Star (football crest)

In association football, some national and club sides include one or more stars as part of (or beside) the crest appearing on their shirt, to represent important trophies the team has previously won. Sometimes this is a unilateral decision by the team concerned rather than a privilege earned and sanctioned by any governing body. Wearing the star has also been adopted by various teams of other sports.

Contents

Standardised significance

The first team to adopt a star was Juventus, who added one above their crest in 1958 to represent their tenth Serie A title. This was an extension of the existing convention by which the reigning champions are entitled to display the scudetto on their shirts for the following season. The star was later formally adopted by some organisations as a symbol for ten titles.

The Turkish league introduced a similar scheme in 2000, with one star per five titles.

In 2003 Rangers displayed 5 stars above the crest on their shirts to symbolise winning a world record of 50 League championships, one star for every ten league titles.

Football in Germany has two official star systems operating in parallel. In 2004, the DFL, which governs the Bundesliga (the top 2 divisions), introduced Verdiente Meistervereine (roughly "distinguished champion clubs"). This has a sliding scale of 1, 2, 3, and 4 stars for 3, 5, 10, and 20 titles.[1] It includes only Bundesliga titles, excluding titles from before the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963, and from the former East German League. Dynamo Berlin (playing in the fourth level) unilaterally began wearing three unapproved stars for its East German titles.[2] In November 2005, the DFB, which governs non-Bundesliga football, allowed former champions playing outside the Bundesliga to display a single star inscribed with the number of titles.[3] In 2007, Dynamo Berlin switched to a single approved star inscribed with the number 10. Greuther Fürth retains three silver stars on its club logo, but not on it shirts.

Major League Soccer's previously informal system, one star per MLS Cup title, was standardised in 2006, with the exception that defending champions will wear the MLS Scudetto, like the Serie A system, for one season before adding a new star.

Since 2006, all Swedish football clubs that have won ten or more Swedish championships (except IFK Norrköping) have added a star above their crest.

The same system has applied in the Dutch Eredivisie from the 2007-08 season onwards.[4] This innovation was suggested by PSV, after the club won its twentieth title in 2007.[5] Ajax currently have the right to wear three stars since they have won the league 30 times. PSV have the right to wear two stars with their 21 league titles, while Feyenoord and HVV Den Haag can add one for their 14 and 10 titles, respectively. HVV won all titles before 1915 and is currently playing in the fourth level of the Dutch league system.

In Malta, Floriana and Sliema boast 2 Golden Stars on their crests having won 25 and 26 titles, respectively, while Valletta and Hibernians have one star thanks to their 19 and 10 titles, respectively. No other team in the Maltese League has the golden star on their crest.

Ad hoc adoptions

Brazil added three stars above their crest after winning their third World Cup in 1970. Italy did likewise in 1982. All world champions have since followed suit. Uruguay display four stars, regarding their triumphs in the 1924 and 1928 Olympics as equivalent to their later World Cup wins, as there was no World Cup at the time. In 2004, Denmark wore a star on their shirts specially for Euro 2004, to commemorate their victory in the competition in 1992. In the equipment regulations for FIFA competitions, section 18.2 states "Those Member Associations that have won the FIFA World Cup may put a symbol on the playing shirt representing this accomplishment and the number of times won."[6] The form of symbol is not specified, although the accompanying illustrative example depicts a gold star.[6]

More recently, club teams have added stars either upon winning a landmark trophy, or in response to a rival team's having added stars. In the Romanian first league, Steaua uses 2 stars above their logo since they won their 20th title. Since then Dinamo added a star for the 18 championships they won. Manchester United sported a star in their UEFA Champions League matches on their special European home kit between 1997 and 1999. To celebrate their second victory that year, they added an extra star to that kit for the 1999–00 season. Liverpool likewise wore four stars in 2001–02, their first campaign in the event since the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985. They wore five stars in the competition in 2005–06 after their fifth victory. Instead of stars, UEFA introduced a multiple winner badge in 2000–01 season, currently worn by five teams who have won the Champions League either five times or more in total, or three times in a row.

In women's football, the emerging ad hoc standard is to wear stars on the sleeve instead of above the crest. Two of the four teams that have won the FIFA Women's World Cup to date — Norway and Germany — use this practice, as did two-time Women's World Cup winners, the USA, until moving the stars to the back collar in 2007. The United States has returned its two stars to above the crest on their new uniforms for the 2011 Women's World Cup.

List

Excluding the temporary stars, the following teams have chosen to add stars to their shirts:

National teams

Men

National Team Title(s)
represented		 First
worn		 Number
of stars		 Notes
 Brazil World Cup 1971 5 Third win was in 1970; fourth and fifth stars added after 1994 and 2002 wins. Briefly wore 2 stars on a tour of Europe in 1968.[7][8]
 Italy World Cup 1982 4 Added after third win; fourth star added after the 2006 win.[9]
 Germany World Cup 1996 3 1954, 1974, Third win was in 1990.
 Uruguay World Cup and Olympics 1930 2 + 2 Represent 2 World Cups (1930 & 1950) and 2 Olympic football titles (1924 & 1928).
 Argentina World Cup 2003 2 Second win was in 1986.
 England World Cup 2002 1 Title won in 1966. Star added after a campaign on Sky Sports' Soccer AM programme.
 France World Cup 1998 1 Title won in 1998. Star added above their crest which was unveiled at their opening qualifying game for Euro 2000
 Spain World Cup 2010 1 Title won in 2010. Spain played in their away kit for the final, but upon winning the World Cup they changed into their home kit, complete with a star above the crest, for the presentation ceremony.
 Egypt Africa Cup of Nations 1986 7 Fifth star added after the 2006 African Cup victory. A sixth is due for the 2008 African Cup victory. A seventh is due for the 2010 African Cup victory
 Cameroon Africa Cup of Nations 2008? 4 Fourth win was in 2002
 Ghana Africa Cup of Nations 2008? 4 Fourth win was in 1982
 Tunisia Africa Cup of Nations ? 1
 Japan Asian Cup 2011 4 For commemorative jerseys only.

