By Chris Wright
Apropos of nothing, here’s Pies’ pick of our 20 favourite South American football badges. Are you sitting comfortably? Then we shall begin..
1. Colo Colo, Chile
Emblazoned with a Mapuche indian, who refused to surrender to the Spanish colonialists way back when…
2. Crucero del Norte, Argentina
A vision of the future, but as imagined in 1969…
3. Rocha FC, Uruguay
So delightfully naff, like the lid of a margarine tub…
4. Bolivian national side
What embodies the “never surrender” spirit of a nation better than a giant chicken? (To be fair, we think it’s supposed to be a vulture)…
5. Deportivo Azogues, Ecuador
Hence the nickname: The Macaws…
6. Club Tijuana, Mexico
Or “Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente” to be precise, Tijuana are not adverse to giving their fans nightmares forever while promoting their new kits…
7. Club America, Mexico
A little bit of primary colour action never hurt anyone…
8. Defensor Sporting, Uruguay
Lighthouse family…
9. Correcaminos UAT, Mexico
Translates as ‘The Roadrunners.” Meep meep…
10. Newell’s Old Boys, Argentina
Heh heh. Nob. Heh heh…
11. CA Huracan, Argentina
They call themselves “The Little Balloons” for reasons unbeknownst to us…
12. Araguaina, Brazil
We’ve got no idea what the chap with the huge cotton bud is all about, but “The Big Bull of the North” possess one of the most wonderful club crests we’ve ever seen…
13. Club Deportivo Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico
Say what you want about the Black Lions, but that is one cool badge…
14. Jaguares, Mexico
They even played in jaguar print strips for a time…
15. Tiburones Rojos Veracruz, Mexico
Fun fact: The Red Sharks are former employers of none other than Rene Higuita…
16. Gimnasia ELP, Argentina…
Now that’s a proper badge! The heraldic overtones are due to Gimnasia also dabbling in fencing…
16. Club Deportivo ESPOLI, Ecuador
The club belong to the Police Academy in Quito, who obviously let someone’s five-year-old son design their badge…
17. Universitario, Peru
Just a whopping great “U”. Can’t really argue with that…
18. Pumas de la UNAM, Mexico
If the Autobots had a big cat division…
19. Dorados, Mexico
We’re not on the tourist board or anything, but we reckon the fishing’s good in Culiacan…
20. FC Manta, Ecuador
Ain’t that just the saddest thing you’ve ever seen?