Football fans vote for the best sounds in football - like cheering crowds and funny chants

The best sounds in football include the roar when the players take to the pitch, the first whistle, and funny chants.

A poll of 2,000 football fans, who have travelled to games, found 90 per cent believe a good atmosphere makes a football match more memorable.

The tense silence before a penalty kick, the national anthem performed at international games, and the ping of the ball hitting the crossbar, also featured in the top 20 best sounds.

And so did the familiar theme tune of the UEFA Champions League, and drums and music being played around the stadium.

Other sounds football fans love include the ripple of applause from fans after a demonstration of skill, the sound of a turnstile clicking round – and even the shouting of street vendors outside the stadium.

Expedia Live, the destination for accessing expert travel advice on where to explore after the final whistle, commissioned the “Soundscape of being there” study.

It has partnered with football legend and ex-Inter Milan and Manchester City midfielder, Patrick Vieira, to share the sounds that shaped his football career.

Patrick Vieira says hearing fans chanting passionately is a 'magical' sound (Expedia Live)

He said: “From my own experience travelling over the years across Europe, the sounds I heard on game day made my experiences truly unforgettable, no matter where I played.

“I loved the roar of the plane taking off for European nights as it signalled the start of the journey, and the buzz of the stadium crowd before kick-off really got the adrenalin pumping.

“Football has so many iconic sounds that create a unique atmosphere, which cannot be replicated anywhere else. When visiting a rival stadium and hearing our fans chanting with such passion was magical, that feeling stays with me.”

The research also found some fans take the sounds of football to the extreme – with 22 per cent preferring the noise of a goal celebration over hearing someone tell them that they love them (19 per cent).

And 68 per cent even think the sounds inside a stadium can impact the outcome of a game.

Liverpool FC was voted as having the loudest and most passionate fans (28 per cent), followed by FC Barcelona (15 per cent) and Manchester City FC (14 per cent).

But this year’s finalist, FC Internazionale Milano, didn’t even make the top 10 (four per cent).

The “Soundscape of being there” report also revealed more than half (52 per cent) would love to visit Istanbul, specifically to watch this year’s final.

And the fact the game is being hosted there has put the city on the travel radar for 77 per cent in the future.

The most iconic sound associated with Istanbul is the call to prayer of the Muezzin (38 per cent), followed by the buzz of the bazaars (34 per cent).

Over half of football fans want to go to Istanbul this year, specifically for the UEFA Champion's League final (Expedia Live)

Of those who have been lucky enough to go away to watch a Champion’s League round, one in three said they most look forward to experiencing a new city.

And 30 per cent enjoy the overall atmosphere and experience, while 27 per cent love to use it as a getaway with friends.

But 62 per cent also believe the sounds of travel add to their overall getaway experience, according to the OnePoll figures.

Just over a third (35 per cent) associate people talking in different languages with travel abroad – while 31 per cent always link the roar of a plane taking off.

And three in ten said the hustle and bustle of a busy bar or café is what makes them really feel they are travelling.

Michele Rousseau, from Expedia, said: “We’re proud to be an Official Supplier of the UEFA Champions League, and can enable fans from around the world to travel and discover new cities, as nothing beats being there.

“Travelling to watch a game allows fans to experience new cultures and create special memories with friends and family that will last a lifetime.”

For fans looking to meet Patrick Vieira in person, he will be sharing the sounds that shaped his career and travels at the Expedia Live immersive experience, at the UEFA Champions League fan zone in Istanbul, on Friday 9th June.

THE TOP 20 BEST SOUNDS IN FOOTBALL:

1. Cheering of the crowds
   
2. The chants
3. Team anthems being sung
4. The roar when the players take to the pitch
5. The UEFA Champions League anthem before the game
6. Player songs being sung
7. Fans clapping
8. The ping of the ball hitting the crossbar
9. The noise of the ball hitting the back of the net
10. The tense silence before a penalty kick
11. The sound of the whistle at kick-off/the final whistle
12. The national anthems
13. Drums and music being played around the stadium
14. Referee whistles for fouls
15. Players shouting to each other
16. The sound of the turnstile turning
17. Honking cars before/after the game
18. The noise of street vendors outside the stadium
19. Coaches shouting at the players
20. Feet stomping

THE TOP 10 THINGS FANS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO IN ISTANBUL THIS YEAR:

1. The Grand Bazaar
   
2. Watching a game at a stadium
3. The Blue Mosque
4. Spice Bazaar
5. Going to a Turkish Tearoom
6. Visiting Istanbul Archaeological Museum
7. Bosporus Strait
8. Trying Turkish Delight
9. Hagia Sofia Mosque
10. Topkapi Palace