10 Songs Inspired by Footballers

Will TideyJun 7, 2018

What do George Best, Diego Maradona, Francesco Totti, Roberto Baggio and Thierry Henry all have in common?

Their contributions to the world of football have all inspired songs.

And you're about to hear them.

I should warn you, most of the tracks on this list are horrible. The Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lukas Podolski tributes are particularly atrocious, and they should both come with a health warning.

Take a listen, and please let me know your favorite. I'm also keen to learn of any I might have missed.

"Belfast Boy" by Don Fardon

1 of 10

Don Fardon's song "Belfast Boy" was an ode to Manchester United great George Best. Here are the lyrics for the first verse:

When I saw you, you looked like a diamond
As you played in the dust and the grime
Just a boy from the country of Ireland
And I knew I could make you shine
Coz you move like a downtown dancer
With your hair hung down like a mane
And your feet play tricks like a juggler
As you weave to the sound of your name

"

"

Thierry Henry P.I.M.P Titi

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Arsenal fans will know this one only too well. It's remix of 50 Cent's" P.I.M.P," this one honoring the man who just made a rather high-profile return to the Gunners.

Now if you come on down to Highbury
You can see Thierry Henry
He is the best player you will ever see
Thierry -ierry Henry

"Strachan" by the Hitchers

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Irish band The Hitchers paid tribute to former Leeds and Manchester United midfielder Gordon Strachan with this ditty in 1997. Here's a sample of the lyrics:

She waited for the match to start
to start a fight up with me.
She said, "what's that you're watching?",
"It's a Programme about art".
She said, "A Programme about art?", I said
"A programme about art" and then the greatest
midfield artist of them all walked out onto the park.
The crowd were on their feet and they whistled and
they cheered for the tiny wee Scotsman
with the copper coloured hair.

"Non E Un Miraggio! Roberto Baggio" by Il Generale & Ludus Pinski

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Released in the build-up to Italia 90, this reggae-infused number by Il Generale & Ludus Pinski celebrated the talents of pony-tailed footballing magician Roberto Baggio.

I can't tell you much more than that, but the lyrics clearly talk about Baggio and goals a lot.

"Sharp as a Needle" by Barmy Army

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Barmy Army was a one-album project that set out to celebrate the passion of football supporters in the late 1980s.

This track is an ode to Liverpool, sampling both Abide with Me and You'll Never Walk Alone. Club greats Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish are thought to have played a role in inspiring it.

"Roger Milla" by Pepe Kalle

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Remember Roger Milla, the hip-swinging Cameroon striker who lit up Italia 90 and defied the passing of time?

The late singer, musician and band leader Pepe Kalle thought so much of him that he named his 1990 album Roger Milla in tribute.

"Who's Da Man" by Elias Featuring Frans

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As if Zlatan Ibrahimovic needed a pop song to swell his already-enormous ego...

This is almost unwatchable. But, at the same time, it's strangely compelling.

The track was No. 1 on the Swedish charts for 10 weeks in 2006!

Frans was seven years old at the time, and he will surely grow old in shame of being reminded of it.

"Francesco Totti" by Anche Io Sono Francesco

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If there's a song about Roberto Baggio, it goes without saying Francesco Totti is worthy of a number, too.

The mercurial Italian is still captain of Roma, and he is still capable of the kind of brilliance that inspired this emotive, lighters-in-the-air anthem.

All together now... "FRANCESCO!"

"Der Lu-Lu-Lu-Song" by Jurgen and Libero 5

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I challenge readers not to fall off their chairs laughing when they watch this one.

I also challenge you to not be singing the chorus over and over in your head for at least a month.

Lukas Podolski is something of a big-tournament specialist on the international stage with Germany, and this track by Jurgen and Libero 5—whoever they are—celebrates that fact.

"Lu-Lu-Lu, Lukas Podolski!"