São Paulo FC facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
São Paulo

Full name	São Paulo Futebol Clube
Nickname(s)	Tricolor Paulista (Tricolour of São Paulo) O Clube da Fé (The Club of Faith) Soberano (The Sovereign) Campeão de Tudo (Champion of Everything)
Founded	25 January 1930; 95 years ago (1930-01-25)
Stadium	MorumBIS
Stadium capacity	72,039
President	Julio Casares
Head coach	Hernán Crespo
League	Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Campeonato Paulista
2022 2023	Série A, 9th of 20 Paulista, 6th of 16
Home colours Away colours

São Paulo Futebol Clube is a famous football club from São Paulo, Brazil. They play in the top leagues of Brazil, including the Campeonato Paulista (state league) and Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (national league). São Paulo is known for being one of the "Big Twelve" Brazilian football clubs. They are also one of only two clubs that have never been moved down from Brazil's top division.

The club was started in 1930. Their home kit is a white shirt with red and black stripes, white shorts, and white socks. These colors represent the state of São Paulo. São Paulo FC has many fans, with over 22 million supporters across Brazil. Their fans are called são-paulinos.

São Paulo is one of the most successful teams in Brazil. They have won 44 official titles. This includes 23 state titles, 6 Brazilian Championship titles, and 3 Copa Libertadores titles. They have also won 3 world titles, which is a big achievement! After winning the 2024 Supercopa do Brasil in 2024, they became the only club in Brazil to have won every major title available.

Many players from São Paulo FC have played for the Brazilian national team. Every time Brazil won the FIFA World Cup, at least one São Paulo player was on the team.

Club History: How São Paulo FC Started

Early Days: "São Paulo of the Forest" (1930–1934)

The club was founded in 1930.

The championship team of 1931.

São Paulo Futebol Clube was founded on January 25, 1930. It was formed by people from two older football clubs: Club Athletico Paulistano and Associação Atlética das Palmeiras. Paulistano stopped playing football because it became a professional sport. Palmeiras wanted a professional team but couldn't make it happen.

The new club's jerseys combined the colors of both parent clubs. Palmeiras used white and black, and Paulistano used red and white. So, São Paulo FC's jersey became white with red, white, and black stripes.

Famous players like Arthur Friedenreich joined from Paulistano. Palmeiras contributed their stadium, Chácara da Floresta. However, the club faced money problems and had to stop its football team on May 14, 1935.

The Club's Rebirth (1935–1939)

The club's founders quickly brought it back to life. They first created Clube Atlético São Paulo on June 4, 1935. Then, on December 16, 1935, São Paulo Futebol Clube was officially reborn.

Their first game after being reformed was on January 25, 1936. In 1938, the club joined with another team, Clube Atlético Estudantes Paulista. They finished second in the Campeonato Paulista that year.

The "Steam Roller" Era (1940–1950)

The new team after being reformed in 1936.

The 1940s were a great time for São Paulo FC. In 1942, they bought the famous player Leônidas. They also got other talented players like António Sastre from Argentina and Brazilians Noronha and José Carlos Bauer.

With these new players, the team became known as the Steam Roller. They won the Paulista championship five times in this decade: in 1943, 1945, 1946, 1948, and 1949. To help build their new stadium, the Estádio do Morumbi, the club sold its training ground. Construction on the new stadium began in 1952.

Leônidas with another Tricolor legend, Arthur Friedenreich.

Building the Morumbi Stadium (1951–1969)

After the successful 1940s, the club won fewer titles in the 1950s. They won the state championship in 1953 and 1957. The 1957 win was helped by player Zizinho and Hungarian coach Béla Guttmann. Guttmann helped make the 4–2–4 football formation popular in Brazil.

During the 1960s, São Paulo focused on building the Estádio do Morumbi. This meant they didn't buy many expensive players. The stadium was officially opened in 1960. One happy moment for fans was beating Pelé's Santos team 4–1 in the 1963 Paulista Championship.

View of the Morumbi Stadium, January 23, 1970.

Brazilian Championship Wins (1970–1979)

In 1970, the Estádio do Morumbi was finally finished. The club bought new star players like Gérson and Pedro Rocha. They won the Paulista Championship in 1970 and 1971.

In 1971, the first Brazilian Championship was held. São Paulo finished second. Over the next few years, São Paulo and Palmeiras became the top teams in São Paulo state. In 1974, São Paulo reached the final of the Copa Libertadores but lost.