Women

National Team Title(s)
represented		 First
worn		 Number
of stars		 Notes
 United States Women's World Cup 1991 2 Worn on the chest, worn on the back collar between 2007 and 2011 and until early 2007 worn on the sleeve. Second star added 1999.
 Germany Women's World Cup 2003 2 Until 2003 the three stars of the men's team had been worn. Second star added for their 2007 victory.
 Norway Women's World Cup 1995 1 Worn on the sleeve
 Japan Women's World Cup 2011 1

Note: Some women teams, like France, Italy or Brazil, wear the men's stars on their jersey.

Club teams

Club Team Country Title(s)
represented		 First
worn		 Number
of stars		 Notes
KF Tirana  Albania 24 1968 2 Star for every 10th championship win in Albanian Superliga.
Dinamo Tirana  Albania 18 1973 1 Star for every 10th championship win in Albanian Superliga.
Partizani Tirana  Albania 15 1963 1 Star for every 10th championship win in Albanian Superliga.
JS Kabylie  Algeria various African titles ? 6 2 African Cup of Champions Clubs, 3 CAF Cup, one African Cup Winners' Cup.
Vélez Sársfield  Argentina Argentine, South American, and Intercontinental ? 11 (1+10) Gold star for 1994 Intercontinental Cup over 10 blue stars for 6 Argentine and 4 international titles.[10]
Estudiantes de La Plata  Argentina Argentine League, South American, and Intercontinental ? 11 5 Argentine league titles; 4 Copa Libertadores; 1968 Intercontinental and 1969 Interamerican Cups.[11] An earlier crest had just four stars, for the Libertadores and Intercontinental titles.[11] Tenth star added after Copa Libertadores 2009 victory.
Rosario Central  Argentina Argentine league and CONMEBOL Cup ? 5 (4+1) The middle star, for the CONMEBOL Cup, is larger. The previous crest had 5 blue stars and one larger yellow star; the extra small star was for the unofficial "1974 Argentinian Championship",[12] a qualification playoff for the 1974 Copa Libertadores.[13]
Newell's Old Boys  Argentina Argentine league ? 6 One star per title, including one each for the 1990 Apertura and the 1990-1 Apertura/Clausura playoff.[14]
Argentinos Juniors  Argentina Argentine, South American, and Intercontinental ? 4 2 Argentine League; 1985 Libertadores and Interamerican Cups
Boca Juniors  Argentina Intercontinental Cup 2007 3 Stars above the crest.[15] The crest used 1970–2007 contained a star for each major title won: 30 in 1970, 46 when replaced[16] as being too crowded.[15] In 2007 the club changed its crest to include only 3 stars, one for each Intercontinental Cup / Club world title. And also the kit has a further star at the back of collar inscribed with 47, the current title count.[17]
Quilmes AC  Argentina Argentine league ? 2 Amateur title of 1912 and Metropolitano title of 1978
Racing Club de Avellaneda  Argentina Intercontinental Cup 2007 1 Trophy won in 1967; star added for the fortieth anniversary.
South Melbourne FC  Australia National Soccer League (Australia) 1998 4 Four NSL Championships: 1984, 1990/91, 1997/98, 1998/99
Rapid Vienna  Austria Austrian Bundesliga 1996 3 Each represents 10 titles.
FK Austria Wien  Austria Austrian Bundesliga 1992 2 Each represents 10 titles.
FC Wacker Innsbruck  Austria Austrian Bundesliga ? 1 Represents 10 titles

