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 Germanys 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.
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.
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
Ploieti
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
Przemysaw 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.
Radosaw Kossakowski is Associate Professor in sociology in the Institute of Sociology at the University of Gdask, Poland. His research interests are focused on the sociology of sport, football studies, qualitative methodology, and masculinities studies.
Wojciech Woniak is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Economics and Sociology at the University of ód, 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.