In 1975, São Paulo won the Paulista Championship again. With key players like Valdir Peres and Serginho Chulapa, São Paulo won its first Brazilian Championship in 1977.

The "Tricolor Decade" (1980s)

The 1980s were a great time for São Paulo, earning them the nickname "Tricolor Decade." They won four Paulista titles and one Brazilian title. Key players included Oscar and Dario Pereyra. They won the Paulista Championship in 1980 and 1981.

In 1985, coach Cilinho introduced young talents known as the Menudos of Morumbi. This team, including players like Müller, won another Paulista Championship. In 1986, they won their second Brazilian Championship. The Menudos won their last title in 1987, another Paulista title. The decade ended with a Paulista Championship win in 1989.

The Telê Era: International Glory (1990–1995)

Telê Santana led São Paulo to two Copa Libertadores and two Club World Cups.

In 1990, Telê Santana became the coach. In 1991, he led the team to win the Paulista championship and then the Brazilian championship. This started a period of huge success for the club.

In 1992, São Paulo won the Copa Libertadores for the first time. They beat Newell's Old Boys in a penalty shootout. Later that year, in Japan, they won their first Intercontinental Cup, beating Barcelona 2–1. They also won their 18th state championship.

Raí, a key midfielder for São Paulo in the 1990s.

In 1993, São Paulo won the Copa Libertadores again, beating Universidad Católica. They also won the Recopa Sudamericana and the Supercopa Libertadores. This meant they won three major CONMEBOL titles in one year! They also defended their Intercontinental Cup title, beating Milan 3–2. This was an amazing achievement, winning four major titles.

In 1994, São Paulo reached the Copa Libertadores final for the third year in a row but lost on penalties. However, they won the Copa CONMEBOL later that year.

After the Telê Era (1996–2004)

Rogério Ceni, São Paulo's former goalkeeper, is the highest-scoring goalkeeper ever.

Telê Santana left the club in 1996 due to health issues. São Paulo had many different coaches over the next ten years. They won the Paulista Championship in 2000 and their first Rio-São Paulo Tournament in 2001. Star players during this time included Rogério Ceni, Júlio Baptista, Luís Fabiano, and Kaká.

In 2004, São Paulo reached the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores. At the end of that year, Émerson Leão became the coach.

Brazilian, Libertadores, and FIFA Club World Cup Wins (2005–2009)

In 2005, with Leão as coach, São Paulo won the Paulista Championship. Then, Paulo Autuori took over. São Paulo won the Copa Libertadores for the third time, beating Atlético Paranaense 4–0 in the final home leg. They became the first Brazilian club to win three Copa Libertadores titles.

In December 2005, São Paulo went to Japan for the FIFA Club World Championship. They beat Al-Ittihad and then faced European champions Liverpool in the final. São Paulo won 1–0, earning their third world title! The winning goal was scored by Mineiro. Goalkeeper Rogério Ceni was named the best player of the tournament.

Tribute received for winning the first FIFA Club World Cup.

After 2005, Muricy Ramalho became the new coach. In 2006, São Paulo reached the Copa Libertadores final again but lost to Internacional. However, they went on to win their fourth Brazilian Championship.

São Paulo playing against Bayern Munich in 2007.

São Paulo won the Brazilian title again in 2007 and 2008. This meant they won the league three years in a row! Coach Muricy Ramalho was the first manager to achieve this with the same team. Despite this, he was let go in 2009 after the team was knocked out of the Copa Libertadores.

Copa Sudamericana and Challenges (2010–2020)

In 2010, São Paulo lost in the Copa Libertadores semi-finals. They finished ninth in the league, missing out on international competitions for the first time since 2003.

In 2011, the club signed Rivaldo and brought back Luís Fabiano. Goalkeeper Rogério Ceni scored his 100th career goal that year. But it was still a tough season, and they didn't qualify for the Libertadores again.

In 2012, São Paulo won the Copa Sudamericana, which was their only major title in that decade. This win helped them qualify for the next season's Libertadores. However, after this, the club went through a long period without winning many titles.

They were close to winning the national league in 2014, 2018, and 2020, but didn't quite make it. They also faced challenges in 2013 and 2017, fighting to avoid being moved down to a lower league. In 2016, they reached the Copa Libertadores semi-finals.

During the 2010s, São Paulo did not win a single Campeonato Paulista title, which was the first time this had happened since the 1960s.