(5 titles FC Wacker Innsbruck, 2 titles FC Swarovski Tirol, 3 titles FC Tirol Innsbruck)
R.S.C. Anderlecht  Belgium Belgian First Division 2010 3 Each golden star represents 10 titles.
Standard Liège  Belgium Belgian First Division 2009 1 Represents 10 titles.
Joinville  Brazil Campeonato Catarinense ? 12 12 titles won 1976–2001, eight of them in a row at the 80's[18]
Americano  Brazil Campeonato da Cidade de Campos ? 9 For 9-in-a-row 1967–1975[18]
Vasco da Gama  Brazil Various Brazilian and South American ? 8 South American Club Championship 1948; Copa Libertadores 1998; Copa Mercosur 2000; 4 Brazilian Championships; unbeaten Campeão de Terra e Mar season in 1945[18][19]
Palmeiras  Brazil Campeonato Paulista ? 8 8 titles won under the name "Palestra Itália" between 1920 and 1940. Others say it commemorates the eighth month (August) of 1914, when the club was founded.[18]
Santa Cruz  Brazil Pernambucan Championship ? 8 (3+5) Club crest has 5 yellow stars for the 5-in-a-row (1969-73) and 3 stars for 3 "super-championships" (black for 1957, white for 1976, red for 1983).[18]
São Raimundo (AM)  Brazil Copa Norte, Campeonato Amazonense ? 7 (3 + 4) 3 red stars for Norte 3-in-a-row 1999–2001; 4 silver stars for Amazonas titles[18]
Internacional (Porto Alegre)  Brazil World championship, Copa Libertadores, Brazilian Championship, Copa do Brasil ? 6 (1+5) Silver star for 2006 World title, 5 gold stars for others, with the Libertadores star larger than the other 4 (3 Championships, 1 Copa).[18][20]
Goiás EC  Brazil Brazilian Série B and Goiás State Championship ? 6 (1+5) 1 gold star for 1999 Série B, over 5 green stars for 1996–2000 Goiás State 5-in-a-row[18]
Náutico  Brazil Campeonato Pernambucano ? 6 6-in-a-row won 1963–1968[18]
Corinthians Paulista  Brazil World championship and Brazilian Championship 1991 5 (1+4) Larger star for the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship, above the other 4 stars for 4 Campeonato Brasileiro titles.[18]
América do Natal  Brazil Copa Nordeste, Campeonato Potiguar ? 5 (1 + 4) 1 silver star for 1998 Nordeste; 4 yellow stars for Potiguar 4-in-a-row 1979-82[18]
Fortaleza EC  Brazil Campeonato Cearense and Copa Norte-Nordeste ? 5 (3+2) 3 blue stars for Ceara 3-IN-A-ROW in 1926-8; 2 yellow stars for wins of North/Northeast Cup in 1946 and 1970.[21]
Vila Nova  Brazil Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, Campeonato Goiano ? 5 (1 + 4) 1 yellow star for 1996 Brasileiro title; 4 red stars for Goiano 4-in-a-row between 1977-80.[18]
Goiânia  Brazil Campeonato Goiano ? 5 5-in-a-row won between 1950–1954.[18]
Ceará  Brazil Campeonato Cearense ? 5 5-in-a-row between 1915-19.[18]
ABC  Brazil Campeonato Potiguar ? 4 Sweep of all four categories in 1954: professional, amateur, junior, and youth leagues.[18]
Colo-Colo (Ilhéus)  Brazil Campeonato de Ilhéus ? 4 4-in-a-row between 1960-63.[18]
São Paulo FC  Brazil Intercontinental Cup 1992 (red stars) 3 (red stars; also 2 gold stars) 3 red stars represent 2 Intercontinental Cups and 1 FIFA Club World Cup. Also, 2 gold stars commemorate Adhemar da Silva's triple jump world records at the 1952 Olympics and the 1955 Pan American Games.[22]
Grêmio Porto Alegre  Brazil Intercontinental Cup, Libertadores Cup, Brazilian Championship, Copa do Brasil 1970 3 (1+1+1) The gold star on the crest was added in 1970 to honour Everaldo of the 1970 World Cup team.[23] It also represents the 1983 Intercontinental Title. The silver star represents Continental titles (2 Libertadores and one Recopa); the bronze star represents Brazilian titles (2 Championships, 1 Serie B, and 4 Copas).[18]
Criciuma EC  Brazil Copa do Brasil; Série B; Série C[18] 1992 3[24] Copa won in 1991, Série B in 2002, Série C in 2006.
Fluminense  Brazil Campeonato Carioca 1986 3 Each represents a 3-in-a-row: 1917–1919; 1936–1938; 1983–1985.[18]
Caxias (Santa Catarina)  Brazil Campeonato Catarinense ? 3 Titles won in 1929, 1954, and 1955.[18]
Galícia  Brazil Campeonato Baiano ? 3 3 in-a-row won between 1941–1943.[18]
União Barbarense  Brazil Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, 2 others ? 3 Série C title won in 2004.[18]
Santos FC  Brazil Intercontinental Cup[18] ? 2 Titles won in 1962, 1963.
EC Bahia  Brazil Taça Brasil and Brazilian Championship ? 2 Taça won 1959, Championship won 1988.[18]
Atlético Paranaense  Brazil Brazilian Championship and Série B 2002 2 (1 + 1) Gold star for 2001 title; silver star for 1995 B title.[18]
Sport Club do Recife  Brazil Brazilian Championship, Série B and Brazilian Cup ? 3 (1+1+1) A Gold star for Championship of 1987; a silver star for Série B 1990[18] and another Gold star for Brazilian Cup 2008.
EC Juventude  Brazil Copa do Brasil and Brazilian Série B ? 2 (1+1) Gold star for the 1999 Copa; silver star for 1994 Série B.[18][25]
Paraná Clube  Brazil Brazilian Série B ? 2 Official Série B of 1992 and Yellow Module of Copa João Havelange in 2000.[18]
Paysandu SC  Brazil Brazilian Série B[18] ? 2 Titles won in 1991 and 2001.
Brasiliense  Brazil Brazilian Série B and Série C 2005[26] 2 (1+1) Bronze star for C title won in 2002; silver star for B title won in 2004.[18]
América Mineiro  Brazil Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, Campeonato Mineiro ? 2 (1 + 1) Gold star for 1997 Serie B title, red star for Mineiro 10-in-a-row between 1916-25.[18]
CRAC  Brazil Campeonato Goiano[18] ? 2 Won in 1967 and 2004.
Grêmio Barueri  Brazil Campeonato Paulista ? 2 2005 Série A3 title; 2006 Série A2 title[18]
