Starting XI: If Clubs Were Bands ...
Goal.com USA is always looking to combine our love of music with soccer. To follow-up our all-80's Hair Band edition last year, we present to you a more comprehensive look at what artist or groups some of the most well-known soccer clubs take after.
1. Manchester United -- Lynyrd Skynyrd. Both suffered devastating plane crashes and there is little more distinctive in their respective genres than Freebird and Old Trafford. Fortunately, soccer fans don't drunkenly yell for the stadium
2. Villarreal -- Bon Jovi. Fun, poppy, and led by a kid from Jersey.
3. Arsenal -- Britney Spears, pretty and without substance.
4. AC Milan -- The Rolling Stones. Two of the most successful groups of all time. Much like Keith Richards, Paolo Maldini seems like he'll never stop as has hinted about postponing retirement … again.
5. West Ham -- The Police. Just like Stewart Copeland and Sting, Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer were rejoined years after fighting.
6. Juventus -- Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals. Not that the players had anything to do with Moggiopoli.
7. Millwall - 10,000 Maniacs. And that’s just the guys who make every single road trip.
8. Schalke 04 – David Hasselhoff. Great in Germany, not relevant anywhere else.
9. Derby County -- Dire Straits. Enough said.
10. Ajax -- N.W.A. Impressive as a group, its members generally found more success after leaving. But the impact via Total Football and gansta rap are ever lasting.
11. Fulham -- Fall Out Boy. Sad, but true.
BONUS: All-American extras
* Toronto FC – Kinks. Dysfunctional but somehow make beautiful music together.
* New England Revolution -- Rush, with Paul Mariner as Geddy Lee.
* Chivas USA -- Calexico. The fusion of Mexico and the United States.
* Seattle Sounders FC -- Pearl Jam. A Seattle outfit with the guts of another team/band (Seattle Sounders/Mother Love Bone) and were nearly known by another name (Alliance, Reliance, FC/Mookie Blaylock) that was denied. But will the new club have the same success?
* D.C. United -- Johnny Cash. Their new uniforms this season conjure images of The Man In Black. And both have a full trophy case.
* Miami Fusion FC -- Nirvana. Both were ended at the height of their existence. Some of the "band" were able to go onto equally successful careers while the others found success in other ventures. Does this make Ray Hudson the Courtney Love by comparison?
* The U.S. National Team -- Van Halen. The man in charge is now using his son for their latest success.
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