Corinthians

Corinthians is a football (soccer) club from Brazil.

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Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, a Brazilian sports club, based in São Paulo, São Paulo (state), Brazil, most known for its football (soccer) team, is a traditional and popular Brazilian multisport club. They have around 30 million fans in Brazil, which makes it the most popular club in the country.

Corinthians was founded in 1910 by a group of labourers - mainly of Portuguese, Italian and Spanish descent - hoping to create a popular club in the city of São Paulo to play against the elite clubs that already existed. They are named after the English amateur team Corinthian-Casuals, that played by the country at that time.

The football team is among the most successful in Brazil, having won the first edition of the FIFA Club World Championship, the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A four times, the Brazilian Cup three times, the Campeonato Paulista 26 times (leader), among many other victories. Corinthians fans are widely known as "Fiel", Portuguese for "faithful" or "loyal".

As a multisport club, Corinthians also have amateur and professional volleyball, team handball, taekwondo, judo, swimming (sport), tennis and futsal teams. Recently, Corinthians started competing in the Superleague Formula, a racing tournament with the biggest football teams around the world.

History

Fúlvio, Casemiro do Amaral and Casemiro Gonzalez; Police, Biano and Cesar; Aristides, Peres, Amilcar, Dias and Neco

The Centennial Champion

Corinthians are known in Brazil as the "Centennial Champion", because of the coincidence in the years of some of its conquests:

- 1922 - State Champions; Brazil's independence from Portugal was in 1822
- 1954 - State Champions; Foundation of the city of São Paulo was in 1554
- 1988 - State Champions; Abolition of slavery was in 1888

The Champion of Champions

Corinthians is also known in Brazil as the "Campeão dos Campeões" (Champion of Champions), because in 1915 Corinthians broke with the Paulista League and did not participate in that year's tournament, which was won by Germania. At the end of the season, Corinthians challenged Germania to a game and won 4-1. Challenged to face Palmeiras, the champion of the Apea League (another league of those times), Corinthians was again triumphant with a 3-0 victory. As a sidenote, the victorious team in those challenges was also the 1914 and 1916 undefeated São Paulo State Championship champion.

There is also another story that could explain the nickname. In 1930, even though there was yet no national championship in Brazil, there was a challenge match between the champions of the São Paulo and the Rio de Janeiro state championships. On February 16, in a match against Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama, in Rio de Janeiro, Corinthians won 4-2, with goals scored by Filó (2), De Maria and Gambinha, bringing home the "Champion of Champions" trophy.

Today, the nickname is used in the second verse of Corinthians's official anthem.

The Musketeer

Corinthians' official mascot is the musketeer, symbol of bravery, audacity and fighting spirit. The adoption of that character recalls the first years of the club. In 1913 most of the football leaders of the São Paulo State founded the APEA (Paulista Athletic Sports Association).

In the depleted Paulista League was left with only Americano, Germania and Internacional, known as the "three musketeers" of São Paulo football. Corinthians joined the three as D'Artagnan, being the fourth and most adored musketeer, just like Alexandre Dumas, père's novel The Three Musketeers. To be accepted in that "musketeers universe", Corinthians had to show its bravery. As there was many other teams who coveted the spot in the Liga Paulista, Corinthians participated in a selective tournament against Minas Gerais and São Paulo, two other great teams of Paulista amateur football at that time. The Corinthian team beat Minas 1-0 and São Paulo 4-0, earning acceptance into the group and acquiring the right to participate in the Special Division of the Paulista League in the following year.

Saint George

An important symbol for Corinthians is Saint George. Saint George is one of the most devoted Catholic Saint in Brazil, and still is often remembered as The Corinthians Patron, and is very devoted in Sao Paulo's team Headquarters, and over all country, for most of Corinthians's fans.

Corinthians Invasion (Invasão Corinthiana)

The so-called "Corinthians Invasion" happened in 1976, when the Corinthians fans invaded the Mário Filho Stadium (Maracanã) in Rio de Janeiro during the semifinal of the Brasileirão Championship of 1976. In the game between Fluminense and Corinthians, around 70 thousand fans supporting Corinthians had left the State of São Paulo to see the team. Those in attendance participated in the biggest human displacement in peace time, according to the Guinness Book of Records. The game went into extra time, followed by a penalty shootout which was won by Corinthians. In November 2006, a special team jersey was released celebrating the 30th anniversary of the invasion.

Corinthians Democracy (Democracia Corinthiana)

The Corinthians Democracy was a unique ideological movement in the world, known in Brazil as one of the key moments in the struggle against the military dictatorship that governed the country at the time.

Led by Socrates and Wladimir, the players took some control of the team's management, deciding things that would affect them, and one of the decisions they took is known as one of the most important actions against the dictatorship.