CR Flamengo  Brazil Intercontinental Cup[18] ? 1 Title won 1981. Stars for lesser titles were removed from crest in 2004.
Atlético Mineiro  Brazil Brazilian Championship[18] ? 1 Represents title won in 1971.
Coritiba  Brazil Brazilian Championship[27] ? 1 Represents title won in 1985.
Guarani FC  Brazil Brazilian Championship[18] ? 1 Represents title won in 1978.
Paulista  Brazil Copa do Brasil[18] ? 1 Title won in 2005.
Santo André  Brazil Copa do Brasil[18] ? 1 Title won in 2004.
Gama  Brazil Campeonato Brasileiro Série B[18] ? 1 Title won in 1998.
Londrina  Brazil Campeonato Brasileiro Série B[18] ? 1 Title won in 1980.
Avaí  Brazil Campeonato Brasileiro Série C[18] ? 1 Title won in 1998.
Atlético Goianiense  Brazil Campeonato Brasileiro Série C[18] ? 1 Title won in 1990.
Rio Branco  Brazil Copa Norte[18] ? 1 Title won in 1997.
Anápolis  Brazil Campeonato Goiano[18] ? 1 Title won in 1965.
Bragantino  Brazil Campeonato Paulista[18] ? 1 Title won in 1990.
Brusque  Brazil Campeonato Catarinense[18] ? 1 Title won in 1992.
Goiatuba  Brazil Goiás State Championship[18] ? 1 Title won in 1992.
Ipatinga  Brazil Campeonato Mineiro[18] ? 1 Title won in 2005.[18]
São Caetano  Brazil Campeonato Paulista[18] ? 1 Title won in 2004
PFC CSKA Sofia  Bulgaria Bulgarian A Professional Football Group 2005 3 Added 3 stars because of their 30th league title in 2005.
Montreal Impact  Canada USL First Division, A-League, American Professional Soccer League 2005 3 Each star represents a league championship from 1994, 2004 and 2009. 2 stars were worn after the second league title in 2004 and a third star was added after their third title in 2009.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC  Canada USL First Division, North American Soccer League 2008 3 2 stars are worn for their 2 championships in the USL First Division (2006, 2008) and one for the Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL) win in the 1979. Soccer Bowl
Colo-Colo  Chile Libertadores Cup 2008 1 Trophy won in 1991.
Dalian Shide  China PR Chinese Super League ? 8 One title per star.
Atlético Junior  Colombia Colombian league 1977 6 One title per star.
Once Caldas  Colombia Colombian league and Copa Libertadores 1950 5 (4+1) Gold star over crest for libertadores; 4 stars within crest for one league each.[28]
Deportivo Saprissa  Costa Rica Costa Rican league ? 2 Costa Rican most recent champions wear one star for every consecutive national league championship.
SK Slavia Prague  Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga 2007 1 Represent 10 titles. 16th and 17th titles won respectively in 2007 and 2008.
AC Sparta Prague  Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga 2011 3 Represent 30 titles. 35th title won in 2010.
APOEL Nicosia  Cyprus Proti katigoria 2009 2 Each represent 10 titles.
Omonoia Nicosia  Cyprus Proti katigoria 2010 2 Each represent 10 titles.
AB  Denmark Danish Premier League ? 1 Gold star for every fifth championship.
AGF  Denmark Danish Premier League 1986 1 Gold star for every fifth championship.
BK Frem  Denmark Danish Premier League ? 1 Gold star for every fifth championship.
Esbjerg fB  Denmark Danish Premier League 2005 1 Gold star for every fifth championship.
Vejle BK  Denmark Danish Premier League ? 1 Gold star for every fifth championship.
Barcelona SC  Ecuador Ecuadorian Championship 1997 13 Stars under the crest (one per title).[29]
CS Emelec  Ecuador Ecuadorian Championship ? 10 Stars under the crest (one per title).
LDU Quito  Ecuador Each international title won 2008 4 Fourth star added after Recopa Sudamericana 2010 victory.
Al-Ahly  Egypt Egyptian League ? 3 Star for every 10th championship win in Egyptian Premier League
Zamalek  Egypt Egyptian League 2000 1 Star for every 10th championship win in Egyptian Premier League.
Bury  England FA Cup 2009 2 Titles won in 1900 and 1903.
Ipswich Town  England English First Division, FA Cup, UEFA Cup 2004 3 Worn on left sleeve. Trophies won respectively in 1962, 1978, 1981.
Burnley  England English First Division 2006 2 Titles won 1921 and 1960.
Nottingham Forest F.C.  England European Cup 2004? 2 Two silver stars, normally on sleeves, but moved to either side of club badge to celebrate 30 years since titles won in 1979 and 1980.
Aston Villa F.C.  England European Cup 2007 1 Title won in 1982.
Huddersfield Town F.C.  England English First Division ? 3 First team to win English First Division 3 times an a row, between 1924 and 1926.
FC Flora Tallinn  Estonia Meistriliiga 2009 1 Each represents 5 titles.
FC Levadia Tallinn  Estonia Meistriliiga 2009 1 Each represents 5 titles.
Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi  Finland Veikkausliiga ? 2 Each represents 10 titles.
Nantes  France French league 1987 8 One title per star.
Marseille  France UEFA Champions League 1996 1 Title won in 1993.
Saint-Étienne  France French league 1993 1 Represents 10 titles. Last won in 1981.
Bayern Munich  Germany German Bundesliga 2004 4 Represents 20 Bundesliga titles. Fourth star added after 2008 title[30]
Borussia Mönchengladbach  Germany German Bundesliga 2004 2 Represents 5 titles.
Werder Bremen  Germany German Bundesliga 2004 1 Represents at least 3 titles (actually 4).
Borussia Dortmund  Germany German Bundesliga 2004 1 Represents at least 3 titles (actually 4).
Hamburger SV  Germany German Bundesliga 2004 1 Represents 3 titles.