Champions of All (2021–Present)

In 2021, São Paulo finally ended their long wait for a title. Under new coach Hernán Crespo, they beat Palmeiras in the Campeonato Paulista finals, winning the competition for the first time since 2005. However, Crespo left later that year, and club legend Rogério Ceni returned as coach.

In 2022, São Paulo reached the Campeonato Paulista finals again but lost to Palmeiras. They also reached the semi-finals of the 2022 Copa do Brasil and the final of the 2022 Copa Sudamericana, but lost that final too.

In 2023, Dorival Júnior became the coach. Under his leadership, São Paulo won its first ever Copa do Brasil title! They beat rivals Palmeiras and Corinthians, and then Flamengo in the finals. This was a huge victory for the club.

In January 2024, Dorival Júnior left to coach the Brazilian national team. Thiago Carpini took over and led the club to win the 2024 Supercopa Rei by defeating Palmeiras on penalties.

Club Colors and Badge

Associação Atlética das Palmeiras's badge.

São Paulo FC's colors – red, white, and black – come from the two clubs that merged to form it. These colors also match the flag of the state of São Paulo. They are said to represent the three main groups of people who lived in Brazil at the time: Native Brazilians (red), White Brazilians (white), and Afro-Brazilians (black).

The home kit is a white shirt with red and black stripes, white shorts, and white socks. The away kit has vertical red, white, and black stripes with black shorts and socks.

The club's badge looks like a heart with five points. It has "SPFC" in white letters on a black rectangle at the top. Below that is a red, white, and black triangle. The badge also has five stars. Two gold stars represent Adhemar Ferreira da Silva's world and Olympic records in athletics. The three red stars represent the club's three world titles (two Intercontinental Cups and one FIFA Club World Cup).

Kit Suppliers and Shirt Sponsors

The traditional three stars on São Paulo’s crest, representing the three worldwide championships won by the club.

São Paulo's kit has been made by different companies over the years. However, the design of their home and away kits has stayed mostly the same. This makes them one of the most easily recognized kits in Brazil.

Home Stadium: MorumBIS

Aerial view of the Morumbi Stadium.

São Paulo's home stadium is called Estádio Cícero Pompeu de Toledo. Most people know it as Estádio do Morumbi or now, MorumBIS. It can hold 72,039 people. The stadium is considered an important example of modern Brazilian architecture.

In late 2023, a company called Mondelez bought the rights to name the stadium for five years. This temporarily changed its name to "MorumBIS." Also in 2023, Live Nation Entertainment signed a big deal to hold concerts and events at the stadium.

The first game at the stadium was on October 2, 1960. São Paulo won 1–0 against Sporting Club from Portugal. The stadium used to hold 120,000 people, but now it has 72,039 seats.

The club also has two training grounds. One is for the main professional team, called Centro de Treinamento (CT) da Barra Funda. The other is for the youth teams, called Centro de Treinamento (CT) de Cotia.

Players

First-team squad

No. Position Player 5 DF Robert Arboleda 6 DF Cédric Soares 7 FW Lucas Moura (vice-captain) 8 MF Oscar 9 FW Jonathan Calleri (captain) 10 FW Luciano 11 FW Ferreira 12 GK Leandro 13 DF Enzo Díaz (on loan from River Plate) 15 MF Rodriguinho 16 MF Luiz Gustavo 17 FW André Silva 18 DF Wendell 19 FW Juan Dinenno (on loan from Cruzeiro) 20 MF Marcos Antônio (on loan from Lazio) 21 MF Damián Bobadilla 23 GK Rafael (3rd-captain)

No. Position Player 25 MF Alisson 28 DF Alan Franco 29 MF Pablo Maia 32 DF Nahuel Ferraresi 33 MF Luan 34 DF Igão 35 DF Sabino 36 DF Patryck Lanza 37 FW Henrique Carmo 42 DF Maik 43 MF Felipe Negrucci 45 FW Lucca Marques 48 MF Lucas Ferreira 49 FW Ryan Francisco 50 GK Young 93 GK Jandrei

Youth players with first team numbers

No. Position Player 24 GK Felipe Preis 38 MF Bezerra 40 GK João Pedro 41 DF Andrade

No. Position Player 44 DF Guilherme Reis 46 MF Hugo Leonardo 52 MF Pedro Ferreira 53 FW Paulinho

