Football, Fandom and Collective Memory

This book examines the topic of identity and collective memory in football fandom. Drawing on global research in history, sociology and political science, the book looks at how, where and why football fans and supporters' groups introduce particular role models into their self-identity and performative narratives. The book presents original, cutting-edge research that illustrates the complex, multidimensional nature of the (re-)formulation of collective memory and the elevation of role models. It looks at the processes by which some supporters' groups celebrate historical and contemporary figures - including political leaders, warriors, revolutionaries, or armed resistance groups - that they believe embody patriotic, regional or nationalist virtues, as well as supporters' groups who define their patriotism in opposition to these figures. The book presents cases ranging from Ukrainian football ultras in the shadow of Russian aggression, and Jewish role models in Germany's collective football memory, to the symbology of Che Guevara and Diego Maradona in Brazilian and Argentinian football, to hero formation and the myths of national identity in Australian football. This is fascinating reading for anybody with an interest in the sociology, culture or politics of sport, or in fandom, identity, nationalism more broadly in sociology, political science or history.

Przemyslaw Nosal is Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Sociology at Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland. His research interests cover the sociology of sport, culture studies, sociology of gambling and social policy. He is a member of the European Sociological Association and the Polish Sociological Association. Radoslaw Kossakowski is Associate Professor in sociology in the Institute of Sociology at the University of Gdansk, Poland. His research interests are focused on the sociology of sport, football studies, qualitative methodology, and masculinities studies. Wojciech Wozniak is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Economics and Sociology at the University of Lódz, Poland. His research interests include sociology of sport (particularly the relations between sport and politics) social inequality, public/political discourse analysis and Finnish public policies.

1. Introduction to Studies on Football, Fandom and Collective Memory: Why Investigate the Role Models of Football Fans? Part I Role Models, Nation and Patriotism 2. The Evolution of Ukrainian Football Ultras in the Context of War: Tribune of Heroes 3. The Political and War Symbology in the Universe of the Supporters: A Reading of the Appropriations of the Figure of Che Guevara Between Organized Supporters in Brazil 4. An Example of Patriotism Within a Subcultural Group: Bad Blue Boys Zagreb 5. The Rejection of Individuals as Heroes in Football Supporters' Groups: Difficult Heroism in Mexico 6. Hero Formation and the Myth of Australian National Identity in Australian Football Part II Role Models and History 7. From Collective Memory to Collective Identity: A Case Study of FC Bayern Munich 8. On the Ambivalences of Fandom's Collective Memory: Communist Officer and the Hero of the Anti-Communist Terraces 9. Cuauhtémoc Blanco: Hero and Antihero, and his Personification of Contradictions in Mexican Society 10 Collective Memory and Charismatic Affect: The Cult of Maradona Among Argentinean and Neapolitan Football Supporters Part III Teams and their Role Models 11. Deconstructing the Socio-Political, Ethnic, and Racial Dimensions of Zimbabwe's Dream Team (1992 - 1995): 'Ndivo vakomana vekwedu vanotamba kufanana neshumba' 12. Claiming, Space and Identity: Analysing Tractor Football Club's Catalyst Role in the Publicization of Ethnic and Ecological Claims, 13. Between a Historical Moment and the Brand of a Football Fan Group: The Republic of Ploie-ti 14. History, Collective Memory, and Social Representations Associated to Futebol Clube do Porto: The "Nation" and its Hero 15. Folk Tale Patterns and Memory-Building Processes in Swedish Football: Transfer Me a Hero 16. Fandom Identity, Collective Memory and Blank Spots in Knowledge: Conclusions and the Book's Contribution to Further Research Agenda