VfB Stuttgart  Germany German Bundesliga 2007[1] 1 Represents 3 titles; added after third win.
Olympiacos  Greece Super League Greece 1998 3 Each represents 10 titles of Greek Champion.
Ferencvárosi TC  Hungary Hungarian Championship 28 2 Each represents 10 titles (28).
MTK  Hungary Hungarian Championship 23 2 Each represents 10 titles (23).
Újpest FC  Hungary Hungarian Championship 20 2 Each represents 10 titles (20).
Budapest Honvéd  Hungary Hungarian Championship 13 1 Each represents 10 titles (13).
Valur  Iceland Icelandic league 2006 4 Each represents 5 titles.
Fram Reykjavík  Iceland Icelandic league 2006 3 Each represents 5 titles.
Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur  Iceland Icelandic league 2006 5 Each represents 5 titles.
Knattspyrnufélagið Víkingur  Iceland Icelandic league 2006 1 Each represents 5 titles.
Íþróttabandalag Akraness  Iceland Icelandic league 2006 3 Each represents 5 titles.
FH Hafnarfjörður  Iceland Icelandic league 2010 1 Each represents 5 titles.
Esteghlal FC  Iran AFC Champions League 2007 2 One title per star.
PAS Tehran  Iran AFC Champions League 2007 1 One title in AFC Champions League per star.
Wexford Youths F.C.  Ireland FAI Youth Inter-League Cup 2007 2 Titles won by Wexford Football League sides coached by Mick Wallace, founder of Wexford Youths F.C.; the junior league is a nursery for the senior club. Titles were won in 2004–5 and 2006–7.[31] A third star is due for the 2007–8 victory.[32][33]
Bohemian F.C.  Ireland League of Ireland 2008 1 Represents 10 titles. Tenth won in 2008.
Shamrock Rovers  Ireland League of Ireland 2005 1 Represents 10 titles. Tenth won in 1964; 15 held at time star was added.
Shelbourne  Ireland League of Ireland 2004 1 Represents 10 titles. Tenth won in 2002; 11 held at time star was added.
Hapoel Tel Aviv  Israel Israeli Premier League 2008 2 Each represents 5 titles.
Maccabi Haifa  Israel Israeli Premier League 2006 1 Represents 10 titles.
Maccabi Netanya  Israel Israeli Premier League 2008 5 One title per star.
Maccabi Tel Aviv  Israel Israeli Premier League 2009 3 Each represents 5 titles.
Juventus  Italy Italian Serie A 1958 2 Each represents 10 titles.
Internazionale  Italy Italian Serie A 1966 1 Represents 10 titles.
Milan  Italy Italian Serie A 1979 1 Represents 10 titles.
Gamba Osaka  Japan Japanese League, Japanese League Cup 2006 2 Star for league title in 2005 added in 2006. Smaller star for cup title in 2007 added for 2008 season.
Kashima Antlers  Japan J. League, J. League Cup, Emperor's Cup 2011 6 (1 + 5) As the most successful Japanese football club, with 15 titles won, Kashima has 1 golden star above the crest (for the first 10 titles) and 5 stars on the left sleeve (for the subsequent 5 titles). Kashima has won the J.League a record 7 times, the J. League Cup a record 4 times and the Emperor's Cup 4 times.
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma  Korea Rep. Korean League 2006 7 One title per star.
Busan I'Park  Korea Rep. Korean League 1999 4 One title per star.
Pohang Steelers  Korea Rep. Korean League 2007 4 One title per star.
Suwon Samsung Bluewings  Korea Rep. Korean League 2008 4 One title per star.
Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i  Korea Rep. Korean League 2005 2 One title per star.
Ittihad  Libya Libyan Premier League 2003 1 Awarded star after winning 10th Libyan Premier League title in 2002–03.
Chivas de Guadalajara  Mexico Mexican league ? 11 One star per title.
Club América  Mexico Mexican league 2006 10 One golden star per title, worn on a red stripe on the right sleeve, beginning the 2006–2007 "Apertura" Tournament.
Club Toluca  Mexico Mexican league ? 10 One title per star.
Cruz Azul  Mexico Mexican league ? 8 One title per star.
Puebla F.C.  Mexico Mexican league and Mexican Cup ? 6 (2+4) 2 stars inside the crest for 2 league titles; 4 outside for 4 cup titles.
C.F. Pachuca  Mexico Mexican league + Copa Sudamericana ? 10 (5+5) One title per star, plus 4 for CONCACAF Champions league titles, and star for its title at the Copa Sudamericana.
Necaxa  Mexico Mexican league ? 3 One title per star.
Atlante F.C.  Mexico Mexican league ? 3 One Mexican League title per star.
UANL Tigres  Mexico Mexican league ? 2 One title per star (inside the crest).
CF Monterrey  Mexico Mexican league + CONCACAF Champions League 2002 5 (4 + 1) One title per star plus a centered gold star for its title at the CONCACAF Champions League.
Santos Laguna  Mexico Mexican league ? 3 One title per star.
Monarcas Morelia  Mexico Mexican league ? 1 Title was Apertura 2000.
Tecos UAG  Mexico Mexican league ? 1 Title won in 1994.
Club Atlas  Mexico Mexican league ? 1 Title won in 1951.
FAR Rabat  Morocco Botola 1990 1 Represents 10 titles.
Wydad Casablanca  Morocco Botola 1994 1 Represents 10 titles.
Ajax  Netherlands Eredivisie and Dutch Championship (pre-1956) 2007 3 Each star represents 10 titles.
PSV  Netherlands Eredivisie and Dutch Championship (pre-1956) 2007 2 Each star represents 10 titles.
Feyenoord  Netherlands Eredivisie and Dutch Championship (pre-1956) 2007 1 Represents 10 titles.
HVV Den Haag  Netherlands Dutch Championship (pre-1956) 2007 1 Represents 10 titles. Titles won 1890–1914[34]
Rosenborg  Norway Norwegian league 1995 2 Each star represents 10 titles.
Olimpia Asunción  Paraguay Intercontinental Cup 1994? 1 Trophy won in 1979.
Cienciano  Peru Copa Sudamericana and Recopa Sudamericana 2003 2 Won in 2003 and 2004 respectively.
FBC Melgar  Peru Peruvian Primera División 1982 1 Peruvian championship title in 1981.
