postecoglou”. Fitting!
ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ (ASTON VILLA)
Supporters of many different teams have adopted this chant, adding lyrics related to their respective clubs. However, it is the Aston Villa fans’ version that wins out for us and earns a place on this list. A grand old football club, not many grounds in English football are louder than Villa Park in full voice and fans of the Villains certainly do this song justice. When taking into account the good start made by Steven Gerrard as manager at the club, it would be no surprise to hear this song ringing out from the Holte End many more times this season. Lyrics can be found in the video below.
OLE’S AT THE WHEEL (MAN UTD)
Back when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer first took over at Man Utd, this chant was a staple of any matchday involving the Red Devils as the Norwegian, already a club legend during his playing days, guided the club back to winning ways in style following the turbulent rein of Jose Mourinho. A song based on Stone Roses classic ‘Waterfall’, “Ole’s at the wheel” was the soundtrack to memorable Man Utd matches such as the beating of PSG in the Champions League round of 16 and the Premier League double win over Man City the season after.
However, all good things must come to an end and as the wheels began to fall off under Solskjaer, rival fans were merciless in their mocking of him. The likes of fierce rivals Liverpool even created a chant of their own for Ole. Which one do you prefer?
KIEFFER KIEFFER MOORE! (WALES)
It would be remiss not to write one of these articles without mentioning Wales fans. When giant striker Kieffer Moore burst onto the international scene, he quickly established himself as a cult hero among Wales fans, who continue to serenade the Cardiff City striker to this day. Whilst this song is certainly the most straightforward to remember among our list, it is also one of the most-catchy. Set to the song ‘Give It Up’ by KC & the Sunshine Band, “Kieffer Kieffer Moore” replaces the lyrics “Baby give it up” to give the song an air of ‘Hywl’.
One Welsh fan even went to the extent of creating an extended version of the song dedicated to Moore ahead of a crucial of Euro 2020 qualification game!
HE COMES FROM ZAMBIA (RANGERS)
The Old Firm presence on this list is completed with Rangers fans, who make the cut due to their fantastic song created for new summer signing Fashion Sakala. The Zambian international joined from Belgian club Oostende and has fast established himself as a fans favourite with his eye for goal and bubbly personality. Paying tribute to Sakala with a song set to the Shakira hit song ‘Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), one of the moan soundtracks for the 2012 World Cup staged in South Africa, it’s easy to see why Sakala is enjoying his time at Rangers so much!
OH JOAO MOUTINHO, HE LOVES A VINO (WOLVES)
It’s fitting that a Wolves song dedicated to midfielder Joao Moutinho is on this list following the Portuguese legend’s winning goal at Old Trafford recently, which secured Wolves their first win away at Man Utd in 42 years. Paying tribute to the timeless midfielder, Wolves fans celebrate Moutinho’s love of wine (it has not been confirmed whether this is actually true), whilst his height and footballing ability also get a mention. Like a fine wine, Moutinho is simply getting better with age and Wolves fans will be hoping he remains at Molineux for a few more years to come. Lyrics below!
“Oh Joao Moutinho, he loves a vino”
“He came from Monaco, to Wanderers”
“He’s 5 foot 7, he’s football heaven”
“So please don’t take Moutinho away”
WILL GRIGG’S ON FIRE (WIGAN/NORTHERN IRELAND)
It would only be right if we ended this list with an absolute football banger and what better song than the famous “Will Grigg’s on fire”. A song with a storied history having originally been created by Wigan Athletic fans during their League One title-winning campaign of 2015-16 in tribute to Northern Irish striker Will Grigg, their top goalscorer that season. Set to the club song ‘Freed From Desire’ by Gala, the song, along with its new title and lyrics quickly went viral, whilst the original track itself no doubt earned Gala some unexpected royalties. A remixed version recorded to raise money for a local charity even reached the top 10 of the UK charts.
The song then reached worldwide acclaim as it became the soundtrack of Euro 2016 as Grigg’s exploits at Wigan saw him called up to the Northern Ireland squad. Despite not kicking a ball over the course of the tournament, the Green and White army of Northern Ireland fans ensured that his name would be the only one heard across the stadium.
Let us know if we’ve made any glaring omissions and which songs you would include?
