Esporte Clube Bahia facts for kids
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| Full name | Esporte Clube Bahia | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Tricolor Bahiaço (mix of Bahia and aço, steel) Baêa Maior do Nordeste (Greatest in the Northeast) Esquadrão de Aço (Steel Squadron) |
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| Founded | 1 January 1931 | |||
| Ground | Arena Fonte Nova | |||
| Capacity | 50,025 | |||
| SAF Owner | City Football Group (90%) Others (10%) |
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| President | Emerson Ferretti | |||
| Head coach | Rogério Ceni | |||
| League | Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Campeonato Baiano |
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| 2022 2022 |
Série B, 3rd of 20 (promoted) Baiano, 4th of 10 |
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Bold indicates the club was founded by CFG.
* indicates the club was acquired by CFG.
§ indicates the club is co-owned.
| 2008 | Manchester City F.C.* |
|---|---|
| 2009 | |
| 2010 | |
| 2011 | |
| 2012 | |
| 2013 | New York City FC§ |
| 2014 | Melbourne City FC* |
| Yokohama F. Marinos*§ | |
| 2015 | |
| 2016 | |
| 2017 | Montevideo City Torque* |
| Girona FC*§ | |
| 2018 | |
| 2019 | Sichuan Jiuniu F.C.*§ |
| Mumbai City FC*§ | |
| 2020 | Lommel S.K.* |
| ES Troyes AC* | |
| 2021 | |
| 2022 | Palermo F.C.*§ |
Esporte Clube Bahia is a professional football club from Salvador, Brazil. It's often called the Esquadrão de Aço (Steel Squadron). The club plays in the Campeonato Baiano, which is Bahia's state league. They also compete in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the top football league in Brazil.
Bahia has won the Brasileirão title twice. They first won in 1959, beating the famous Santos team with legendary players like Pelé. Their second national title came in 1988 against Internacional. Bahia has played in the Copa Libertadores four times, reaching the quarter-finals in 1989. This was their best performance in that competition.
After many years, Bahia returned to international competitions in 2012. They qualified for the Copa Sudamericana and have played in it seven more times, most recently in 2021. The club has also won their state title a record 50 times. They have won the Copa do Nordeste four times: in 2001, 2002, 2017, and 2021.
Bahia used to play their home games at the Estádio Fonte Nova since 1951. After a part of the stadium had an incident in 2007, the team played at the Estádio de Pituaçu. In 2013, the Fonte Nova stadium reopened as the Arena Fonte Nova. This is a modern stadium built for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and Bahia has played their matches there ever since. The team's home uniform is white shirts, blue shorts, and red socks. They have a big rivalry with Vitória, known as Ba-Vi.
In December 2022, the City Football Group (CFG) bought most of Bahia's shares. CFG is a company that owns many football clubs around the world. This deal was approved by the club members. By May 2023, CFG officially owned 90% of the club.
Contents
Club History: From Founding to Today
How Bahia Began and Won Its First Big Title
Esporte Clube Bahia was founded on January 1, 1931. This happened when players from two other clubs, Associação Atlética da Bahia and Clube Bahiano de Tênis, decided to join together. These two clubs had stopped their football teams. A few years later, Bahia became the most popular team in Northeast Brazil.
In their very first year, Bahia won the Torneio Inicio and the Bahia State Championship. The first president of Bahia was a doctor named Waldemar Costa. Bahia's club badge is similar to Corinthians' badge. The state flag of Bahia was used instead of the São Paulo state flag on their crest.
The team was founded with the motto "Nasceu para Vencer," which means "Born to Win." Bahia has won 50 State Championships, which is 21 more than their rival club, Vitória. They were also the first Brazilian club to play in the Copa Libertadores in 1960.
Between 1959 and 1963, and again in 1968, the club represented the state of Bahia in the Taça Brasil. This competition was the start of the Brazilian Championship. Bahia won the title in 1959 and finished second in 1961 and 1963.
The 1980s: Bahia's Golden Age and Second National Title
The 1980s were the best years in Bahia's history. Bahia won their second national title in 1988. They also finished 5th in 1986 and 4th in 1990 in the national league.
In 1988, Bahia won its second Brazilian Championship against Internacional from Porto Alegre. Bahia won the first game in Salvador by 2–1. The second game in Porto Alegre at the Beira Rio Stadium ended in a 0–0 tie. With these results, Bahia won the Brasileirão, their second national title. This championship allowed Bahia to play in the Copa Libertadores for the third time. This victory was a big surprise for many, especially since Bahia is from the Northeast of Brazil.
Tough Times for the Club
In 1997, Bahia was moved down to the Série B (the second division) for the first time. This happened after a 0–0 draw against Juventude. In 1999, Bahia almost got promoted back to the top league, Série A. They had a good season but finished 3rd, which wasn't enough for promotion.
