The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsManchester United were drawn to play FC Midtjylland in the last 16 of Europa League on Monday morning.
And the first thing that popped into a United fan’s head, after how did we get here of course, was FC who?
The name is quite a mouthful. As Midtjylland is written here, how many of you are letting your inner voice skip over it? The small unknown side are the Danish champions and were formed in the same year United won their historic 1999 treble.
That is all very well and good, but what other clubs out there that have similarly unpronounceable names? And as English speaking football fans, could we come across them some day soon?
Clwb Pel Droed Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Football Club
You guessed it, it is Welsh. The little side hails from the infamously named Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. Ever seen a strange clip of Channel Four’s Liam Dutton having a stroke during the weather? Well he was actually expertly pronouncing the village’s name. For supporters of the team they get a nice easy shortened version: Llanfairpwll.
So what are the chances some poor commentator will have to attempt such a tongue twister? Well Llanfairpwll are currently in Division One of the Welsh Alliance League. They finished 14th last season, so they probably won’t be sparking any bidding wars between Sky Sports and BT Sport anytime soon.
Fun fact: The surnames Roberts and Williams makes up most of the club roaster with four of each. Welsh indeed.
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu FC
Hailing from the land where they build towns on active volcanoes, the New Zealand football team Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu FC is a stunner of a name. Thankfully the club and the town usually goes by Taumata.
Do not expect the name to flash up on our screens anytime in the next century. Unless the local team suddenly become giants of the Kiwi soccer scene and then that said football league somehow gets billions of pounds to buy every good player ever and jump a million times up the football pecking order, they will be staying in New Zealand.
Fun Fact: The town’s name is from New Zealand’s native Maori language and is considered to be the second longest place name in any English-speaking country.
Bangkok FC
Ah! Tricked you, the Thailand club’s actually name reads: Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu FC. The Bangkok’s official name is currently the longest in football.
The club will not be gracing the world stage in the near future. Bangkok ply their trade in the Thai Division 1 League, so we are safe from them.
Fun Fact: Another Thailand team called TTM Samut Sakhon FC changed it’s name in 2009 from Thailand Tobacco Monopoly, presumably for health reasons.
Have you got any more good names? Do you fear for United against those Danish chaps? Was this piece a bit of a stretch? Can you pronounce any of the above?