CD San Martín  Peru Peruvian Primera División 2007 3 Peruvian championship titles won in 2007, 2008 and 2010.
Sporting Cristal  Peru Peruvian Primera División 1997 3 Three consecutive titles in 1994–96.
Sport Boys  Peru Peruvian Primera División ? 6 Stars under the crest (one per title).
Górnik Zabrze  Poland Polish League 2005 1 Represents 10 titles.
Ruch Chorzów  Poland Polish League 2005 1 Represents 10 titles.
Wisla Kraków  Poland Polish League 2005 1 Represents 10 titles.
S.L. Benfica  Portugal Portuguese League 2008[35] 3[35] Each represents 10 titles. Announced in February 2008 for the following season,[35] by which time a 31st title had been won.
Steaua Bucharest  Romania Romanian League 1998 2 Each star represents 10 titles.
Dinamo Bucharest  Romania Romanian League 2004[36] 1 Represents 10 titles.
Spartak Moscow  Russia Russian Premier League 2003 1 Represents 5 titles; the club had won 9 titles by the time it was added. (They had previously won 12 USSR league titles.)
Rangers  Scotland Scottish League 2003 5 Each star represents 10 titles. Added after fiftieth title.
Aberdeen  Scotland European Cup Winners Cup and European Super Cup 2005 2 Both trophies won in 1983.
Celtic  Scotland European Cup 2004[37] 1 One European Cup win in 1967.
Domžale  Slovenia National League ? 2 Each star represent one title.
Gorica  Slovenia National League ? 4 Each star represent one title.
Partizan Belgrade  Serbia National League ? 2 Each star represents 10 titles.
Red Star Belgrade  Serbia European Cup and Intercontinental Cup ? 2 Both won in 1991.
AIK  Sweden Swedish league 2000 1 Represents 10 titles.
Djurgårdens IF  Sweden Swedish league 2006 1 Represents 10 titles.
IFK Göteborg  Sweden Swedish league 2006 1 Represents 10 titles. Previously worn in the 1990s.
Malmö FF  Sweden Swedish league 2006 1 Represents 10 titles.
Örgryte IS  Sweden Swedish league 2006 1 Represents 10 titles.
Grasshoppers  Switzerland Swiss League ? 2 Each represents 10 titles.
FC Basel  Switzerland Swiss League 2004 1 Represents 10 titles.
Servette  Switzerland Swiss League ? 1 Represents 10 titles.
Young Boys Bern  Switzerland Swiss League ? 1 Represents 10 titles.
FC Zürich  Switzerland Swiss League ? 1 Represents 10 titles.
Orlando Pirates  South Africa African Cup of Champions Clubs 2006 1 Title won in 1995.
Fenerbahçe  Turkey Turkish league 2000 3 Each represents 5 titles.
Galatasaray  Turkey Turkish league 2000 3 Each represents 5 titles.
Besiktas JK  Turkey Turkish league 2000 2 Each represents 5 titles.
Trabzonspor  Turkey Turkish league 2000 1 Represents 5 titles.
Dynamo Kyiv  Ukraine Ukrainian Premier League, Soviet Top League 2003 2 Represents 10 Ukrainian (out of 12) titles and 10 USSR (out of 13) titles. Second star was added on September 6, 2007 for USSR champion titles.
D.C. United  United States MLS Cup 1996 4 Titles won in 1996, 1997, 1999, and 2004,.
Houston Dynamo  United States MLS Cup 2008 2 Titles won in 2006 and 2007.
Los Angeles Galaxy  United States MLS Cup 2003 3 Titles won in 2002, 2005 and 2011.
San Jose Earthquakes  United States MLS Cup 2008 2 Titles won in 2001 and 2003 (Although the original Earthquakes moved and became the Houston Dynamo, that team forfeited the history of the Earthquakes and became an effective expansion team, with the new Earthquakes re-joining in 2008 with the original team's identity and permission to use two sanctioned stars. This is similar to the relationship between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens in American football.)
Chicago Fire  United States MLS Cup 2006 1 Title won in 1998.
Columbus Crew  United States MLS Cup 2010 1 Title won in 2008.
Kansas City Wizards  United States MLS Cup 2002 1 Title won in 2000.
Real Salt Lake  United States MLS Cup 2011 1 Title won in 2009.
Colorado Rapids  United States MLS Cup 2011 1 Title won in 2010.
FC Tampa Bay  United States North American Soccer League championship 2010 1 The team, which began play in 2010 in the D2 Pro League and now plays in the current North American Soccer League (NASL), wears the star to represent the Soccer Bowl, the championship of the original NASL, won by the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 1975.
Cleveland City Stars  United States USL Second Division championship 2009 1 Cleveland won the 2008 USL Second Division championship and moved into the USL First Division for 2009, along with the Austin Aztex, to replace the departed Seattle Sounders and Atlanta Silverbacks. The team folded after the 2009 season.
Northern Kentucky University Norse  United States NCAA Division II 2011 1 Represents club's 2010 NCAA Division II national championship.
Caracas FC  Venezuela Primera División Venezolana ? 10 One title per star.
Deportivo Tachira  Venezuela Primera División Venezolana ? 6 One title per star.
Deportivo Italia (also won as Deportivo Italchacao)  Venezuela Primera División Venezolana ? 5 One title per star.
Portuguesa FC  Venezuela Primera División Venezolana ? 5 One title per star.
Estudiantes de Mérida  Venezuela Primera División Venezolana ? 2 One title per star.
Minervén FC  Venezuela Primera División Venezolana ? 1 One title per star.
Unión Atlético Maracaibo  Venezuela Primera División Venezolana ? 1 One title per star.
Deportivo Anzoátegui  Venezuela Segunda División Venezolana ? 1 One title per star.
Puerto Rico Islanders  Puerto Rico CFU Club Championship 2010 1 One title per star.

