If you ever decide to establish a sports team, you should follow two simple rules when naming it. One is to go against using red as your primary jersey color, as it's the most common. The second one is to avoid having Red Devils as your nickname! For some reason, tons of professional teams use it, and they all probably think they're very original! Plus, why do you need to call yourself "Red" devils? Of course, the Devils are red (you heard us, Duke University!). It's like saying "Yellow Lemon" or "Orange Orange." Anyway, here's the list of the top ten best professional football teams with the Red Devils nickname, excluding Manchester United – to make you wonder who will take the first place!
10. Radnički Kragujevac
Radnički has such a passionate fans despite lacking success
Let's start with an exotic club all the way from Serbia! Radnički (translated as Laborers) is a widespread club name in Serbia, and the one from Kragujevac is one of the most famous. Founded in 1923 as Mladi Radnik (Young Laborer), the team never won a major trophy and had not reached European competitions.
The club became known as Crveni Đavoli (Red Devils) on September 7th, 1969, when their supporters created a fantastic atmosphere in one of their games. Both local and foreign journalists noticed the similarities with Manchester United fans, so they adopted the nickname. Nonetheless, Red Devils supporters proved that the handle fits them perfectly! Since their home stadium was in ruins, they could easily smash the stand and throw concrete at the away teams. No wonder the state promised they'll build them a new one!
9. Crawley Town Football Club
Crawley had their chances playing against mighty United
Calling Crawley Town F.C. the giants of European soccer would be an overstatement. Still, you can argue that they're the best club from West Sussex County in England! OK, this means little, as they've never played in the top division. Needless to say, they haven't won anything but a few lower-league titles and cups no one cares about.
Still, as they're the only other soccer club in England nicknamed the Red Devils, we had to have them on our list! Plus, they had an epic clash with Manchester United that made history! In 2010, Red Devils played against the more famous Red Devils in the Round of 16 of the FA Cup, losing only 1-0. Crawley entered the record books before this game, as they joined a few other non-league teams that did the same.
8. Deportivo Toluca Fútbol Club S.A. de C.V.
Toluca is a force in Mexican soccer
Deportivo Toluca Fútbol Club S.A. de C.V. is one of the most popular clubs in Mexico. Luckily, it's also known simply as Toluca, so we'll call them that. Founded in 1917, the club has won everything, including multiple CONCACAF Champions Cups. They've also produced numerous World Cup players representing Mexico and several other national teams, including Paraguay and Chile.
So, why are they called Los Diablos Rojos (The Red Devils)? In 1954, Toluca finally entered the top league, and the same year they introduced their mascot, dressed as a red devil. The team switched to red shirts only a year earlier, so it was easy to connect the dots. So no, they haven't copied United – they've earned their nickname before them!
7. Grazer AK
GAK is back, and so are fans
If the name Grazer AK confuses you, you may be more familiar with GAK. If you still have no clue about it, let us introduce you to the Austrian soccer club from Gratz. Even though founded in 1902, the team was only somewhat successful before the current millennium. In 2003-04 they won their first title while also being the runners-up a year before and after.
They also won three Austrian Cups during this period but didn't impress much internationally. Also, the famous Adolf Hütter played for this team. Unfortunately, the club folded in 2012, but they were revived shortly after. While their official nicknames are The Reds, The Red Jackets, and Athletics, GAK is also known as the Red Devils and even has a song about it! Yet, they thoroughly deserved it since their shirts, shorts, and socks are all red.
6. South Korea national team
Korean heroic performance against Germany is their brightest World Cup moment
South Korea is the most successful national soccer team in Asia, as they played in the semifinal of the World Cup in 2002. Still, the less we say about their controversial matches, the better. However, in the 2018 World Cup, they redeemed themselves after a heroic win against the champions, Germany.
While the official team nicknames are Taeguk Warriors and Tigers of Asia, they are much better known as the Red Devils. That's the name of their fans since 1983, and it was coined after they played in the final four of the FIFA World Youth Championship. Of course, Korean fans wear red, usually with devil horns. They're known to be highly passionate, but also because they never leave a mess behind them.
