Greuther Fürth

The shamrock is neither accident nor Celtic homage: the Kleeblatt comes from the coat of arms of the city of Fürth, and the club founded in 1903 made it its name, crest and soul. Few remember that this Franconian side was three times champion of Germany, in 1914, 1926 and 1929, when the Frankenderby against neighbours Nürnberg decided German football; legend has it the two rivals’ players travelled with the national team in separate carriages. The Sportpark Ronhof has been home since 1910, the oldest ground in German professional football. In 1996 the merger with Vestenbergsgreuth added Greuther to the name, to the traditionalists’ despair. And the unlikeliest fan of all: Henry Kissinger, born in Fürth, was a member and devotee of the Kleeblatt his whole life.