Odense Boldklub, commonly known as OB, is a Danish football club based in Odense on the island of Funen. The club was founded on 12 July 1887 as Odense Kricketklub, primarily as a cricket and tennis club, before changing its name to Odense Boldklub in 1889 when football and tennis departments were added.[1] The club’s nickname, “De Stribede” (The Striped), refers to its traditional blue and white striped playing colours.[2]
Design and History
The current OB crest is a circular emblem in blue and white featuring the “OB” monogram.[3] The club’s first logo emerged in 1889, when the club changed its name from Odense Kricketklub to Odense Boldklub.[1] This original crest has been revived in recent years for special retro collections, and in 2025 it appeared on a match shirt for the first time, adorning the club’s third kit for the 2025/26 season.[1] The club had previously used the original logo on a retro shirt launched in January 2021.[4]
According to a historical crest database, OB introduced a modern circular crest in 1979 featuring the initials “OB” in white on a deep blue background, surrounded by a white ring outlined in gold. In 1996, the club introduced a simplified version of the crest that reportedly remains in use today, retaining the circular format with a bolder OB monogram, a darker blue central disc and a cleaner white outer ring.[5] This source, however, is a collector-oriented database and should be treated with some caution regarding exact dates and details.
Meaning and Symbolism
The club’s official colours are blue and white, which are reflected in both the crest and the team’s striped home shirts.[6] The nickname “De Stribede” directly references these blue and white stripes.[2] Beyond this documented colour association, no official source in the research establishes specific symbolic meaning for the crest’s circular form or its individual elements.
Typography and Design
Descriptions of the current crest indicate the “OB” letters are rendered in a bold, sans-serif style within the circular badge.[5] The 2026/27 home shirt features the circular OB crest applied in blue and white on the chest.[3] No official designer or agency attribution for the current crest was found in the available research.
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