5. América de Cali
It's pure madness in Bogota when America de Cali plays!
The top Colombian club in the 20th century literally has the Red Devil on its crest, so you can guess their nickname. However, they have a few more, including The Scarlets, The Fuse, or The People's Passion. Despite all the domestic titles, the main rival of Pablo Escobar's Atlético Nacional is one of the unluckiest at the international level. América de Cali played four Copa Libertadores finals in 11 years, and they lost every time!
Anyway, what about their nickname? Again, it has nothing to do with Manchester United but with a local basketball club nicknamed The Red Devils. After watching them play in 1931, the club secretary was so impressed that he switched América de Cali colors to red and white and adopted the famous nickname. The devil on their crest has been there since 1940, although it was removed several times for religious reasons. Luckily, the times have changed, and the club's symbol is back, hopefully forever.
4. FC Kaiserslautern
FC Kaiserslautern is not your typical yo-yo club
1. FC Kaiserslautern is such a strange club. First, they have that number one in their official name, but more importantly, they've been through tremendous ups and downs. As they've won two German cups and four championships, they are among the country's most successful clubs. Also, they are the only German team to win the title after a promotion! Nonetheless, everyone forgot the last time they played in the top division, and it seems you can change that only in FIFA games.
You don't have to guess hard that the team got its nickname from the colors of their shirts, and of course, The Red Devil (Die Roten Teufel) is their mascot. The club is capitalizing on this further by selling the Devilishly Good package to fans. This includes tickets for the game and a one-night stay with breakfast.
3. Al Ahly Sporting Club
Al Ahly had some success even at FIFA Club World Cup
If you've ever heard about an African soccer club, it's probably the Egyptian giant Al Ahly SC. They're so big that they have five nicknames, including The Red Giant, The Red Castle, and the Red Devils, of course! As they are the most successful club on the continent, it's no wonder they're also known as The Club of the Century.
The team has close to one hundred domestic trophies, and they won everything possible in the continental competitions. In the 1983 semifinal of the African Champions League, they even played against Nkana Red Devils from Zambia. They won, showing that they're also the best Red Devils in Africa!
2. Club Atlético Independiente
Independiente is one of the most successful clubs in history
While it's in the Boca Juniors' and River Plate's shadow, Club Atlético Independiente are the soccer giants. The club won more than 20 Argentinian titles and cups and more than 20 continental championships, including seven Copa Libertadores! In 1973 and 1984, they triumphed in the Intercontinental Cup, becoming the best team in the world!
The team earned its nickname a hundred years ago, as the press called them Diablos Rojos (Red Devils) since they played attacking soccer and won everything they could during the 1920s. Of course, their shirts were red at the time, and it hasn't changed since.
1. Belgium national team
Belgium had some inspiring World Cup performances in 2018, but they could have done more
Belgium's soccer team has yet to win any major competition. Still, they have medals from the World Cups and the European Championships. Belgium produced tons of top players throughout the decades, even though being roughly the size of Hawaii or Maryland. This national team had a bizarre debut as they competed against France for the Évence Coppée Trophy. However, as the match finished with both sides scoring three times, the trophy was never awarded! Moreover, even though Georges Quéritet bagged two goals, this was his first and only game for the national team!
The official team nickname, The Red Devils (in German, French, and Dutch), was coined in the early 20th century by a local journalist as the team unexpectedly beat The Netherlands. However, the name was modified a few times, so the Belgians were also known as The White Devils or The Black Devils, based on their primary shirt color. However, The Red Devils are what they've been sticking to now!
As we've seen on our top ten list, many famous teams are known as the Red Devils, and most of them haven't been inspired by Manchester United. Connecting the colors of the shirt and the intensity of play usually resulted in coining the nickname, which many clubs and nations use for decades or even a century. While it's present in other sports, it's hard to argue that The Red Devils will always be associated with soccer!
Do youDo you know any other team nickname that's overused? What is the nickname of your favorite team? Tell us in the comment below!