Why are Real Madrid fans called ‘Vikings’?
Real Madrid’s famous all-white home kit makes club nicknames such as ‘Los Blancos’ (‘the Whites’) and ‘Los Merengues’ (‘the Meringues’) fairly easy to explain . However, another common moniker for the 14-time European champions, who visit arch rivals Barcelona in the first Clásico of the 2023/24 season this weekend, does need some unpacking: ‘Los Vikingos’ (‘the Vikings’) . See also: Barcelona vs Real Madrid: why is it called El Clásico? Owen talks Bellingham, Messi and his Madrid exit Real Madrid fans embrace Viking imagery At Madrid Game s, supporters of the club may be seen wearing the horned helmets traditionally associated with Vikings - the seafaring Scandinavians who, between the ninth and 11th centuries, raided and colonised areas across Europe. Viking imagery has also been known to feature on the large tifos that Madrid fans have made a habit of unfurling inside their Bernabéu home stadium on big occasions. Before a Spanish-capital derby against Atlético Madrid in 2...