Family ties: Sevilla and Real Madrid top the charts for inherited football loyalties
New LaLiga study reveals how Spanish football fandom is passed down through generations, with Sevilla and Real Madrid leading the way for family-influenced support.
Over half of Spanish football fans inherit their passion from family members, with Sevilla and Real Madrid supporters most likely to follow in their relatives’ footsteps.
Family matters in Spanish football
A fascinating new study from LaLiga has lifted the lid on how Spaniards develop their football allegiances, and it turns out blood really is thicker than water when it comes to picking your team. The research shows a whopping 52% of Spanish football fans trace their support back to family influence.
Some key findings:
- 40% of Spanish fans start following football directly because of their parents
- 7 out of 10 children support the same club as their mum or dad
- 4% experience “reverse inheritance” - getting into football through their children or grandchildren
Club-by-club breakdown
When it comes to specific clubs, Sevilla fans are the most likely to have inherited their passion from relatives, with a massive 64.85% citing family influence. Real Madrid aren’t far behind at 57.29%.
Other interesting patterns emerged:
- Valencia (51.92%), Sevilla (47.84%) and Athletic Bilbao (46.31%) show the strongest father-to-child inheritance
- Real Betis leads in cross-generational support with 24.01% of fans inheriting their passion from grandparents (well above the 15.34% average)
- Sporting Gijón has the highest mother-to-child inheritance rate (27.01%)
- Deportivo, Girona and Mallorca fans are most likely to have been influenced by their children - LaLiga attributes this to these clubs’ recent progress
Geography still matters
Location remains important too, with 24% of Spanish fans citing geographical proximity as a factor in their support. This territorial connection is particularly strong in:
- Basque Country (37%)
- Asturias (33%)
- Valencia (28.4%)
Match day companions
The study also reveals who Spaniards attend matches with:
- Half go with their partners
- 46% attend with their children (rising to 55% in the Canary Islands)
- Andalusians and Murcians are most likely to go with their fathers
- Balearic Islands, Valencia and Cantabria show above-average attendance with female companions
Looks like football in Spain is proper family business, innit? No wonder the atmosphere at grounds like the Pizjuán and Bernabéu feels so special - it’s generations of shared passion all coming together. Lovely jubbly.