Latin American Football Team Name Origins
It's long held philosophy among supporters around the world, that upon arriving somewhere new, the best way to get an accurate cultural gauge of place is on the terraces of a football stadium. This is where people bare their souls, their passions, their joy and despair. You can see a people at their best and worst, while catching a flavour of religion, politics and individual identity. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than in Latin America, where club's traditions often reflect a regions culture and industry. Here's a guide to some of South and Central America's professional football clubs that through their traditions celebrate the worker.
Mining of precious metals brought many Scots and Welsh settlers to the Americas, and with them came football. Both Brazil and Argentina credit their origins in the sport to Scottish immigrants and it's little surprise that a number of clubs throughout the continent honour this history. Cobreloa of Chilean top-flight play in copper coloured shirts, with their name literally translating as 'copper-river'. While fellow copper miners, Cobresal go as far as to have a miner's helmet as their official club crest. Peru also honours it's copper miners with Cobresal, formed in 2008, representing the city of Moquegua in the Primera Division.
The public sector is also well represented in Latin American football teams. CSD Municipal are arguably Guatemala's biggest club, but were originally founded to represent the workers and missionaries that chose to volunteer in Guatemala City's public services. There are also professional Municipal clubs in the top leagues of Peru and El Salvador.
Petroleum has come to define large parts of the America's and has played a key role in shaping the history and culture of large parts of South and Central America. Oriente Petrolero from Santa Cruz in Bolivia was set up for workers of the local YPFB oil refinery. While Ecuadorian counterparts Esmeraldas Petrolero, were formed in 1977 and have since become giants of Ecuador's Serie A. Columbia also have their oil-inspired club in Alianza Petrolera, as do Mexico with Salamanca F.C.
Argentina pays tribute to it's railway workers with Primera Nacional clubs, Club Ferro Carril Oeste and Rosario Central. While those who made the sacrifice to volunteer in Costa Rica to build the nation's travel infrastructure are also honoured with Santos de Guápiles Fútbol Club. However it's the railway workers of Brazil that are best represented in football, with five clubs including Esporte Clube Noroeste, demonstrating what a valuable contribution these hard-working people made to the development of the country.
Mining of precious metals brought many Scots and Welsh settlers to the Americas, and with them came football. Both Brazil and Argentina credit their origins in the sport to Scottish immigrants and it's little surprise that a number of clubs throughout the continent honour this history. Cobreloa of Chilean top-flight play in copper coloured shirts, with their name literally translating as 'copper-river'. While fellow copper miners, Cobresal go as far as to have a miner's helmet as their official club crest. Peru also honours it's copper miners with Cobresal, formed in 2008, representing the city of Moquegua in the Primera Division.
The public sector is also well represented in Latin American football teams. CSD Municipal are arguably Guatemala's biggest club, but were originally founded to represent the workers and missionaries that chose to volunteer in Guatemala City's public services. There are also professional Municipal clubs in the top leagues of Peru and El Salvador.
Petroleum has come to define large parts of the America's and has played a key role in shaping the history and culture of large parts of South and Central America. Oriente Petrolero from Santa Cruz in Bolivia was set up for workers of the local YPFB oil refinery. While Ecuadorian counterparts Esmeraldas Petrolero, were formed in 1977 and have since become giants of Ecuador's Serie A. Columbia also have their oil-inspired club in Alianza Petrolera, as do Mexico with Salamanca F.C.
Argentina pays tribute to it's railway workers with Primera Nacional clubs, Club Ferro Carril Oeste and Rosario Central. While those who made the sacrifice to volunteer in Costa Rica to build the nation's travel infrastructure are also honoured with Santos de Guápiles Fútbol Club. However it's the railway workers of Brazil that are best represented in football, with five clubs including Esporte Clube Noroeste, demonstrating what a valuable contribution these hard-working people made to the development of the country.
