The sport that I love and that I have always watched my entire life is soccer. However, during the last year, I’ve been starting to watch NBA basketball too. I like seeing the basketball but I have never choose a team, and it is hard for me to choose one or to find someone to help me pick a team to support.
This inspired me to write this article, to help new soccer fans like you pick a great team from the continent with the best football/soccer in the world: Europe.
Picking a team is not a decision you can make today. It is something that takes time to think about. At any moment I’m going to tell you to pick an specific team, I’ll just give you advice on how to take a good decision that you feel happy with.
Did you know that in south America you are born supporting a team? Yes! My friends from Argentina have told me that at the moment they are born, their parents already bought them the jersey of team they will support for the rest of their lives. How freaky!
The 5 BIG leagues
Let me introduce you to the concept of the five Big European soccer/football leagues. These are:
- Spain’s league: “La Liga”
- England’s League: “The Premiere League”
- Germany’s league: “Bundesliga”
- Italy’s league: “Serie A”
- France’s Leagues: “Ligue 1”
Europe is a continent with so many countries, with so many leagues. If you are going to choose a team, I would recommend it to be one from this 5 leagues.
The teams from this top 5 leagues are the best teams… period. They are the ones that are always winning the international competitions and that are most recognized around the world.
I’m not saying that there are not good teams playing outside this leagues, but if you ever want to buy a jersey of your soccer team or be able to watch a game in TV, I would choose one from the 5 big leagues.
There is a big difference supporting a team from Spain like Real Madrid or from England like Liverpool, with choosing a Rumanian team like Steaua Bucarest… see?
Honorable mentions
There are some great soccer leagues that I would like to mention that have some great teams too:
- Portuguese league: Has two teams with great European history: Porto and Benfica. It is also one of the most competitive leagues in Europe.
- Dutch league (Netherlands): This league is super competitive and has great fans. Ajax is one of the clubs with more titles and history in Europe. PSV, Feyenoord, and others are always closely competing.
What is most important to you?
When choosing a team, I would say there are 3 different types of guys.
The history guy
We all know this fan that he only supports his team because they are the ones with the most championships and the best players throughout the history of the sport (no matter if the team sucks right now).
If you are the history book guy you’ll want to investigate which teams have won the most UEFA Champions league. The Champions League is the most important club tournament in Europe and the world.
The teams that have won the most this tournament are: Real Madrid (Spain), AC Milan (Italy), Barcelona (Spain), Bayern Munich (Germany), Liverpool (England), Ajax (Netherlands), Inter Milan (Italy), Manchester United (England), Juventus (Italy), and many others.
You’ll also want to find out which are the teams with the most league championships in the 5 big leagues.
The superstar guy
There is the fan that supports the team that buys the most superstars in the world, just throwing money everytime, everywhere.
Obviously, the ones with the most superstars will always be the teams that have bigger history in the sport. However, many teams have built a name for themselves buying the best players and coaches. Some great examples of these teams could be: Paris Saint-Germaine, Manchester City, and Chelsea.
The “Best Fans” guy
I think fans are definitely an important thing to consider when choosing a team. Most teams in Europe have SUPREMELY incredible fans. The atmosphere at a football/soccer game in Europe is just INSANE. Packed stadiums and fans singing all game long.
In the other side, there will always be teams which fans are always criticized or hated by the other teams. Either because they insist they are not loyal or because they hate on their own players.
Personally in my opinion, this are the teams I’ve found have the greatest fans: Borussia Dortmund (Germany), hands down, insane fans. AS Roma (Italy), I would say are one of the most loyal fans in the sport, and also have the most loyal players. Liverpool (England), best chants in the sport with the famous “You’ll never walk alone”. Here is a video of the atmosphere you can expect from a club with great fans:
Tip #1: Be sure you can watch it in TV
What is the point of supporting a team which games you can’t watch? That is one of the reasons I recommend choosing a team from the Top 5 leagues, because they are usually the most broadcasted leagues around the world.
You’ve got to start watching the sport to see which teams call your attention before choosing one.
Tip#2: Don’t pick the trends team
The biggest mistake you can do is support a team that you know that sucks but is just passing through a good moment. Next season, year, whenever the trend is over, you’ll get tired to watch your team loose and you’ll have to change teams.
Trust me! Changing teams is not an option for great soccer fans!
Tip #3: Consider your friend’s teams
There is nothing more boring that watching a sport that you have no friends to talk and discuss about it. If you don’t have friends that watch soccer then make ones!
Note: Football (soccer is actually called that way), is the biggest sport in the world, with the most fans. You’ll sure find a lot of friends to talk about it.
Consider from which leagues are your friend’s teams and choose a team that is their biggest rivals to always have someone to fight with. You could also choose their same team.
For example if your friends support Manchester United, then you could support Liverpool. Or if your friends support Barcelona then you could support Real Madrid.
Having this contrast of opinions just makes it so much more exciting every time you and your friends hang out to watch a game together.
Tip # 4: Get in love with a player
Anyone that watches any sport just has to get in love with a player, your idol. Start watching soccer and, in some time, you’ll have a player that you think: “Man, that guy is a beast!”.
When you like a player so much you tend to like the teams that he plays for. That’s what happened to me with my favorite player: Cristiano Ronaldo. Since I was a little kid I supported him when he played in Manchester United and now in Real Madrid. It is no coincidence that now this two teams are my favorite teams and the ones I support.
Also, you could like a player that is from your country and plays in Europe. For example, people from the United States may like Christian Pulisic. The 18 year old is just ripping it in the Borussia Dortmund. This could be a great reason to support this team.
People from Costa Rica may like Real Madrid because of their goalkeeper Keylor Navas. Colombians may like Bayern Munich because of James Rodriguez.
I’m not saying that this is a must, but it is definitely something that can help you decide between one team and another.
Tip #5: Don’t hesitate, give it time
The worst thing you can do is pick a team from the very beginning. You don’t know anything about soccer I suppose, why would you do it?
Take your time, some people may wait months or even years to realize which is the team that they really love. Just start watching the games and become a fan of the sport in general. The time will come when you start to like some teams and players more than others.
After choosing your team
After knowing which is the team that you will support DON’T EVER CHANGE IT. In soccer we just hate band wagoners.
Soccer is the most beautiful sport in the world, sometimes you win, sometimes you loose. Just be loyal to your team, and support them in every match. Buy all the jerseys from your favorite players, hang out with your friends to see the games, follow the team’s and soccer social medias.
Get totally into the soccer world. If you ever have the opportunity to travel to Europe to see your team play in their stadium is an experience you will never forget.
Conclusion
Taking the decision of what team to support is not a decision you can take at the moment. The best thing to do is to start watching soccer games by your own, and after some time you’ll start to like some teams more than others.
Remember choosing a team from the 5 big leagues: Spain, England, Germany, Italy, and France. Their games are broadcasted in more countries around the world and they are usually the best teams in the most important tournament: The UEFA Champions League.
Don’t put too much thought to this, the passion for a team is something that is born inside of you and not something you can create.