The Capo
What motivates a supporter to spend every game with his back turned to the action on the pitch? To spend the game imploring other supporters to sing, chant, jump in unison? To be the man on the stand, above the fray, to be recognised by all in his end of the stadium?
Capo, Zenit Saint Petersburg
That man (I’ve yet to hear of a female capo worldwide) is typically known in ultras circles as the capo, which is (roughly speaking) Italian for “leader”. The use of this term can cause confusion: some say there ought to only be one ‘capo’ (the leader of the group) and then a squad of lieutenants who rotate to lead chants during games. But capo seems to have become the pervasive term in ultras culture for whoever is leading the ultras curva or section of the stadium.
Capo, Jagiellonia Bialystok
Either way, usually the Capo stands alone above hundreds or thousands. His sole goal should be to direct the entire crowd into unified support of the team. To achieve this, he must ironically draw their attention from the pitch to himself periodically: to keep supporters in line, on beat, to start a new song, to have scarves or arms raised at the same time, or to jump around as one body.
Sometimes Capos stand on expensive, custom-made stands permanently affixed to the terracing. Sometimes they have to perch on a railing, or grab hold of a fence, to raise themselves up.
Capo, Olimpia Liubliana
Capos must sometimes, especially in newer football cultures, deal with blank stares and occasionally even open hostility. Capos can be driven to despair by the crowd’s failure to respond his exhortations. But a strong capo will manage to get every arm in front of him raised in unison, the stand seemingly his toy.
Capo, Lech Poznan
But the Capo must earn his own authority. He might do it purely on charisma and his physical presence; he might do it by singling out an individual and humiliating them as an example to all. Like a political demagogue, the Capo must find a way to spellbind the masses into obedience. His power may be based on nothing more than the look in his eyes that none dare defy.
Capo, Siófok FC - Újpest FC,
Capos most often must ignore what is going on in the game and in the stands around him, aside from certain rare situations, such as a goal or a tifo display. Sometimes a capo must stand in front of a wall of flames, and he must keep his head while all around are losing theirs.
Capo, Diósgyõri VTK
Capos can be found worldwide; whilst several continental European countries have the strongest culture of following a capo, they can be found as far afield as Indonesia — where apparently pink shorts are the apparel of choice.
Capo, Persib-Indonesia
Yet in many countries, such as England (even back in the days of standing terraces), capos are very rare indeed: songs and chants come and go on a more organic basis. Why do capos thrive in some soccer cultures and not others, where the idea itself almost seems laughable to locals?
Capo, Al Karama
What is it that makes a strong capo? And why does a capo do what he does? Is it driven by ego, vanity, desire for power? Or is it a self-sacrifice — the capo misses much of the game — out of passion for the team, to drive the supporters on as one?
Capo, Bayern Munich
Photo credits: photoreti; csontfej; Romanian Ultras; silenzio; Volfid
Tweet
Some of the stronger MLS fanbases utilize capos, don’t they? Might consider interviewing one or two if you get a chance? I would do it, but my local wonderful Red Bulls, well, you know the rest…
My team, the Fire, has capos for every game and a dedicated stand (actually, last year we had two different capo stands but it turned out to be too much). I know most of them very well and they’re an interesting bunch. Good idea for a follow-up, thanks Daniel.
Daniel, not all of us know the rest, go ahead
Great photos selection with quite a romantic tune, Tom
“Sometimes a capo must stand in front of a wall of flames, and he must keep his head while all around are losing theirs.”
Col. Kurtz would make a great, albeit unorthodox, capo.
Well, in an Italian context, it is a little bit more complex than this. Each ultras group has its own leader or leaders, but the capo of an individual group is not necessarily the same as a capo of the whole curva. And the head of the group is not always the same as the person leading the tifo.
Also, one group might be more important or more numerous than another, so the capi of the smaller groups may only conduct their own section not the whole curva.And there’s no need to limit it to one man, there can be 2 or 3 at a time coordinating chants together. At Roma there are dozens of ultras acting as capi across the curva as a whole at any one time.
Moreover – and especially since they banned the use of megaphones – no one man can keep up that level of shouting for an entire 90 minutes, so there’s every chance that they take turns. At a big club it’s almost impossible that only one individual could occupy the role alone.
I have Stood in Front of Section 8 for entire halves before, but my voice is dead at the end. I thrive to lead the section for an entire 90 minutes one game… not because i want to steal the spot light for myself but because i Demand a 90 effort from any player wearing a fire badge on their chest and wish to show the club that same devotion/passion. There will come a game when I will be called upon to put forth a full 90 for my club and I will be ready and i will pour every bit of breath i have in me to make sure every last one of you is single LOUD AND PROUD the entire match. the team deserves it, not to mention needs our support.
Fire Till I die
and you know i am wearing pink shorts to a superliga game next week
ı live in turkey and my team is beşiktaş , and the best supporters in the world is çarşı namely beşiktaş’s supporters. and worlds will see this year in champions league
The Capos sure do have command of the crowd, great pics by the way!
Capos, amazing guys, with love and passion in their veins, unfortunatelly some of them are responsible for many tragedies, nevertheless these pictures are amazing, they really catch your eye. Its interesting when you say the capo misses most part of the game. Its very interesting. Good post. Best wishes dude.
Love the photos! As always, well written.
good photos ı am supporter of beşiktaş and ı like football so much
AxCxB is on it’s way to be the best!!!