Stars that do not signify particular titles

American club Philadelphia Union has 13 stars that represent the 13 original colonies of the United States.

The crest of Peñarol of Uruguay has 11 stars for the 11 players,[38] and a twelfth is to be added for the supporters, the "12th Man".

Manchester City's crest has three stars to give it a "more continental feel".[39] The 3 stars do not represent titles or trophies. Many opposition fans mock this as a lack of understanding of European football on City's part due to the club only playing in Europe's top club competition once prior to Sheikh Mansour's ownership. Sivasspor of Turkey also has three stars on their crest. They do not represent any championships either.

References

  1. ^ a b "Stuttgart holt ersten Stern (" Stuttgart gets first star")" (in German). Bundesliga. 2007-05-19. http://www.bundesliga.de/de/liga/news/2006/index.php?f=61620.php. Retrieved 2008-05-06. 
  2. ^ Kluempers, John (2005-05-13). "East Germany's Star Quality in Question". dw-world.de. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,1581269,00.html. Retrieved 2008-05-06. 
  3. ^ DFB clothing instructions, page 54 (German)
  4. ^ "Kampioenssterren wijzen op historische roem ("Champions' stars show past glories")" (in Dutch). Eredivisie. 11 May 2007. http://www.eredivisie.nl/subpage.aspx?l1=1637&subaction=details&newsid=186&type=0. Retrieved 2007-05-16. 
  5. ^ "Reigning champions PSV display two stars on their shirts". PSV Eindhoven. 2 May 2007. http://english.psv.nl/web/show/id=58980/contentid=20826. Retrieved 2005-05-16. "“We have conceived a plan to not only introduce these two stars on the championship logo, but on the shirts as well”, explained PSV Manager Match Organisation Ron Verkerk. “We have made a proposal to the KNVB, the Royal Dutch Football Association and the ECV, the Association of Eredivisie clubs, and they have both independently responded enthusiastically.”" 
  6. ^ a b "Equipment Regulations: Regulations Governing the Sports Equipment at FIFA Competitions". FIFA. 18 October 2003. pp. 30, §18.2. http://www.fifa.com/mm/51/54/30/equipment%5fregulations%5f2005%5fe%5f1797.pdf. Retrieved 29 November 2009. 
  7. ^ "Cronologia Histórica de Uniformes e Escudos da Seleção Brasileira ("Chronological history of the uniforms and crests of the Brazilian national team")" (in Portuguese) (PDF). Archived from the original on 2007-06-10. http://web.archive.org/web/20070610044714/http://www2.uol.com.br/cbf/memoria/album_uniformes.pdf. 
  8. ^ "Evolução dos uniformes da Seleção Brasileira ("Evolution of the uniforms of the Brazilian national team")" (in Portuguese). CBF. http://www.cbf.com.br/uniformes/index.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-01. 
  9. ^ "Italy waiting to unveil fourth star on jerseys" — Associated Press report.
  10. ^ "La Nueva Camiseta ("the new shirt")" (in Spanish). Vélez Sársfield. Archived from the original on 2008-01-25. http://web.archive.org/web/20080125181136/http://www.velezsarsfield.com.ar/noticiacompleta.asp?id=2509. Retrieved 2008-05-04. "Sobre el logo: 1 estrella de la Copa Intercontinental más 10 estrellas: 6 campeonatos locales y cuatro internacionales." 
  11. ^ a b "Institucional Símbolos : Su identidad simbólica" (in Spanish). Estudiantes. http://www.clubestudianteslp.com.ar/institucional/simbolos.html. Retrieved 2008-05-04. 
  12. ^ Canullo, Emiliano (2004-12-14). "Basta de mentiras ("Enough lies")" (in Spanish). canalla.com. http://www.canalla.com/Gente/Mensajes/141204-03.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-04. "Central tiene seis estrellas en su escudo, todas ganadas legítimamente [...], paso a enumerar: [...] Campeonato Argentino 1974 (ganando el triangular final que también jugaron Niubelt Ol Boi y San Lorenzo)" 
  13. ^ Gorgazzi, Osvaldo José (2005-10-05). "Argentina 1974". RSSSF. http://www.rsssf.com/tablesa/arg74.html. Retrieved 2008-05-04. 
  14. ^ Newell's Old Boys official website (Spanish)
  15. ^ a b "Nueva equipación Boca Juniors 07/08" (in Spanish). futboladicto. 2 August 2007. http://www.futboladicto.com/2007/08/02/nueva-equipacion-boca-juniors-0708/. Retrieved 2007-09-09. 
