Aanvoerder, Captain, Spielführer, Capitano
A third of our bands cross the border. To Germany and Belgium most of all, but also to a club in Malta, a university team in Florida and a club in Vienna that has existed since 1894. They all order the same thing: the word for captain, in their language, in their colours.
Posted on September 21, 2026
It is striking how different the same word looks. "Spielführer" is long and only fits a narrow, tall typeface. "Captain" on the American flag needs an outline, or it vanishes among the stars. "Capitano" on green, white and red is almost beautiful by itself. For every country we made the version that reads best on the arm, and you can open every one of them in the designer to add a name.
In Dutch too
And of course: plain "Aanvoerder" on red, white and blue, or "Kapitein" — Flemish clubs ask for that one more often. The shop comes in six languages; the band in as many as you like.
More stories
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Professional football
One match, one band: Sparta – PSV
On 6 May 2023 Sparta's captain wore a band that was used exactly once. Both club crests, the date, the opponent. After the final whistle it did not go back in the bag; it went to the display cabinet. More and more clubs turn every home match into a small monument this way — and it costs less than you think.
Countries & tournaments
Orange on the arm — and 74 other countries
The country band is the classic. At a Euros or a World Cup it is everywhere: in the schoolyard, at the neighbourhood tournament, on the campsite in France. But the best-selling country band in our shop is not the Netherlands. It is the Czech Republic.
City & region
Stronger through struggle
Rotterdam's coat of arms carries a motto that might as well have been written for every captain. Regional bands are the shop's quiet bestsellers: Utrecht has been on top for years, with Rotterdam, Limburg and The Hague behind it.