The hidden stories behind Champions League club crests

11/09/2025

By RSR Málaga – 11 September


Football crests often carry fascinating stories tied to culture, history, and identity. In the Champions League, several clubs showcase symbols with deep meaning.


  1. Ajax: features the Greek hero Ajax, mentioned in Homer’s Iliad, who fought in the Trojan War.
  2. PSV Eindhoven: based on the city’s flag, with a top banner showing the initials of the club; founded by Philips workers.
  3. Sporting CP: the lion comes from the Castelo Branco family coat of arms, key to football’s growth in Lisbon.
  4. Club Brugge: inspired by the city’s coat of arms; the diagonal stripes symbolize Bruges’ many bridges.
  5. Olympiakos: a young athlete wearing a laurel crown, representing heroes of Ancient Greece.
  6. Slavia Prague: the inverted red star has symbolized hope since the club’s foundation.
  7. Bodø/Glimt: represents the midnight sun in Bodø; the design also forms the letter G.
  8. FC Copenhagen: the lion comes from both the city’s and Denmark’s coat of arms, featuring the national flag.
  9. Galatasaray: formed by the stylized letters G and S in club colors.
  10. Union Saint-Gilloise: rings symbolize union, while the crown reflects its full name: Royal Union Saint-Gilloise.
  11. Qarabağ: displays two Karabakh horses, a regional symbol of Azerbaijan.
  12. Pafos FC: features the face of poet Evágoras Policárides, a Cypriot national martyr.
  13. Kairat Almaty: shows apples, a symbol of Almaty city and its region in Kazakhstan.


Each crest tells a unique story, linking football clubs with their roots and history.