The Viking Thunder Clap or Viking Clap is a
football chant, consisting of a loud shout and a clap in unison, which is then repeated initially several seconds later and gradually speeding up over time. The chant has been performed by fans of a number of clubs, but came to prominence during the
UEFA Euro 2016, when fans of
Iceland national team introduced their 'viking clap' or 'volcano clap' with a 'huh' chant.
During the
2018 FIFA World Cup when Iceland were one of the participating teams, the clap once again drew attention.[1] The Viking Thunder Clap has been adopted by fans of many countries worldwide.[2]
Origin
The chant may have been inspired by the film 300 released in 2006.[3] Some believed the chant was first used by fans of Scottish club
Motherwell F.C., while others suggest it had been performed by fans of the French club
Lens more than two decades prior.[4] Fans of the Greek side
PAOK have also chanted "PAOK" on the clap of hands since the mid 1990s.[5]
Styrmir Gislason, the head of the Association of Icelandic Football Fans stated that the chant was inspired by Polish handball chants.[6] During the
UEFA Euro 2016,
Iceland performed unexpectedly well and reached the quarter-finals, and the performance of the chant by their fans drew the attention of other European fans, who then also performed the chant.[7] It has since been adopted by fans in many countries worldwide.[2]
Other teams
Fans of the following teams regularly perform versions of the viking clap:
Esteghlal fans performed the Viking clap immediately after the end of the
UEFA Euro 2016; With each clap, they call their team nickname "S.S".[8][9]