São Paulo Futebol Clube
São Paulo Futebol Clube, usually called São Paulo FC or just São Paulo, is a very traditional Brazilian football team from São Paulo, founded on January 25, 1930, and Re-founded on December 16, 1935. It is often called Tricolor (meaning with three colours) by its supporters.
The team is one of the most successful clubs in Brazil, with several titles of national and international grade. That includes three World Championships (two of them are Intercontinental Cup titles and the other is a FIFA Club World Championship title) and three Libertadores Cups.
Their home stadium is Estádio Cícero Pompeu de Toledo (Morumbi), capacity 80,000. They play in a white shirt with two horizontal stripes--one red and one black, white shorts and socks.
History
1900 - 1934: From Paulistano to São Paulo da Floresta
In 1900, the Clube Atlético Paulistano is founded. After winning several championships, due to the football professionalization, they decided to end their activities in this sport, as did Associação Atlética das Palmeiras. Then, the players and the supporters of both teams founded the São Paulo Futebol Clube on January 25, 1930. São Paulo's playfield was called Floresta (Forest), so the team was known as São Paulo da Floresta. In this year, the team was runner-up on the Campeonato Paulista, and in 1931 São Paulo won a championship for the first time. In 1933, São Paulo played the first professional football match in Brazil: 5-1 against Santos.
Due to many mistakes made by the club's board, the team was deeply in debt. So, they merged with Clube de Regatas Tietê. The football department was closed on May 14, 1935.
1935 - 1939: Finally, São Paulo FC
Just after the merge with Tietê that buried São Paulo da Floresta, the founders and re-founders created the Grêmio Tricolor, which originated Clube Atlético São Paulo, on June 4, 1935, and, finally, São Paulo Futebol Clube, founded on December 16 of the same year. The first game was against Portuguesa Santista on January 25, 1936. The match was almost cancelled, due to the city's anniversary. Porphyrio da Paz, football director and composer of the club's anthem, pleaded the Board of Education Office and obtained the permission.
The club was already born very popular. However, it was very weak. So they decided to make it stronger with a new merge, this time with Estudantes Paulista, from Moóca neighborhood. With this new merge, they reached the second place on 1938's Campeonato Paulista.
1940 - 1950: The Steam Roller
In 1940, when the Pacaembu stadium was inaugurated, a new era began in the São Paulo state football. São Paulo was the club which better took advantage of the moment. In 1941, the club was again Campeonato Paulista runner-up. In 1942, after paying 200 contos de réis (with today is the equivalent of R$ 162,000), São Paulo acquired Leônidas da Silva, from Flamengo, who was one of the greatest players of that time. As it was already a major club, São Paulo brought other great players, like the Argentinian António Sastre, and the Brazilians Noronha, Bauer, Zezé Procópio, Luizinho, Rui and Teixeirinha. With them, the Tricolor formed the famous team known as the Steam Roller, five times Paulista champions in the 1940s (1943, 1945, 1946, 1948 and 1949). At this time, the club already had Canindé, used as a training field, this groundplot was later sold to Portuguesa to raise money to the Morumbi stadium construction.
1951 - 1957: The Drought
São Paulo was not very successful in the beginning of the 1950s. São Paulo won the state championship in 1953.
São Paulo won again the state championship only in 1957. At that time the club was helped by the experience of the Carioca player Zizinho, who was 35 years old, and the Hungarian manager Bela Guttman. From this moment upwards, with the uprising of Pelé's Santos and the construction of Morumbi stadium consuming all the efforts and resources, São Paulo had their largest titleless period in its history.
1958 - 1969: Just the Stadium
The club's planning was focused on the Estádio do Morumbi construction, and for this reason, few players were hired by the club, most of them inexpressive ones, but Roberto Dias and Jurandir were exceptions to this rule. During the twelve years after the 1957 Campeonato Paulista title, the club did not win any important title. In 1960, Morumbi stadium was inaugurated, and named after the late Cícero Pompeu de Toledo, who was the club's chairman during most of the stadium construction. One of the few happy moments during this period was the 1963 Campeonato Paulista 4-1 victory against Pelé's Santos.
1970 - 1975: The Glory Again
In 1970 the Morumbi stadium construction was concluded, and players like Gérson, of Botafogo, the Uruguayan midfielder Pedro Rocha, of Peñarol; and the Santos' goalscorer Toninho Guerreiro were hired. The club, managed by Zezé Moreira, who was the 1954 FIFA World Cup Brazil national football team manager, won the Campeonato Paulista one week before the end of the competition, after beating Guarani 2-1 in Campinas.
In 1971, the club won again the state championship, and most of the club's players were the same of the previous year. The club beat Palmeiras 1-0 in the final. The goal was scored by Toninho Guerreiro. In the same season, the club was the runner-up of the first Campeonato Brasileiro ever, staying only behind Atlético Mineiro, which was managed by Telê Santana.