In 2000, Bahia returned to the Brazilian First Division. This was due to some issues involving other clubs. In 2002, the bank that sponsored the team went out of business. This led to Bahia's decline in Brazilian football. After winning the Northeast Cup in 2001 and 2002, Bahia played poorly in 2003. They were relegated to the Série B for the second time. In 2004, they were close to getting promoted again, finishing 4th. However, they needed to win their final match but did not. In 2005, the club finished 18th in the Série B and was relegated to the Série C (the third division) for the first time.
The Tricolored Phoenix Rises Again
In 2007, Bahia finished among the top four teams in the Third Division. This meant they were promoted to the Second Division for the 2008 season. Bahia started strong. In the last game of the 3rd stage of the Série C, Bahia needed a win to reach the final. They won in the last minute with a goal by Charles. In the final, the team finished 2nd in the third division. This moment is called the "Fênix Tricolor" (Tricolored Phoenix) by Bahia fans. It means Bahia rose from difficult times.
Even though they were in the Third Division in 2007, Bahia had the highest average attendance in Brazil. About 40,400 people came to each match. No other club in the Third, Second, or even First Division had as many fans. This wasn't new for Bahia; they also had the biggest average attendance in Brazil in 2004 (Second Division), 1988, 1986, and 1985 (First Division).
Recent Years and New Ownership
From 2010 to 2014, Bahia stayed in the first division. In 2013, fans took over the club, leading to more socially active policies. The club started focusing on important topics like fighting racism, supporting LGBTQ+ rights, and improving how female fans are treated at stadiums. At the same time, they lowered ticket prices, increased income, paid off some debts, and improved their game results.
In 2014, they were relegated to the second division again but returned to the top league in 2016. After 22 years, Bahia returned to international competitions in 2012 by qualifying for the Copa Sul-Americana. They have qualified seven more times, most recently in 2021. They also won the state championship in 2012, 2014, 2015, and in 2023, they won their 50th state title.
In February 2018, the strong rivalry between Bahia and Esporte Clube Vitória gained international attention. Nine players (four from Bahia and five from Vitória) received red cards in a State Championship match.
In December 2022, it was announced that City Football Group (CFG) bought a majority of Bahia's shares. This was approved by 98.6% of the club members who voted. The deal was completed in May 2023, with CFG officially owning 90% of the club. The original administration kept the remaining 10% and full rights over club heritage, like shirt colors and the emblem. Bahia became the thirteenth football club to join City Football Group.
Club Symbols and Colors
Bahia's colors are blue, red, and white. The blue color honors the Associação Atlética da Bahia. White represents the Clube Baiano de Tênis. Red is for the Bahia state flag. The club's mascot is called Super-Homem Tricolor (Tricolor Superman). This mascot was created by Ziraldo in 1979. It's based on the club's nickname "Esquadrão de Aço" (Steel Squad) and looks very similar to the original Superman costume.
Home Stadium: Arena Fonte Nova
Bahia played at the Fonte Nova stadium from its opening in 1951 until November 2007. During a game in 2007, a part of the stadium had an incident. After this, the state government decided to demolish the stadium. A new stadium was built on the same spot for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Some important games played at the Fonte Nova include:
- Bahia vs. Internacional (2–1) in the 1988 Brazilian Championship Final.
- Bahia vs. Fluminense (2–1) in the 1988 Brazilian Championship Semi-finals.
- Bahia vs. Flamengo (4–1) in 2000.
- Bahia vs. Sport Recife (3–1) in the 2001 Northeast Cup Final.
- Bahia vs. Fast Club (1–0) in 2007, which helped Bahia get promoted.
Bahia returned to the Arena Fonte Nova in April 2013.
Club Achievements and Titles
Official Tournaments Won
| National Titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (Brazilian Championship) | 2 | 1959, 1988 |
| Regional Titles | ||
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Copa do Nordeste (Northeast Cup) | 4s | 2001, 2002, 2017, 2021 |
| State Titles | ||
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Campeonato Baiano (Bahia State Championship) | 51 | 1931, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1938 (I), 1940, 1944, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2025 |
| Taça Estado da Bahia (Bahia State Cup) | 3s | 2000, 2002, 2007 |
- record
- s shared record
Other Tournaments Won
- Friendship Cup (1): 1959
- Copa Renner (1): 1997
- Torneio Quadrangular de Salvador (7): 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954-I, 1960, 1961-I, 1961-II
- Torneio Octávio Mangabeira (1): 1951
- Torneio Triangular Luis Viana Filho (1): 1971
- Torneio Maria Quitéria (1): 1998
- Zona Norte-Nordeste da Taça Brasil (3): 1959, 1961, 1963
- Torneio dos Campeões do Nordeste (1): 1948
- Torneio Início da Bahia (9): 1931, 1932, 1934, 1937, 1938, 1951, 1964, 1967, 1979
Runner-up Finishes
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (2): 1961, 1963
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série C (1): 2007
- Torneio Heleno Nunes (1): 1984
- Copa do Nordeste (5): 1997, 1999, 2015, 2018, 2020
- Campeonato Baiano (23): 1941, 1955, 1957, 1963, 1964, 1969, 1972, 1985, 1989, 1992, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2024
- Taça Estado da Bahia (2): 2004, 2006
Bahia in International Competitions
- Copa Libertadores: Bahia has played in this top South American club competition 4 times.