In 1982, the players voted to print on the back of their shirts an announcement, "Vote on the 15th", to motivate people to vote on November 15, in the elections that would help Brazil to end its dictatorship.

Corinthians World Champion

The first edition of the FIFA Club World Championship took place in Brazil in 2000. Eight clubs, representing every corner of the planet, converged on Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. It was the two Brazilian participants, Rio's Vasco da Gama and Corinthians from São Paulo that met the star-studded local final. The São Paulo side just managed to defeat their rivals 4-3 in a penalty shootout after 120 minutes of tactical, goalless football. After drawing with Real Madrid and disposing of Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr and Morocco's Raja Casablanca in the first round, Corinthians and their stable of thoroughbreds - Vampeta, Freddy Rincon, Edu, Dida and Edilson - ran out worthy champions in front of a crowd of 73,000 in Rio's fabled Maracana Stadium. Corinthians played the final match with Dida, Índio, Fábio Luciano, Adílson, Kléber, Vampeta (gave place to Gilmar), Rincón, Marcelinho Carioca, Ricardinho (gave place to Edu), Edílson (gave place to Fernando Baiano) and Luizão. Coach: Oswaldo de Oliveira.

Rivalries

- Palmeiras: Palestra Itália (now known as Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras) was founded in 1914 as an Italians-only club. Some of Corinthians' Italian members, including the player Bianco, the only Italian on Corinthians' squad, left to join the new club and were labeled as traitors. Because of that, the teams became rivals, and remain the fiercest rivals in São Paulo to this day.

- Other rivals: Corinthians also have a historic rivalry with São Paulo Futebol Clube and Santos Futebol Clube and currently Sport Club Internacional has a great rivalry too.

Colours

Even though Corinthians has been recognized by the colours black and white for most of its history, the first Corinthians' kit originally consisted of cream (color) shirts and black shorts. But when the shirts were washed, the cream colour gradually became white. After that, early in Corinthians's history, the official colours were changed, so Corinthians would not waste much money on buying new kits. In 1954 was introduced the black with thin white stripes uniform which became the alternative uniform.

Crests

The first crest was created by the lithographer Hermógenes Barbuy, brother of Corinthians' player Amílcar Barbuy, in 1914. But the crest changed often before 1919, when a new crest (part of the present crest) debuted on Corinthians' shirts in 1919. Presenting a São Paulo State flag in a circle and Corinthians's name, S.C. Corinthians Paulista, written around it, where S.C. stand for Sport Club.

The crest changed yet again in 1940 when the modernist painter and former member of Corinthians' reserve squad Francisco Rebolo González created Corinthians's definitive crest, with the anchor and two oars (a reference to the acquatic sports practiced in the club), making it unique. The definitive crest has been revised a few times.

Stadiums

As soon as founded Corinthians needed somewhere to host its matches. The team initially played on a field owned by a wood seller, and henceforth was known as Campo do Lenheiro (portuguese for wood seller's field). The field's conditions were not ideal as the players and fans had to clean the place before every match.

Four years after being included to play the São Paulo State Championship, in 1918, a more appropriate stadium was required, as the fame and number of fans increased after winning two state championships. Associates, players and fans managed to build another stadium, known as Bom Retiro Stadium which would be Corinthians home ground for nine years.

In 1928, club chairman Alfredo Schürig purchased the terrain where the social club now stands, known as Parque São Jorge. Inside the social club a stadium (named after Schürig) was built. Most known as Fazendinha (Portuguese for small farm) or Parque São Jorge Stadium this stadium would host Corinthians matches for a long time.

Municipal Prefecture Stadium Paulo Machado de Carvalho (known as Pacaembu) was inaugurated in 1940. As Corinthians with the biggest fanbase in the city, Corinthians would play its bigger matches in the public stadium for a bigger attendance. Eventually every Corinthians home match would be played there.

As the capacity of Pacaembu decreased with time, to 37,000 spectators as of its last improvement in 2008, Corinthians is forced to play sometimes in rival's São Paulo Futebol Clube ground (Estádio do Morumbi) when the expected attendance is superior to Pacaembu's capacity.

Several projects of a new stadium were presented to the public since the 1960s. Corinthians owns property in Itaquera conceded for the built of its new stadium by the Municipal Prefecture in 1970s. In the 1990s Corinthians inaugurated its first training centre there, known as CT de Itaquera.

Former partner group Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst bought land in the Raposo Tavares Highway in late 1990s for the stadium construction but the partnership ended soon after that.

In late 2006 a Non-governmental organization called Cooperfiel established a fund drive for a new stadium.