In the following years, Pelé's Santos and Corinthians declined, and São Paulo and Palmeiras dominated the football of São Paulo state. In 1972, Palmeiras won the state championship title with only a point of advantage over São Paulo. In 1973, Palmeiras won the Campeonato Brasileiro and São Paulo was the runner-up. In 1974, São Paulo disputed Copa Libertadores de América being defeated in the final by Argentina's Independiente, after losing in the final match replay.
In 1975, the club was managed by the former goalkeeper José Poy, winning the Campeonato Paulista after defeating Portuguesa in the penalty shootout.
1976 - 1979: Affirmation Times
Waldir Perez, Chicão and Serginho were the best club players during the successful 1977 Campeonato Brasileiro campaign, won at Mineirão, against Atlético Mineiro in the penalty shootout. The club did not win any relevant title until 1980. Among the player who played for the club during this period were Zé Sérgio and Serginho Chulapa, who was the club's top goalscorer in history.
The 1980s: Tricolor Decade
In the 1980s São Paulo won an impressive amount of titles. The club's central defenders were the talented Oscar and Dario Pereyra. Those players helped the club win the Campeonato Paulista in 1980 and in 1981.
In 1984, the manager Cilinho introduced to the world the Menudos of Morumbi: Silas, Müller and Sidney. In the same year, the club won the Campeonato Paulista. The club's striker was Careca, a centre forward who played in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, and in the midfield there was Falcão, who came from Italy's AS Roma, nicknamed the King of Rome.
In 1986, the manager Pepe lead the club to its second Campeonato Brasileiro title, defeating Guarani in the penalty shootout. In 1987, Dario Pereyra left the club. In this year, the Menudos team won its last title. The Tricolor Decade ended with the 1989 Campeonato Paulista title and with the Campeonato Brasileiro second place, after losing to Vasco da Gama in the final.
1990 - 1995: The Telê Era
In 1990, the club, after a poor campaign, was relegated to the Campeonato Paulista second division. Telê Santana was hired as the club's manager. São Paulo was the Campeonato Brasileiro runner-up, behind Corinthians. In the following year, the club won the Campeonato Paulista and Corinthians was the runner-up.
In 1991, after being two times in a row Campeonato Brasileiro runner-up, São Paulo won its third competition title, after beating Carlos Alberto Parreira's Bragantino.
In 1992, the São Paulo of Telê, Zetti and Raí qualified to the Copa Libertadores de América final, against Newell's Old Boys of Argentina. In the first leg, in Rosario, Newell's Old Boys won 1-0. In the second leg, São Paulo beat the other side 1-0, and won the competition in the penalty shootout.
In the same year, in Tokyo the club won its first Toyota Intercontinental Cup, beating Johann Cruyff's FC Barcelona 2-1, after reversing the score. After returning to Brazil, the club beat Palmeiras in the state championship final.
In 1993, São Paulo won again the Libertadores Cup, after beating Universidad Católica of Chile. After the competition ended, Raí left the club. São Paulo won the Toyota Intercontinental Cup again, in Tokyo, after beating Fabio Capello's AC Milan 3-2. Müller scored the winning goal in the 86th minute of the match.
In 1994, the club again reached the Libertadores Cup final, this time against Argentina's Vélez Sarsfield, but it was defeated by the Argentine side in the penalty shootout, at Estádio do Morumbi.
1996 - 2004: Post-Telê Traumatic Shock?
In the beginning of 1996, due to health issues, Telê Santana left São Paulo, ending the club's golden era. After him, between 1995 and 2004, 14 managers worked on the club without staying long. Among the most notable titles during those 10 years were the 2000 Campeonato Paulista and the club's first Torneio Rio-São Paulo title in 2001. Rogério Ceni, Luís Fabiano and Kaká were the club's stars. The club's idol, Raí briefly played for the club in 1998, and with him, the club won the Campeonato Paulista of that year, after beating their rivals, Corinthians. Émerson Leão was hired as the club's manager in the end of 2004, after the club's unsuccessful campaign in its return to the Libertadores Cup.
2005: Once Again, the Best of the World
In 2005, with Leão as the club's manager, São Paulo easily won the Campeonato Paulista. However, he soon left the club, and Paulo Autuori was hired to replace him. Paulo Autuori was previously the Peru national football team's manager. São Paulo won the Libertadores Cup, beating another Brazilian team, Atlético Paranaense in the final. Atlético had to play on another ground, because its own stadium, Kyocera Arena has a maximum capacity below the minimum capacity allowed by CONMEBOL in Libertadores Cup final matches. The first leg, at Estádio Beira-Rio, in Porto Alegre, ended in a 1-1 draw. In the second leg, at Estádio do Morumbi, São Paulo beat Atlético Paranaense 4-0. São Paulo is the first Brazilian club to have won three Libertadores Cup titles.
In December, 2005, São Paulo disputed the FIFA Club World Championship in Japan. After beating Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad 3-2, the Brazilian team faced England's Liverpool on the final match. An 1-0 score was enough to give São Paulo its third Intercontinental title. The single goal was scored by Mineiro in the first half of the match.
