Why Real Madrid fans are called ‘Vikingos’ and Barcelona fans are called ‘Culés’

We often hear supporters of Los Blancos refer to themselves as ‘Vikingos’ and Barça fans declaring themselves ‘Culés’, but where did those names originate?

Spanish football fans have grown up referring to Real Madrid supporters as Vikingos and FC Barcelona fans as Culés and - and that’s how fans from both clubs proudly describe themselves. Both terms have been used freely among fans for years and are not in any way considered derogatory. The origins of both words have been widely discussed - even beyond Spain, and sometimes with different theories to how they came about.

In the case of the Culés, the origin of the name is relatively clear. It dates back to the club’s early days when the team played at their first proper stadium. Barça was founded in November 1899 and spent their first season playing at the Velódromo de la Bonanova - on a pitch which they rented and shared with neighbours, FC Catalán, a club which was founded the previous month. From there, Barcelona moved to another temporary home, a makeshift pitch that was set up on land adjacent to and owned by the luxurious Hotel Casanovas.

By this time, the club was gaining in popularity with several thousand spectators turning up to watch home games. But Barça still did not have a fixed home and were on the move again after just one season - first to a ground by the Carretera de la Horta, then to another by Calle Muntaner.

In March 1909, the club finally settled, after buying land on Calle de la Indústria (renamed Calle de París in 1922). However, the Camp del Carrer Industria, known locally as “La Escopidora” was not big enough to accomodate all of Barça’s rapidly growing fanbase. It had a capacity of 6,000 - but hundreds more were turning up for home games.