Hail to the Chiefs – but what exactly is the connection?

Iknow the band Kaiser Chiefs were named after the South African football side of the same name. But what made them choose it? And where did the football side get their name from in the first place? – P.

The football team has a slightly different spelling – Kaizer Chiefs.

Kaizer Chiefs were founded in 1970 shortly after the return of Kaizer Motaung from the United States where he played as a striker for the Atlanta Chiefs.

He combined his own first name with the Atlanta Chiefs to create the name Kaizer Chiefs. Their nickname is the Amakhosi.

The indie band, whose hits include I Predict A Riot, Ruby and Never Miss A Beat, were formed in Yorkshire in 2000. As dedicated Leeds United fans, the group – including vocalist Ricky Wilson, guitarist Andrew White and bassist Simon Rix – decided to christen themselves after defender Lucas Radebe’s first club.

The South Africa international made 113 appearances for the Johannesburg-based outfit before moving to England to sign for Leeds.

Kaiser Chiefs aren’t the only British band named after a football team.

Saint Etienne took theirs from a relatively obscure French soccer side. Founder member Bob Stanley was inspired by AS Saint-Etienne’s dashing green-and-white kit when, as a schoolboy, he followed their run to the 1976 European Cup Final, played at Glasgow’s Hampden Park.