Titles
International Competitions
World Championships
3 times
Intercontinental Cup - 1992, 1993
FIFA Club World Championship - 2005
Continental Championships
Libertadores Cup 3 times - 1992, 1993, 2005
Conmebol Cup: 1 time - 1994
Recopa: 2 times - 1993, 1994
Supercopa (Libertadores Cup Winners Supercup): 1 time - 1993
National Competitions
Brazilian Championship 1977, 1986, 1991
São Paulo State Championship 21 times: 1931, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1953, 1957, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1998, 2000, 2005.
Rio-São Paulo Tournament: 2001
São Paulo Youth Cup: 1993, 2000
Other International Competitions
- Little World Cup (VEN): 1955 e 1963.
- Jarrito Cup (MEX): 1955
- Cali Tournament (COL): 1960
- Guadalajara Tournament (MEX): 1960 e 1989.
- Firenze Tournament (ITA): 1964
- Colombino Cup (ESP): 1969
- Tampa Summer Cup (USA): 1982
- Leon Tournament (ESP): 1990
- Friendship Cup (CHI): 1990
- Barcelona City Cup (ESP): 1991 e 1992.
- Ramón de Carranza Tournament (ESP): 1992
- Tereza Herrera Cup (ESP): 1992
- Santiago City Tournament (CHI): 1993
- Santiago de Compostela Tournament (ESP): 1993
- Jalisco Cup (MEX): 1993
- Los Angeles City Tournament: 1993
- Los Angeles Soccer Cup: 1999
- Pachuca Tournament (MEX): 1999
- 3rd Euro América Cup (BRA): 1999
Current squad
As of August 21, 2006
No. Position Player
1 GK Rogério Ceni (Captain)
2 DF André Dias
3 DF Fabão
5 DF Miranda
4 DF Edcarlos
6 DF Júnior
7 MF Mineiro
8 MF Josué
9 FW Leandro Azevedo
10 MF Danilo
11 FW Alex Dias
13 MF Ramalho
14 FW Aloísio
15 MF Denílson
No. Position Player
16 DF Ilsinho
17 FW Lima
18 MF Rodrigo Fabri
19 FW Thiago
20 MF Richarlyson
21 MF Souza
22 GK Bosco
23 MF Lenílson
25 DF Alex
27 DF Neicer Reasco
30 GK Bruno
31 DF Alex Silva
33 DF Lúcio
Squad changes during 2006 season
In
9 FW Leandro Azevedo (from Fluminense)
17 FW Lima (from Al-Ittihad) (on Loan)
23 MF Lenilson (from Noroeste)
13 FW Ramalho (from Vitória)
33 DF Lúcio (from Palmeiras)
16 DF Ilsinho (from Palmeiras)
27 DF Reasco (from LDU)
12 FW Ricardo Oliveira (from Real Betis) (on Loan)
Out
2 DF Cicinho (to Real Madrid)
5 DF Lugano (to Fenerbahçe) (€ 7.5m)
12 FW Ricardo Oliveira (return to Real Betis)
9 FW Amoroso (to A.C. Milan)
-- FW Diego Tardelli (to São Caetano) (on Loan)
Famous players
Amoroso
Fried
Araken
Bauer
Bellini
Canhoteiro
Careca
Cafu
Chicão
Cicinho
Daryo Pereira
Denilson
Diego Lugano
Doriva
Edmilson Gomes
Falcão
Forlan
França
Gérson
José Poy
Juninho
Kaká
Leonardo
Leônidas
Luis Fabiano
Marcelinho
Marinho Chagas
Mauro Ramos
Müller
Neto
Noronha
Oscar
Palhinha
Pedro Rocha
Pita
Raí
Ricardinho
Ricardo Rocha
Roberto Dias
Rogério Ceni
Rui
Sastre
Serginho
Teixeirinha
Toninho Cerezo
Toninho Guerreiro
Valdir Peres
Zé Sérgio
Zetti
Zizinho
Famous Coaches
Aymoré Moreira
Bela Guttman
Carlos Alberto Silva
Cilinho
Émerson Leão
José Poy
Muricy Ramalho
Paulo Autuori
Telê Santana
Vicente Feola
Zezé Moreira
Stadium
Estádio Cícero Pompeu de Toledo is a stadium in São Paulo, Brazil, popularly known as Estádio do Morumbi, or just Morumbi, because of its location in the city's Morumbi neighborhood. It is the home ground of São Paulo Futebol Clube and its formal name honors Cícero Pompeu de Toledo, who was São Paulo FC's chairman during most of the stadium construction, and died before its inauguration.
Morumbi used to have 120,000 seats available, but now its maximum capacity is only 80,000 seats, and only 75,000 tickets are sold each game for safety reasons. The playing field measures 108,25 x 72,70 m (355,15 x 238,52 ft).
Official Thread São Paulo Futebol Clube
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