Other players under contract

No. Position Player GK Eric DF Brian DF Igor Felisberto DF Isac Silvestre DF Luis Osorio DF Marques Rickelme DF Matheus Belém DF Welber Jardim

No. Position Player MF Gabriel Falcão MF Guilherme Fumaça MF Mateus Amaral MF Nicolas Borges MF Pedro Vilhena FW Gustavo Santana FW King Faisal FW Thierry Henry

Players on Loan

No. Position Player — DF Moreira (at Porto B until 31 December 2025) — MF Cauã Lucca (at Boavista until 31 January 2026) — MF Giuliano Galoppo (at River Plate until 31 December 2025) — MF Iba Ly (at Retrô until 31 December 2025)

No. Position Player — MF Rodrigo Nestor (at Bahia until 31 December 2025) — FW Cauã Lucas (at Botafogo-SP until 31 January 2026) — FW Erick (at Vitória until 31 December 2025)

Retired Jersey Numbers

Some clubs retire jersey numbers to honor special players. São Paulo FC has retired one number:

No.	Player	Nationality	Position	Reason
01	Rogério Ceni	Brazil	Goalkeeper	Club legend (1990–2015)

Famous Players of São Paulo FC

Many amazing players have worn the São Paulo FC jersey. Here are some of the most famous and beloved ones:

Club Staff and Management

Current Technical Staff

Club Rivalries

São Paulo FC has strong rivalries with other big clubs in the state. These matches are always exciting!

São Paulo vs. Corinthians: The "Majestoso"

The game between São Paulo and Corinthians is called "Majestoso." This name was created by Thomas Mazzoni. The first "Majestoso" game happened on May 25, 1930.

São Paulo vs. Palmeiras: The "Choque-Rei"

The first "Choque-Rei" match at Allianz Parque in March 2015.

This rivalry is known as the "Choque Rei," which means "King Clash." It's a very important match for both teams.

São Paulo vs. Santos: The "San-São"

A "San-São" match between Santos and São Paulo in 2017.

The game against Santos is called "San-São." The first "San-São" was played in 1936.

Club Achievements and Trophies

São Paulo FC is one of Brazil's most successful clubs. They have won many titles, including 32 national trophies and 12 international ones. They hold the record for the most international titles won by a Brazilian club. After winning the 2024 Supercopa do Brasil in 2024, São Paulo became the first Brazilian club to win every major trophy available.

Official Tournament Wins

Worldwide
Competitions	Titles	Seasons
FIFA Club World Cup	1	2005
Intercontinental Cup	2	1992, 1993
Continental
Competitions	Titles	Seasons
Copa Libertadores	3	1992, 1993, 2005
Copa Sudamericana	1	2012
Recopa Sudamericana	2	1993, 1994
Supercopa Libertadores	1	1993
Copa CONMEBOL	1	1994
Copa Masters CONMEBOL	1	1996
National
Competitions	Titles	Seasons
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A	6	1977, 1986, 1991, 2006, 2007, 2008
Copa do Brasil	1	2023
Supercopa do Brasil	1	2024
Inter-state
Competitions	Titles	Seasons
Torneio Rio–São Paulo	1	2001
State
Competitions	Titles	Seasons
Campeonato Paulista	22	1931, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1953, 1957, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2021
Supercampeonato Paulista	1	2002

Some trophies in Luiz Cássio dos Santos Werneck memorial.

•      record

Undefeated title

Youth Team Achievements

São Paulo FC also has a very successful youth academy. Their young teams have won many important tournaments:

• U-20 Copa Libertadores (1): 2016
• Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-23 (1): 2020
• Copa do Brasil Sub-20 (4): 2015, 2016, 2018, 2024
• Supercopa do Brasil Sub-20 (1): 2018
• Copa do Brasil Sub-17 (2): 2013, 2020
• Supercopa do Brasil Sub-17 (1): 2020
• Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior (5): 1993, 2000, 2010, 2019, 2025
• Taça Belo Horizonte de Juniores (4): 1987, 1997, 2016, 2017
• Copa Rio Grande do Sul de Futebol Sub-20 (3): 2015, 2016, 2017
• Copa Votorantim Sub-15 (6): 1991, 1992, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2024

See also

In Spanish: São Paulo Futebol Clube para niños

• São Paulo FC (women)
• São Paulo FC (youth)
• São Paulo FC (basketball)
• São Paulo FC (futsal)
• List of world champion football clubs