1. 1860 Munich
One of the founding fathers of the Bundesliga, and a dominant force in the early days of Germany’s top flight, 1860 Munich have since fallen on hard times. The third division is no place for a team with their illustrious origins, but they remain one of the most iconic and instantly recognisable clubs in the south. This crest wouldn’t look out of place on a beer bottle or an old vintage car. Simple and classy.
2. Aberdeen
Surely the world’s best example of a goal being incorporated into an acronym? The ‘A’ in ‘AFC’ has been masterfully replaced by the posts of a side-on goal, with (yes, that’s right!) a football forming the cross-stroke. Great font, gorgeous shade of red and just an all round classic.
3. AC Milan
You can blame the English for AC Milan. Expats Alfred Edwards and Herbert Kilpin started the organisation as a cricket and football club - that’s why the spelling of the city remains anglicised to this day. Fitting, then, that the cross of St. George finds its way into the emblem of the team.
The red cross is the Milanese flag, the stripes represent the team’s shirts and the “ACM” stands for… well, you know. It’s the most famous oval in the world - along with the cricket ground, of course.
4. Ajax
Considered one of the coolest clubs in Europe due to their Cruyffian philosophies and constant promotion of young talent, Ajax also have a pretty swish badge to match their beliefs. The gentleman featured on the crest of the Dutch giants is Ajax, a Greek hero and fabled warrior in Homer’s Iliad. He is drawn using just 11 lines, the number of players on a football team. Ajax can’t help but be cool, can they?
5. Al Ahly
Any team which dares to write “Club of the Century” on their own badge deserves a place on this list.
Al Ahly have a whopping great black bird, more stars than you could shake a stick out and plenty of gold. This is regal. They think a lot of their club and it’s a big, bold design that catches the attention.
6. Arsenal (1936-49)
The only Arsenal badge that doesn’t feature a cannon, the Gunners’ art deco effort of the 1930s is a design still synonymous with the club to this day. The “A” stands for Arsenal, the “C” for Club, with a football in the middle. Get it?
This club logo was part of legendary manager Herbert Chapman’s vision to “rebrand” his team, tying in with the beautiful art deco East Stand that still stands today. This was the badge that dragged Arsenal out of the Victorian era and into the modern club that they became.