Identity construction of a football club on the example of FC Obilić

Abstract

In this paper I show identity construction of FC Obilić, Belgrade. Material for the research is collected in the first half of the 2002 and it is consisted of the monograph published for the club' s 75th" anniversary, club advertisement materials (T-shirts and calendars) and the club's museum. Discourse analyze used in the paper is the combination of the Foucaultian understanding of discourse and more "practical" use of the term used in linguistics and constructivist psychology. Analysis is supplemented by Leach's analyses of symbols' logic usual in our ethnology. Taking into consideration that analyzed materials are official representing materials of the club, discourse analyze used in the paper show club's official ideology that could vary from that of the players of team's supporters. Analyses shows that dominant discourse on which Obilić based its identity is combination of national ideology (very much based on the ideas of Orthodox Christianity and national heroism) and ideas of modernity formed in the selective use of "western values". Basic identity connection established in the materials I used is between Serbian hood, Obilić (and football more generally, Arkan and modernity).

Keywords

• social constructivism
• national identity
• football
• FC Obilić