History of Sport Club Corinthians Paulista facts for kids
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista is a famous football club from São Paulo, São Paulo state, Brazil. It's one of the biggest and most popular teams in Brazil, known for its passionate fans.
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How It All Began (1910–1912)
Back in 1910, football in Brazil was mostly for rich people. Big clubs were formed by the upper classes. But a group of five working-class friends from the Bom Retiro neighborhood wanted to change that.
On August 31, 1910, these friends – Joaquim Ambrose, Anthony Pereira (painters), Rafael Perrone (shoemaker), Anselmo Correia (driver), and Carlos Silva (laborer) – watched a London football team called Corinthians FC play in Brazil. They were amazed! After the game, they started dreaming about creating their own club.
The very next day, September 1, 1910, at 8:30 PM, they met on Rua José Paulino. Under the light of an oil lamp, with friends and neighbors, they officially founded their club. They chose Miguel Bataglia as their first president.
A few days later, on September 5, they decided on a name. They thought about names like Carlos Gomes Football Club, but then remembered the amazing English team, Corinthian F.C., that inspired them. So, they chose to honor that team, and the name Sport Club Corinthians Paulista was born!
President Bataglia famously said, "Corinthians will be a team of the people, by the people and for the people." This idea was a big deal because it meant football wasn't just for the rich anymore. Corinthians became known as the "Time do Povo," or "Team for the People."
To buy their first football, everyone chipped in. People even skipped their morning coffee to save money for the club! Slowly, penny by penny, they collected enough to buy a proper football. This showed how much they believed in their dream.
Corinthians played their first match on September 10, 1910, against União da Lapa. They lost 1–0, but it was just the start of their journey. A few days later, on September 14, Luis Fabi scored Corinthians' first goal, and they won their first game 2–0 against Estrela Polar.
Early Success (1910–1922)
After their first games, Corinthians started getting good results and more and more fans. They joined the Liga Paulista, a big football league. In 1913, they played in the São Paulo State Championship for the first time.
Just one year later, in 1914, Corinthians won their first championship title! They won again two years later. This showed everyone that this new "team of the people" was here to stay. During their first practice, a banner was put up that said, "This One Will Last." And it certainly did!
Becoming a Powerhouse (1922–1939)
The year 1922 was special for Brazil, marking 100 years of independence. It was also the year Corinthians started to dominate the São Paulo State Championship.
Back then, football was mostly played in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. So, the champions of these two states were considered the best teams in Brazil. When Corinthians beat América, the Rio de Janeiro champion, they proved they were one of Brazil's top teams.
Corinthians won three State Championships in a row from 1922 to 1924. They did it again from 1928 to 1930, and then from 1937 to 1939. This showed how strong and consistent they had become.
Ups and Downs (1940–1954)
The 1940s were a bit tough for Corinthians. After winning many titles, they had a period where they didn't win as much. Sometimes, their team was even called "faz-me rir," which means "it makes me laugh," because of their results.
But the 1950s brought back the glory! In 1951, a fantastic team with players like Carbone, Cláudio, Luisinho, Baltasar, and Mário scored an amazing 103 goals in just 30 matches in the São Paulo Championship. Carbone was the top scorer with 30 goals! Corinthians won the São Paulo Championship in 1951, 1952, and 1954.
In this same decade, Corinthians also won the Rio-São Paulo Championship three times (1950, 1953, and 1954). This tournament was becoming very important because it brought together the best clubs from São Paulo and Rio.
In 1953, Corinthians even won the Small Goblet of the World in Venezuela. Many people see this as an early version of the Club World Cup. They won six games in a row against teams like A.S. Roma and CF Barcelona.
After their wins in 1954, Corinthians went through a long time without winning major titles. It was a tough period for the fans. But finally, in 1977, they won the São Paulo state championship again, ending a 23-year wait!
National and World Champions (1990–2005)
The 1990s were a golden age for Corinthians! In 1990, they won their first ever Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, which is Brazil's top national league. They beat their rivals, São Paulo, in the final.
The club also won the Copa do Brasil for the first time in 1995. They continued to dominate their state, winning the state championship in 1995, 1997, and 1999. They also won the national championship again in 1998 and 1999.
In 2000, Corinthians made history by winning the very first FIFA Club World Cup! They beat Vasco da Gama in the final. To get there, they finished ahead of famous teams like Real Madrid.
In the early 2000s, they kept winning, taking the state championship in 2001 and 2003, and the Copa do Brasil in 2002. They also won other important tournaments like the Rio-São Paulo Tournament in 2002 and several youth cups.
A Challenging Time (2005–2007)
In 2004, Corinthians faced some big problems. They didn't have much money, and their team wasn't playing well. To help, the club made a deal with an international group of investors called Media Sports Investment (MSI). This deal brought in a lot of money and some great players like Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
With these new players, Corinthians improved and won the Brazilian Championship in 2005. However, there were some controversial events that year involving game results.
The relationship between the club and MSI became difficult. After being knocked out of the 2006 Copa Libertadores, the team struggled. Upset fans even tried to get onto the field during a game.
The year 2007 was very tough. Corinthians had poor results in many tournaments. On December 2, 2007, after a draw against Grêmio, Corinthians was relegated to the second division for the first time ever. This was a very sad moment for the club and its fans. Because of financial problems, they also lost their main sponsor. MSI and key players left, and Corinthians had to rebuild.
The Comeback (2008)
Corinthians showed great strength in 2008. They won the Serie B tournament, which meant they were promoted back to Brazil's top football division for 2009! This comeback was made even more exciting when they signed the famous Brazilian player, Ronaldo, who had been named the best player in the world three times.
Second World Title (2012)
Corinthians continued their success, winning the Série A for the fifth time in 2011.
In 2012, they had an incredible journey in the 2012 Copa Libertadores, South America's biggest club competition. They played against teams from Mexico, Paraguay, Venezuela, and Ecuador. They reached the final without losing a single game! In the final, they faced the strong Argentine team, Boca Juniors. After drawing 1–1 in Argentina, Corinthians won 2–0 at home in São Paulo, claiming their first Copa Libertadores title! This made them one of the most valuable clubs in Brazil.
Later that year, Corinthians went on to win the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup for the second time! In the semifinals, they beat Al-Ahly from Egypt 1–0. Then, in the final on December 16, 2012, they defeated the English club Chelsea 1–0. Their goalkeeper, Cássio, won the Golden Ball award as the best player, and Paolo Guerrero won the Bronze Ball. It was a truly historic year for the club!
See also
- Sport Club Corinthians Paulista in international football