Former Chairman Alberto Dualib had conversations with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (an ardent supporter of the club) to ask him for financial assistance to build a new stadium for the team. In that meeting, the president demanded to talk to former coach Emerson Leão and tell him he trusted on him to "fix" the team, which has been having problems with greedy players and jealousy amongst them. It is also said that the real purpose of that meeting was that Dualib could talk to Lula about Boris Berezovsky's arrival.

Corinthians' practice field is home to Brazil's first FIFA certified artificial turf pitch. This synthetic turf pitch, called Xtreme Turf, was manufactured by

As of 2009, there are some conjectures that Municipal Prefecture and Corinthians would make a deal for a 20-year allotment of Pacaembu. Besides that, Fazendinha is being improved to host some matches and shows starting 2010.

Anthem
The Corinthians anthem was written in 1952 by Lauro D'Avila, called "Campeão dos Campeões" (Champion of the Champions).

Salve o Corinthians,

O campeão dos campeões.

Eternamente,

Dentro dos nossos corações.

Salve o Corinthians,

De tradições e glórias mil.

Tu és o orgulho,

Dos esportistas do Brasil

Teu passado é uma bandeira,

Teu presente, uma lição.

Figuras entre os primeiros

Do nosso esporte bretão.

Corinthians grande,

Sempre altaneiro.

És do Brasil,

O clube mais brasileiro!

Hail Corinthians,

The champion of the champions.

Forever,

Within our hearts.

Hail Corinthians,

Of tradition and thousand glories.

You are the pride,

Of the sportsmen of Brazil

Your past is a flag,

Your present, a lesson.

Takes its place among the firsts

Of our Breton sport.

Great Corinthians,

Always soaring.

You are from Brazil,

The most Brazilian club!

and Campeonato Paulista as of Feb. 2, 2009.

First team squad

(Vice-Captain (football))
(Captain (football))

On loan

Notable Players

Technical Staff

Current Technical Staff

- Mano Menezes — Head coach
- Toninho Oliveira — Fitness coach
- Carlos Alberto Pimentel — Assistant fitness coach
- Marcos Antonio Romando — Goalkeeping coach
- Dr. Fábio Luiz Novi — Club doctor
- Dr. Paulo Antonio de Faria — Club doctor
- Dr. Joaquim Grava — Head of Medical Department
- Dr. Renato Fraga Moreira Lotufo — Physiologist
- José Alberto Fregnani Gonçalves — Physiotherapist
- Paulo Rogério Vieira — Physiotherapist
- Christine Fernanda Machado Neves — Nutritionist
- Alexandro Gonçalves Dias — Masseur
- José Lazaro do Nascimento — Masseur
- Cleber Costa de Souza — Masseur

Notable managers

Corinthians first official manager was uruguayan Pedro Mazzulo appointed in 1933. Before that, usually the leader player (captain) accumulated also the head coach function. Former player Neco was the first appointed manager to win a championship with the club, in 1937.

Nelsinho Baptista in 1990, Wanderley Luxemburgo in 1998, Oswaldo de Oliveira in 1999 and Antônio Lopes in 2005 are the four managers that succeeded to win the Brazilian championship trophy with the club.
Osvaldo Brandão is known as one of the most important managers in Corinthians's history for leading the group to win the Campeonato Paulista in 1977, after 23 years without a trophy.

Current manager Mano Menezes wrote his name in Corinthians's history after leading Corinthians back to first division in 2008, after Corinthians was relegated for the first time ever in 2007. Mano Menezes also lead Corinthians to a Runner-Up campaign in Copa do Brasil 2008, an unbeaten title in Campeonato Paulista 2009 and a first place victory in Copa do Brasil 2009.

Honours of professional football (66)

Official honours (41)

World Competitions (FIFA): (1)

- FIFA Club World Championship: 2000 FIFA Club World Championship

National competitions (CBF): (9)

- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 1990, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 1998, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 1999, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2005
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série B: Campeonato Brasileiro Série B 2008
- Copa do Brasil: Copa do Brasil 1995, Copa do Brasil 2002, Copa do Brasil 2009
- Supercopa do Brasil: 1991

Competitions inter-state (FPF and FFERJ): (5)

- Rio-São Paulo Tournament: 1950, 1953, 1954, 1966, 2002

Competitions state of São Paulo (FPF): (26)

- Campeonato Paulista: 1914- , 1916- , 1922, 1923, 1924, 1928, 1929- , 1930, 1937, 1938- , 1939, 1941, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, Campeonato Paulista 2009-

Unbeaten champion in 1914, 1916, 1929, 1938 and Campeonato Paulista 2009

Friendly tournaments (25)

International tournaments (10)

