Football, Fandom and Collective Memory : Global Perspectives

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.

Przemysław 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.

Radosław Kossakowski is Associate Professor in sociology in the Institute of Sociology at the University of Gdańsk, Poland. His research interests are focused on the sociology of sport, football studies, qualitative methodology, and masculinities studies.

Wojciech Woźniak is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Economics and Sociology at the University of Łódź, 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.