@rapsantos 18 February 2021 edited more from that month

International Derbies in the World of Football: Europe (Part 1)

While waiting for this year's season of the **Copa Paulino Alcantara**, I'm setting my expectations between **Kaya FC - Iloilo** and **Loyola FC** even if these clubs now represent their respective cities and they would meet again on the pitch as they square it off for this year's tournament. Aside from supporting our local league and the national team, there's nothing more to describe by watching other international football leagues. To define what a ***derby*** is in the world of Football, it is *a rivalry between two teams, it can be a feud and more than just an ordinary match; these are matters where the pride of the club and fans are at stake*. There are many derbies to mention, but we'll get to them individually by each continent & each country. We'll start in Europe. There are international derbies from the **UEFA Champions League**, to other European countries that have numerous derbies so we'll take a look at them one by one, but I'll discuss each country that has numerous rivalries soon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_FUh2ZUCQY Let's dive deep into the *former kingdom then turned* ***Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia***. Now both of these countries are independent. First, in **Croatia**, it is called *the* ***Eternal Derby*** *between* ***HNK Hajduk Split*** *&* ***Dinamo Zagreb***. Before the country became independent in **1991**, Croatia's famous clubs were part of the ***Big 4 of Yugoslav Football*** (the other 2 which I'll mention later) since the Yugoslav championship was established in **1946** until **1991**. Their rivalry started in the **1920s** when Hajduk would clash with ***HSK Građanski*** when the country is under the rule of the monarchs. Građanski was disbanded, hence **Dinamo Zagreb** was born retaining their crest & colors. In **1992**, Dinamo & Hajduk won 25 out of 27 Croatian championship titles, and 21 out of 27 Croatian Cups. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HNK_Hajduk_Split https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNK_Dinamo_Zagreb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdj7jBT9tu0 From Croatia, let's head on to **Serbia**. They may have numerous derbies, but the most popular one was the ***Belgrade Derby*** *between city rivals* ***Red Star Belgrade*** *&* ***Partizan Belgrade***. Both of these clubs were part of the ***Big 4 of Yugoslav Football***. They originate in political institutions after **World War II**. Red Star was formed on **March 4, 1945**, as part of the new civil authority in Yugoslavia. Partizan was founded 7 months later on **October 4, 1945**, as the sports association of the **Yugoslav People's Army**. Their first match was on **January 5, 1947**, Red Star won 4 - 3 then the rivalry on both of these clubs started when Partizan won 1 - nil on **April 27, 1947**. It was described as "*European football's most bitter rivalries*", and regarded worldwide as among the fiercest matches. A derby can be from the same city, but this one has different ideologies under the influence of Communism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Star_Belgrade https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FK_Partizan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svnk3emqRmM Next, we head off to **Turkey** where this country separates from both continents, *Asia & Europe*. Two of the most successful clubs and widely regarded as the biggest football match in Turkey - the ***Intercontinental Derby*** *between* ***Galatasaray SK & Fenerbahçe SK***. ***Galatasaray*** is based on the European side of Istanbul, originally the name came from their educational institutions and it is one of the oldest schools in Turkey since **1481**, hence the sports club was founded on **October 30, 1905**, by ***Ali Sami Yen*** and other students of **Galatasaray High School**. ***Fenerbahçe*** is on the other side of Istanbul, on the ***Kadıköy*** *district* in **Istanbul**, their name translates to ***Garden of the Beacon***, founded on **May 3, 1907**, by ***Ziya Songülen***, ***Ayetullah Bey***, and ***Necip Okaner***. It was secretly founded to gain a low profile during the **Ottoman empire**. The rule was so strict when Sultan Abdul Hamid II forbade the Turkish youth to set up or engage in Football played by the English families that was watched in envy. So the 3 men came together that their district needs to form their own football club. Outside of the stadium, the supporters from both clubs including ***Beşiktaş J.K.*** set aside their differences to unite for their country to protest against the current government. When it comes to trophies, Galatasaray won 22 **Süper Lig** titles, 18 **Turkish Cups**, 16 **Turkish Super Cups**, the **UEFA Cup and Super Cup** in **2000**, becoming the first and only Turkish team to win a UEFA competition. While Fenerbahçe won 28 **National Championships**, they reached the quarterfinals of the **1963-64** season of the **UEFA Winners' Cup** and in **2007-08** season of the **UEFA Champions League**. In **2012-13**, their semi-final performance during the **UEFA Europa League** was marked as one of their milestones in international football. Their first match was on **January 17, 1909**. It was a friendly match between both clubs as Galatasaray won 2 - nil. Fenerbahçe answered back by defeating Galatasaray by 4 goals to 2 in the **Istanbul Football League** on **January 4, 1914**. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Sami_Yen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziya_Song%C3%BClen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayetullah_Bey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necip_Okaner https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Be%C5%9Fikta%C5%9F_J.K. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzE9nicA4w0 From the endless support of the fans at both clubs, to resist against the Turkish government, we head off to Spain. Aside from ***El Clasico*** *between* ***FC Barcelona & Real Madrid CF***, both of these clubs have other rivalries around Spain and other football clubs in Europe. The biggest rivalry of them all is from Spain's main capital - the ***Madrid Derby*** *between* ***Real Madrid CF*** & ***Atletico de Madrid***. Originally known as ***Madrid Football Club*** founded on **March 6, 1902**. In **1920**, ***King Alfonso XIII*** bestowed the club adding the name ***Real*** (***Royal***) together with the royal crown on their crest. The club produced notable stars like ***Raul Gonzalez Blanco***, ***Iker Casillas***, ***Sergio Ramos***, ***Karim Benzema***, and ***Cristiano Ronaldo***. Real Madrid CF won 34 **La Liga titles**, 19 **Copa del Rey**, 11 **Supercopa de España**, a **Copa Eva Duarte**, and a **Copa de la Liga** in their domestic league. In the international scene, they won 13 **UEFA Champions League titles**, 2 **UEFA Cups**, and 4 **UEFA Super Cups**. Atletico de Madrid, known by their nickname ***Los Colchoneros*** (***The Mattress Makers***) which was based on the colors of their traditional mattresses. Founded on **April 26, 1903**, originally known as ***Athletic Club Sucursal de Madrid*** by three **Basque** students living in Madrid. The third most successful club in Spanish Football behind Real Madrid & FC Barcelona, and have won **La Liga** on 10 occasions, including a league and cup double in **1996**; the **Copa del Rey** on 10 occasions; 2 **Supercopas de España**, a **Copa Presidente FEF**, and a **Copa Eva Duarte**. They were the **UEFA Winners' Cup** in **1962**, runners-up in **1963** and **1986**, the **UEFA Champions League runners-up** in **1974**, **2014** and **2016**, they also won the **Europa League** in **2010**, **2012** and **2018**, and the **UEFA Super Cup** in **2010**, **2012** and **2018** including the **1974 Intercontinental Cup**. Their rivalry started at the beginning of the **20th Century** before the club's foundation dates. Fast forward to the present day, this derby is the second biggest behind **El Clasico**, although Real Madrid has the largest fanbase worldwide, Atletico Madrid also has a significant fanbase worldwide because of their success in the international scene. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ra%C3%BAl_(footballer) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iker_Casillas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergio_Ramos https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karim_Benzema https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristiano_Ronaldo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basque_people Lead Image from https://scorum.com/en-us/football/@realhus/this-eternal-derby-was-football-disgrace