Discover how provocations from rivals became the greatest symbols of passion in Brazil
The scream echoes from the stands, full of provocation and venom. “Porco!” shouts the rival fans. But instead of retreating, the white mass explodes into a deafening chant, embracing the offense like a trophy. On the other side of the city, the same thing happens. “Chicken!” they shout, and Fiel Torcida responds with even more strength.
In football, the line between offense and pride is thin, drawn with the ink of rivalry and passion. But have you ever stopped to think about the origins of big club nicknames? Why is Palmeiras a Pig and Santos a Fish? The answer is a mind-blowing journey through the heart of the sport.
The turning point: when swearing becomes an anthem
Many of the most famous nicknames in our football were not born in marketing rooms, but in the heat of the classic, as a weapon to hurt the opponent. What the rivals did not expect was that this weapon would be taken, given new meaning and transformed into a shield of pride.
- The Palmeiras Pig: In the 60s, the rivalry with Corinthians was on fire. To provoke the Palmeiras residents, many of whom were of Italian origin, the Corinthians called them “pigs”. The offense stuck and hurt for years, until in 1986, Palmeiras’ marketing director, João Roberto Gobbato, had a brilliant idea. He convinced star Jorginho Putinatti to come onto the field for a photo holding a pig on his lap. The image became a symbol. The club embraced the nickname. What was shame became the purest demonstration of strength and identity.
- The red-black vulture: Flamengo’s story is even more visceral. The nickname “Urubu” was a racist insult shouted by Fluminense fans, associating the large mass of black and poor Flamengo fans with the bird. In 1969, during a Fla-Flu at Maracanã, a group of red and black fans, tired of the insult, released a real vulture on the lawn before the game. The bird flew over the stadium and landed on the field with the club’s flag tied to its feet. Flamengo won the match, and the vulture, once a symbol of prejudice, became the mascot that represents the race and soul of the biggest fans in the world.
From sea to countryside: nicknames that were born from identity
Not all nicknames, however, came from a provocation. Many are a direct reflection of the geography, colors or historical moments that defined the soul of a club. These are names that were born as a celebration of the essence itself.
- The Santos Fish: The origin of Santos’ nickname is as clear as sea water. As it is the main club in a coastal city, the association with marine life was immediate and natural. Calling Santos de Peixe is celebrating its connection with the ocean, the port and the Caiçara identity. It’s simple, direct and powerful.
- Colorado Gaucho: Internacional de Porto Alegre’s nickname simply comes from the vibrant color of its shirt: red. “Colorado” is the passionate way of referring to what defines them visually. It’s a name that evokes the passion that boils in the veins of every fan at Beira-Rio.
- The tricolor Immortal: Grêmio carries a nickname forged in the drama. The nickname “Imortal Tricolor” gained strength after the historic “Battle of the Aflitos” in 2005. With just seven players on the field, the team achieved an epic victory against Náutico, guaranteeing access to Série A. That game proved that Grêmio does not die, does not give up. He is immortal.
Identity on the tip of your tongue: what do these names mean today?
Shouting “Galo” in Belo Horizonte, “Leão” in Recife or “Vovô” in Fortaleza is much more than just cheering. It’s carrying in your chest a story of struggles, glory and, sometimes, overcoming prejudice. The origin of the big clubs’ nicknames reveals the soul of each fan base. They show how football has the power to turn negative into positive, hate into unconditional love.
These names are proof that a club’s identity is built both on and off the field. It is forged in the cry of the rival, in the celebration of an impossible victory and in the pride of one’s roots. Each nickname is a living chapter of history, rewritten with each game, each goal, each time the fans sing it at the top of their lungs.
In the end, it doesn’t matter the origin. In the scream that echoes from the stands, what you hear is the voice of history, of struggle and of a passion that cannot be explained, only felt. And that is the true magic that makes football the most loved sport on the planet.