  16. ^ "Boca Juniors: The logo". Archived from the original on 2007-06-18. http://web.archive.org/web/20070618050250/http://www.bocajuniors.com.ar/english/elclub_escudo.php. Retrieved 2007-09-09. 
  17. ^ "La nueva camiseta de Boca" (in Spanish). Siempre Bostero. August 1, 2007. http://four.fsphost.com/xsiemprebostero/01deagosto.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-09. 
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax Pasqualini, Luciano; Marcelo Leme de Arruda (2007-05-24). "Estrelas nos Escudos dos Clubes Brasileiros" (in Portuguese). RSSSF Brazil. http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/miscellaneous/estrelas.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-24. 
  19. ^ FLAG in Official symbols from Vasco da Gama official website. (Portuguese)
  20. ^ Sport Club Internacional Symbols: The Crest from official website (Portuguese)
  21. ^ Fortaleza EC symbols from official website (Portuguese)
  22. ^ "Escudo: Como nasceram os nossos símbolos (Shield: How our symbols came to be)" (in Portuguese). São Paulo FC. http://www.spfc.com.br/spfc/1novo2.asp?PLC_map_001_c=05.02#escudo. Retrieved 2008-05-02. 
  23. ^ Everaldo: a star shining in the Tricolor flag from the Grêmio website. (Portuguese)
  24. ^ Criciúma EC has a total of four national titles, more than any other in Santa Catarina state. But the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B of 1986 is not recognized by Confederação Brasileira de Futebol, leaving them with just three stars.
  25. ^ Juventude logo from club website. (Portuguese)
  26. ^ Brasiliense Kit, 2005 from official website. (Portuguese)
  27. ^ Corotiba Foot Ball Club Shield from official website (Portuguese)
  28. ^ Once Caldas emblems: The crest(Spanish)
  29. ^ "Aniversario: Este año Barcelona tendrá su estrella 14." (in Spanish). Barcelona SC. 2008-05-02. http://www.barcelonasportingclub.ec/destacados.php?id=41. Retrieved 2008-05-04. "estrella 14 del campeonato ha sido esquiva ("championship star number 14 has been elusive")" 
  30. ^ "FC Bayern first club with four stars". DFL. 2008-05-20. http://www.bundesliga.de/en/liga/news/2007/index.php?f=94811.php. Retrieved 2008-07-21. 
  31. ^ "FAI Youth Inter-League Cup". FAI. 2006-03-20. http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=49&Itemid=63. Retrieved 2008-05-26. 
  32. ^ "Wexford retain FAI Umbro Inter League title". FAI. 2008-05-10. http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3152. Retrieved 2008-05-26. 
  33. ^ "Latest News". Wexford Youths F. C. Supporters Club. http://www.wexfordyouthsfcsc.com/supportersnews.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-26. "In their first year taking part Wexford Youths FC [sic] have won the FAI Youth Cup — the premier Youth soccer club competition in the country. And in so doing we have added yet another star to our famous crest." 
  34. ^ Novum (2007-05-22). "HVV krijgt ook gouden kampioensster ( HVV gets gold champion's star)" (in Dutch). nieuws.nl. http://www.nieuws.nl/463261. Retrieved 2007-11-20. 
  35. ^ a b c Vieira, Luís Filipe (2008-02-28). "Discurso Gala 104º Aniversário" (in Portuguese) (PDF). Estoril: S.L. Benfica. pp. 2. http://www.slbenfica.pt/Uploads/22364.pdf.. Retrieved 2008-09-23. "Porque o Benfica é o único clube em Portugal a ter conquistado mais de trinta campeonatos, a nossa camisola do próximo ano terá três estrelas por cima do nosso símbolo, uma por cada 10 campeonatos conquistados." 
  36. ^ Colours of football: Dinamo Bucharest
  37. ^ Celtic home kit 2004-05 from TheCelticWiki fansite.
  38. ^ "Simbología Oficial — Imagen & Identidad Corporativa" (in Spanish). C.A. Peñarol. Archived from the original on 2008-03-14. http://web.archive.org/web/20080314094039/http://capenarol.com.uy/sitio/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=44. Retrieved 2008-05-04. "once estrellas, que representan a los jugadores que se encuentran en el campo de juego" 
  39. ^ From the official 1997 press release at the crest's introduction; quoted in Hanssen, Svenn. "Manchester City: OFFICIALS AND HISTORY". http://www.uit.no/mancity/club/history.html. Retrieved 2007-01-15. .