Five cool clubs to support in Europe

A lot of football fans like to adopt a second club, mostly from overseas as ‘theirs’. This can also come in the guise of looking good when your club goes on to achieve big things, and you are able to tell everyone that you knew about them long before they reached the general consciousness. But, have you had your thunder stolen, now that Borussia Dortmund are hip? Distressed that Twente have lost their style? Frustrated that Valencia have sold all of their best players? How about trying something new? These are five clubs that are cool to support.

Feyenoord – Holland

Feyenoord have recently had to turn to their own youth system for first-team players because of financial problems. This means that their team is packed with young, talented players. They play a quick, hard-pressing, stylish brand of football, and the young starlets that make this happen are now on the radar of major clubs across Europe. The likes of Jordy Clasie, Stephen de Vriej and Tony Trindade are names to look out for and all reflect the local identity. They are a little bit like Dortmund before they got famous.

The other appealing thing with Feyenoord is that they have a strong and very well-defined identity. They are the club of the working class port city of Rotterdam. Rotterdamers often feel as if they play second fiddle to the more glamorous Amsterdam, so they have a certain under dog quality to them. They play in a direct and confrontational style that challenges their supposed underdog status, and tries to wrestle superiority away from their big city neighbours.

The team reflects this personality and are backed by boisterous and vociferous support from the stands. This year, they are mounting a serious challenge for the Dutch title and could make a big impact in Europe next year. Get in at the ground floor whilst no one knows about them.

Real Sociedad – Spain

Sociedad is the connoisseurs’ choice. After some recent troubles, they have taken La Liga by storm this season and are currently 4th in the table. What makes them so cool is that they know exactly who they are and what they represent, and they have a home-grown team of players who show that.

Sociedad play slick, artistic, passing football, with Xabi Prieto and Asier Illarramendi the main conductors in the middle of midfield. Illarramendi in particular is an opulently talented player with more than a little Xabi Alonso to his game. You could potentially be watching the future of the Spain midfield when watching them.

They come from the proud Basque region and so carry an ‘us vs them’ mentality. If you are put off by all the glamour and money of the Classico and prefer a more artisan approach, then Sociedad is the club for you.

Parma – Italy

In some ways, Italian football has come full circle. It used to be cool before it became popular, then it became boring and now it is cool again because it is no longer the dominant, moneyed league. That is also a good description of Parma. Anyone who watched Gazzetta Italia in the 90s will remember the bold blue and yellow shirts of the team that at one point boasted of Buffon, Thuram, Cannavaro, Veron and Crespo together. They had a certain chic back then, compared to the more famous teams from Milan and Juventus, and this still rings true today.

With the suited Roberto Donadoni prowling the touchline as manager, the team play pretty football. What gives them a certain edge is that unlike some of the bigger teams in Italy, they have a flawed beauty. You will enjoy watching them, but at the same time know that they are not quite going to do it consistently. They will tease you with a spectacular win followed by an unbelievable loss. If you like to experience football as a roller-coaster ride, then Parma are for you.

Lyon – France

Remember when Lyon won the French league every year? Not cool. Well, now that they are very much in the shadows of the PSG behemoth and have lost their dominant sheen, they are okay for the football cool kid to support. The days of big money sales and a conveyor belt of talent are gone, but the team now boasts a young home-developed core which is beginning to see success.

For the first time, Lyon have had to truly embrace youth development, not just as a means of cashing in, but of being competitive. And it is working. Alex Lacazette is a number 10 who ghosts around the pitch, popping up unnoticed to score. He could be really special.

It’s cool to support a team in France. If you say ‘Oh, I watch a lot of the French league’, footballistas are immediately impressed, and Lyon are a cool team to pick.

Bayer Leverkusen – Germany

Leverkusen were good when the Bundesliga was about as uncool as it got, and they played with a machine-like efficiency with a team of players that were hard to get excited about. All of that has changed now though.

Leverkusen have a young team which is brimming with stars. We’re all now familiar with Dortmund and Bayern’s young Germans, but how about a look at what Leverkusen are storing up. Andre Schürrle and Stefan Kießling are both 22-year old attackers who have the potential to play for any of the biggest teams. Goalkeeper Bernd Leno is going to go under the radar of the casual fan because of the log jam in goal for Germany, but he could play for most other countries, including England. The star man though is Lars Bender, the one man midfield wrecking crew. He breaks up attacks with ease and his physical presence and infectious enthusiasm make him easy to spot.

Plus, red and black is just a good set of colours. They’re right behind the big two in Germany and give a certain amount of kudos that you know what you are talking about. The Bundesliga is cool, so pick the coolest team in it.