From Van Dijk to Zidane, which racehorses are named after famous football legends?

Read any decent betting guide, and you are unlikely to find the suggestion ‘bet on a horse with a really great name’.

You might land one in every 20 bets placed going down this route, but you are unlikely to be sunning yourselves in Marbella with your winnings. Clacton-on-Sea is much more likely.

Horse racing and football have both had their fair share of donkeys, but it’s hard to make many direct comparisons. Essentially, they are sporting worlds apart.

That’s where the owners come in. Obviously, they will finance the horse’s purchase and upkeep, but at the start of that journey, they also need to come up with a name.

This is a trickier task than it sounds, especially as the British Horse Racing Authority enforces a maximum character limit of 18, which is why there isn’t a horse named after former Dutch international Johannes Vennegoor of Hesselink.

So, like the naming of a cat or dog, many owners will resort to naming their expensive thoroughbred purchase after their favourite football player.

Obviously, this naming route can be fraught with peril, especially if the real-life person turns out to have controversial views...see Le Tissier.

Here, Sports News Blitz’s Scott Allen ploughs his way through some of the most famous horses named after football players.

Yashin - (Lev Yashin)

Named after Soviet goalkeeping icon Lev Yashin - “The Black Spider” - this young Irish jumper has big gloves to fill. Yashin, the horse, has reached Group 2 level in 202,5 but it proved a step too far.

Garrincha - (Garrincha)

Several horses have been named after Brazil’s Garrincha. Though unlike the two-time World Cup winner, they have failed to make an impression.

The misspelt Neil Mulholland-trained and lightly-raced nine-year-old Garincha, did win back in 2023, but hasn’t pulled up any trees either.

READ MORE: Fact To File rated narrowly ahead of Gaelic Warrior despite John Durkan defeat

Aguerooo - (Sergio Aguero)

Aguerooo enjoyed a long career, racking up an impressive nine wins.

Beattie Is Back - (Kevin Beattie)

Ipswich Town legend Kevin Beattie is immortalised through this horse, purchased by the Kevin Beattie Foundation.

Trained in Yorkshire by Richard Fahey, Beattie Is Back is mainly seen in Class 4 and 5 handicaps in the north of England and occasionally in Scotland.

Koeman - (Ronald Koeman)

Trained by former England striker Mick Channon, Koeman is named after Dutch free-kick maestro Ronald Koeman.

While the footballer broke English hearts in 1993, this horse won nine of 63 races on the Flat before being retired in 2022.

Van Dijk - (Virgil van Dijk)

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk lends his name to this consistent racehorse trained in the North by Antony Brittain.

The eight-year-old was last seen finishing last of 11 at Southwell in 2022, unable to add to the four wins from starts over his career.

Shearer - Paul Nicholls (Alan Shearer)

The Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old is clipping along quite nicely with eight wins from 18, his last at Taunton in February 2025.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Horse racing news: Buick eyes International Jockeys’ Championship glory after year of Group 1 successes

Jay Jay Okocha - (Jay-Jay Okocha)

Okocha dazzled the Premier League with his flair, but the equine version couldn’t emulate those magic feet. The horse finished last in both career starts back in 2006.

Le Tissier - (Matthew Le Tissier)

Southampton hero Matthew Le Tissier inspired this horse trained by Saints fan Andrew Balding. Although Le Tissier never won, a similar namesake - Le Tiss, trained by Mick Channon - found the net three times.

Zidane - (Zinedine Zidane)

Zinedine Zidane, one of football’s smoothest playmakers, is honoured by several horses, most notably a top-class sprinter who won the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood. The other three didn’t trouble the winner’s circle.

Captain Gerrard - (Steven Gerrard)

An impressive dual Group 3-winning sprinter back in the late 2010s. He’s now performing as a stallion siring over 70 winners so far.

Asprilla - (Faustino Asprilla)

A tribute to Newcastle United cult hero Faustino Asprilla, there are three horses named after the Colombian striker.

All have shown flashes of wild talent but struggled for consistency. The Japanese Asprilla, trained by Eiji Nakadate, has been the only one to win a race.

Kempes - (Mario Kempes)

One of the most successful entries on the list, Kempes honours Argentina’s 1978 World Cup Golden Boot winner Mario Kempes.

The most successful Kempes was trained by Willie Mullins for JP McManus, the horse earned £277,539 and captured the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Feed The Goater - (Shaun Goater)

Named after Manchester City cult legend Shaun Goater, who was immortalised with the chant “Feed the goat and he will score”, this Middleham Park gelding ended on a high, winning on the all-weather at Chelmsford in classic poacher style. One of three wins in a nine-race Flat career.

Bielsa - (Marcelo Bielsa)

The beloved former Leeds United manager’s equine counterpart Bielsa, rewarded connections with a major win in the Ayr Gold Cup. It was the highlight of a 33-race career, which featured six victories.

Bielsa’s Bucket, who was also on the scene at a similar time, failed to claim a win.

MORE FOR YOU: Romantic Warrior dazzles with return success in G2 Jockey Club Cup

Baggio - (Roberto Baggio)

McManus' horse, named after the Italian star, retired to stud with six wins from 37 races.

Ooh Ah Cantona - (Eric Cantona)

Over a career of 29 races, Ooh Ah Cantona claimed a respectable five wins.

The Romford Pele - (Ray Parlour)

The Romford Pele racked up nine race wins, including a notable win in the Summer Cup in 2014.

Bremner - (Billy Bremner)

Over six lifetime runs he recorded two wins and one third place.

Bergkamp - (Dennis Bergkamp)

Unlike their namesake the three horses named Bergkamp and the one called Dennis Bergkamp have all been bloody useless and never won a race.

Anderton - (Darren Anderton)

Five runs, no wins, three places and was gelded. There’s a joke in here somewhere.

READ NEXT: Premier League on Sky Sports: Everton vs Newcastle betting preview and tips