The explanation behind one of football’s most recognizable phrases used when a team clinches the First Division.
When a squad stands on the brink of securing the league title, fans often say it is close to singing the alirón. But what does that expression really mean? This article explores its origin, tracing how a sports chant became a staple of football talk in Spain and beyond.
The term aliron and the phrase singing the aliron are widely known, yet the exact moment of their birth remains uncertain. Historians and enthusiasts propose several distinct origins for this linguistic habit.
One theory, cited by the specialized site Fundu, a project associated with media networks including the EFE Agency and financial institutions like BBVA, posits that the term emerged in the 19th century. British miners along the Basque coast labeled veins rich in iron with the sign “all iron,” a label tied to the mineral’s purity and the miners’ economic rewards. Over time, the expression shifted from a technical description to a celebratory phrase and morphed into “alirón” in popular Spanish usage.
A second explanation points to 1913, a year when a popular dancer and singer named Marietina debuted a song titled “El Alirón.” The lyrics conveyed a Madrid-wide trend where the alirón chant was fashionable and widely recognized. The verse spoke of the song’s appeal and its role in social rituals, including moments when courage and affection were conveyed through singing the alirón. Athletic Bilbao supporters reportedly adapted the tune to proclaim “Alirón! Alirón! Athletic Champion!” and the expression subsequently spread to other Spanish clubs.
Another account credits a cupletista of the era, Teresita Zazá, and her song “La Canción del Alirón” with popularizing the term. The word is said to be a variation of alón, itself derived from the French allons, a direct call to action meaning “let’s go.” This framing emphasizes collective movement and rallying, a hallmark of sports chants that resonated across teams and fans.
In later linguistic records, the Royal Spanish Academy listed the word in 2001, noting a possible Arab origin as al’il’lān, a proclamation in some near-eastern contexts. This attribution has since been revised, and the academy now treats the origin as uncertain.
In contemporary usage, the phrase remains a popular emblem of triumph in Spanish football, adopted and adapted across leagues and countries, sometimes transcending the sport to appear in broader celebratory language. The most common interpretation is that singing the alirón marks the moment of victory and the joy of securing a title, a ritual that unites players, staff, and supporters.