- Pequeña Copa del Mundo de Clubes (Venezuela) (1):1953
- Charles Miller International Tournament (Brazil) (1): 1954
- City of Turin Tournament (Italy) (1): 1966
- Apollo V Cup (United States) (1): 1969
- Costa del Sol Tornament (Spain): 1969
- Independence of Mexico Cup (Mexico) (1): 1981
- Nations Cup (United States) (1): 1985
- Ramón de Carranza Trophy (Spain) (1): 1996
- Santos City Internacional Summer Tournament (Brazil) (2): 1986, 1987

National tournaments (15)

- São Paulo City Cup: 1942, 1943, 1947
- Mayor of São Paulo Cup: 1953
- Gold Quinela: 1942
- Missões Tournament: 1953
- Charles Miller Tournament: 1955
- Brasília Tournament: 1958
- São Paulo Cup: 1962, 1975
- Recife Cup: 1965
- Peoples's Tournament: 1971
- Laudo Natel Cup: 1973
- Porto Alegre City Cup: 1983
- Bandeirantes Cup: 1994

Amateur football (13)

Youth Competitions (13)

- Dallas Cup (2): 1999, 2000
- Nike Cup (1): 2003
- Copa São Paulo de Juniores (7): 1969, 1970, 1995, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2009
- Copa Internacional de Futebol Sub-17 de Promissão: 2002, 2003, 2007
Further information:Sport_Club_Corinthians_Paulista_Junior_Team Honours

Matches

Notable matches

- Corinthians-Sport Club Internacional 2-2 - 2009 Copa do Brasil Final Match
- Corinthians-Santos Futebol Clube 3-1 - 2009 Campeonato Paulista Final Match
- Corinthians-São Paulo Futebol Clube 2-1 - 2009 Campeonato Paulista Semi-Final Match
- Corinthians-Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas 2(5)-1(4) - 2008 Copa do Brasil Semi-Final Match
- Corinthians-Goiás Esporte Clube 4-0 - 2008 Copa do Brasil Round of 16 Match
- Corinthians-Club Deportivo Universidad Católica 3-2 - 2006 Copa Libertadores de América Group Stage
- Corinthians-Santos Futebol Clube 7-1 - 2005 Campeonato Brasileiro 2005 Season Match
- Corinthians-Cianorte Futebol Clube 5-1 - 2005 Copa do Brasil Eighth-Finals Match
- Corinthians-São Paulo Futebol Clube 3-2 - 2003 Campeonato Paulista Final Match
- Corinthians-Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama 0(4)-0(3) - 2000 FIFA World Club Championship Final Match
- Corinthians-Real Madrid 2-2 - 2000 FIFA World Club Championship Group Stage Match
- Corinthians-Clube Atlético Mineiro 0-0 - 1999 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Final Match
- Corinthians-São Paulo Futebol Clube 3-2 - 1999 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Semi-Finals (Corinthians GK Dida stopped two Raí penalties)
- Corinthians-Cerro Porteño 8-2 - 1999 Copa Libertadores de América Group Stage
- Corinthians-Cruzeiro Esporte Clube 2-0 - 1998 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Final Match
- Corinthians-Santos Futebol Clube 1-1 - 1998 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Semi-Finals 3rd match
- Corinthians-São Paulo Futebol Clube 5-0 - 1996 Campeonato Paulista Season Match
- Corinthians-Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense 1-0 - 1995 Copa do Brasil Final Match
- Corinthians-Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras 2-1 - 1995 Campeonato Paulista Final Match
- Corinthians-São Paulo Futebol Clube 1-0 - 1990 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Final Match
- Corinthians-Tiradentes-PI 10-1 - 1983 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Season Match
- Corinthians-Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras 5-1 - 1982 Campeonato Paulista Season Match
- Corinthians-Associação Atlética Ponte Preta 1-0 - 1977 Campeonato Paulista Final Match
- Corinthians-Fluminense Football Club 1(4)-1(2) - 1976 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Semi-Finals (the Corinthians Invasion game).
- Corinthians-Club Atletico Boca Juniors 4-1 - 1956 Torneio Internacional Roberto Gomes Pedrosa Group Stage Match
- Corinthians-Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras 1-1 - 1954 Campeonato Paulista Final Match
- Corinthians-FC Barcelona 1-0 & 3-2 - 1953 Pequeña Copa del Mundo de Clubes
- Corinthians-Bologna FC 6-1 - Match between the Campeonato Paulista and the Serie A of 1929
- Corinthians-Associação Portuguesa de Desportos 10-1 - 1927 Campeonato Paulista Season Match
- Corinthians-Santos Futebol Clube 11-0 - 1920 Campeonato Paulista Season Match

ABC Futebol Clube, América-RN, Avaí, Barueri, Brasiliense, Ceará, Clube Atlético Bragantino, Corinthians, CRB, Criciúma, Esporte Clube Bahia, Fortaleza, Gama, Juventude, Marília, Paraná, Ponte Preta, Santo André, São Caetano, Vila Nova