- 1960: Preliminary round
- 1964: Preliminary round
- 1989: Quarter-finals (their best result)
- 2025: Group stage
- Copa Sudamericana: Bahia has appeared in this competition 9 times.
- 2012: Second stage
- 2013: Round of 16
- 2014: Round of 16
- 2015: Second stage
- 2018: Quarter-finals
- 2019: First stage
- 2020: Quarter-finals
- 2021: Group stage
- 2025: To be determined
Current Team Players
First Team Squad
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Youth Team Players
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Players Out on Loan
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Club Staff and Coaches
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Coaching Staff | |
| Head coach |  Rogério Ceni |
| Assistant head coach | Nelson Simões |
| Assistant head coach | Leandro Macagnan |
| Assistant head coach |  Charles Hembert |
| Performance coordinator |  António Bores |
| Fitness coach | Danilo Augusto |
| Fitness coach | Roberto Nascimento |
| Goalkeepers trainer | Eduardo Varjão |
Club Managers Through the Years
Carlos Volante (1959)- Paulo Amaral (1967–68)
Manuel Fleitas Solich (1970–71)- Sylvio Pirillo (1972)
- Evaristo de Macedo (1973)
- Zezé Moreira (1978–79)
- Aymoré Moreira (1981–82)
- Paulinho (1985), (1987)
- Evaristo de Macedo (1988–89)
- René Simões (1989)
- Candinho (1990–91)
- Gílson Nunes (1992)
- Joel Santana (1994)
- Júlio César Leal (1995)
- Geninho (1997)
- Evaristo de Macedo (1998)
- Joel Santana (1999)
- Evaristo de Macedo (2001)
- Candinho (2002–03)
- Evaristo de Macedo (2003)
- Lula Pereira (Aug 18, 2003 – Oct 27, 2003)
- Edinho (Oct 28, 2003 – Dec 18, 2003)
- Vadão (Jan 11, 2004 – Dec 17, 2004)
- Zetti (April 19, 2005 – June 20, 2005)
- Mauro Fernandes (April 7, 2006 – July 26, 2006)
- Lula Pereira (Oct 16, 2006 – Dec 5, 2006)
- Paulo Comelli (Dec 4, 2007 – June 2, 2008)
- Arturzinho (June 4, 2008 – Feb 2, 2009)
- Ferdinando Teixeira (Oct 4, 2008 – Dec 15, 2008)
- Alexandre Gallo (Dec 16, 2008 – July 7, 2009)
- Paulo Comelli (July 8, 2009 – Aug 1, 2009)
- Sérgio Guedes (Aug 2, 2009 – Sep 28, 2009)
- Paulo Bonamigo (Sep 29, 2009 – Dec 3, 2009)
- Renato Gaúcho (Dec 13, 2009 – Aug 10, 2010)
- Márcio Araújo (Aug 11, 2010 – Dec 2, 2010)
- Rogério Lourenço (Dec 7, 2010 – Feb 7, 2011)
- Vágner Benazzi (Feb 17, 2011 – April 10, 2011)
- Renê Simões (April 14, 2011 – Sep 2, 2011)
- Joel Santana (Sep 4, 2011 – Feb 2, 2012)
- Paulo Roberto Falcão (Feb 7, 2012 – July 20, 2012)
- Caio Júnior (July 21, 2012 – Aug 27, 2012)
- Jorginho (Aug 28, 2012 – April 7, 2013)
- Joel Santana (April 8, 2013 – May 13, 2013)
- Cristóvão Borges (May 17, 2013 – Dec 9, 2013)
- Marquinhos Santos (Dec 12, 2013 – July 28, 2014)
- Gilson Kleina (Aug 13, 2014 – Nov 11, 2014)
- Charles Fabian (2014)
- Sergio Soares (2015)
- Charles Fabian (2015)
- Doriva (2016)
- Guto Ferreira (2016–2017)
- Jorginho (2017)
- Preto Casagrande (2017)
- Paulo César Carpegiani (Oct 2017 - Dec 2017)
- Guto Ferreira (Dec 2017 - Jun 2018)
- Enderson Moreira (Jun 2018 - Mar 2019)
- Roger Machado (Apr 2019 - Sep 2020)
- Mano Menezes (Sep 2020 - Dec 2020)
- Dado Cavalcanti (Dec 2020 - Aug 2021)
Diego Dabove (Aug 2021 - Oct 2021)- Guto Ferreira (Oct 2021 - Jun 2022)
- Enderson Moreira (Jun 2022 - Oct 2022 )
- Eduardo Barroca (Oct 2022 - Nov 2022)
Renato Paiva (Jan 2023 - Sep 2023)- Rogério Ceni (Sep 2023 - )
More About Bahia
- Esporte Clube Bahia (women)
See also
In Spanish: Esporte Clube Bahia para niños
