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Corinthians
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista crest.svg
Full name Sport Club Corinthians Paulista
Nickname(s) Timão (Reference to the club crest's naval elements)
Coringão (Big Joker)
Campeão dos Campeões (Champion of Champions)
Time do Povo (The People's Team)
Todo Poderoso (The Almighty)
Alvinegro do Parque São Jorge (Black and White of Saint George Park)
Founded 1 September 1910; 114 years ago (1910-09-01)
Ground Neo Química Arena
Ground Capacity 49,205
President Augusto Melo
Head coach Ramón Díaz
League Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
Campeonato Paulista
2022
2023
Série A, 4th of 20
Paulista, 7th of 16
Third colours

Sport Club Corinthians Paulista is a famous Brazilian sports club from São Paulo. It's best known for its men's football (soccer) team. This team plays in Brazil's top league, the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, and also in the Campeonato Paulista Série A1, which is the main state competition.

The club was started in 1910 by five railway workers. They were inspired by a team from London called Corinthian Football Club. Corinthians' home kit is white and black. Their crest, designed in 1939, shows the São Paulo state flag, oars, and an anchor. These symbols represent the club's early success in water sports.

Since 2014, Corinthians has played its home games at the Neo Química Arena. This stadium was used for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and hosted the opening match. Corinthians has big rivalries with other São Paulo teams: Palmeiras, São Paulo, and Santos.

Corinthians is one of the most popular teams in the world. It has over 30 million fans, making it the second most supported club in Brazil. It's also one of Brazil's most successful clubs. They have won seven national titles, three Copa do Brasil trophies, one Supercopa do Brasil title, and a record 30 São Paulo State championships.

Internationally, Corinthians won the first-ever FIFA Club World Championship in 2000. They won it again in 2012 after winning the Copa Libertadores de América for the first time that same year. They also won a Recopa Sudamericana title. In 2017, Forbes magazine said Corinthians was the most valuable football club in the Americas.

Club History: A Journey Through Time

How Corinthians Started (1910-1920s)

SCCP 1914
One Corinthians line-up of 1914.

In 1910, most top football clubs in Brazil were for wealthy people. Workers and lower-class people were often left out. They had to create their own small teams.

Five railway workers from São Paulo decided to change this. Their names were Joaquim Ambrose, Anthony Pereira, Rafael Perrone, Anselmo Correia, and Carlos Silva. On August 31, 1910, they watched a London team called Corinthian F.C. play. Inspired, they decided to start their own club.

Corinthians 1914 lineup
The Corinthians squad that won its first title in 1914.

On September 1, 1910, they met with friends and neighbors. That night, they officially founded Sport Club Corinthians Paulista. Miguel Battaglia was chosen as the first president.

Corinthians played its first game on September 10, 1910. They lost 1-0 to União da Lapa. A few days later, on September 14, Luis Fabi scored the club's first goal. Corinthians won that game 2-0 against Estrela Polar.

The team quickly became popular and joined the Liga Paulista in 1913. Just one year later, in 1914, Corinthians won its first state championship. They won again in 1916. A banner at their first practice said, "This One Will Last," and it certainly did!

Becoming a Champion Team (1920s-1950s)

Teleco1933
Teleco was a great Corinthians scorer, with 251 goals in 246 matches. He was the top scorer of the Paulista Championships in 1935, 1936, 1937, 1939, and 1941. Fans called him "The king of comebacks."

In 1922, Brazil celebrated 100 years of independence. This year also marked the start of Corinthians' dominance in the São Paulo State Championship. They won three state championships in a row from 1922 to 1924. This happened again from 1928 to 1930 and from 1937 to 1939.

The 1940s were a bit harder for the club. They won a championship in 1941 but then had to wait until 1951 for their next one.

The early 1950s were a golden age for Corinthians. In 1951, the team scored an amazing 103 goals in 30 matches. They won the São Paulo Championships in 1951, 1952, and 1954. During this time, they also won the Rio-São Paulo Championship three times (1950, 1953, and 1954). This tournament was becoming very important in Brazil.

In 1953, Corinthians won the Small Cup 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 strong teams like Roma and Barcelona.

Breaking the Drought and New Success (1970s-2000s)

Roberto Rivelino 1974
Rivellino, considered by many the greatest Corinthians' player of all time.

After 1954, Corinthians went through a long period without winning major titles. This "drought" lasted 23 years. Finally, in 1977, they won the São Paulo state championship again. This was a huge moment for the club and its fans.

In the early 1980s, players like Sócrates, Wladimir, and Casagrande led the team. They were known for their "Corinthians Democracy," where players had a say in club decisions. This was important during a time when Brazil was ending its military rule. In 1982, before an election, the team even wore jerseys that said "VOTE ON 15TH" to encourage people to vote.

In 1990, Corinthians won its first-ever Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Brazil's national league title. They beat their rivals, São Paulo, in the final. The next year, they won the Supercopa do Brasil. In 1995, they won the Copa do Brasil for the first time. The club also won the state championship in 1995, 1997, and 1999. They won the national championship again in 1998 and 1999.

In 2000, Corinthians made history by winning the first FIFA Club World Cup. They beat Real Madrid in the semifinals and then won against Vasco da Gama in the final on penalties.

Ups and Downs, and More Glory (2000s-Present)

In 2002, Corinthians won the Torneio Rio-São Paulo and the Copa do Brasil. However, in early 2004, the club faced financial problems and poor performance. A new manager, Tite, and young players helped them improve.

In 2005, Corinthians signed a deal with a group of investors called Media Sports Investment (MSI). This brought many talented players like Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano to the team. Despite a slow start, they won their fourth Brazilian Championship in 2005.

The partnership with MSI ended, and in 2007, Corinthians was relegated to the second division for the first time. But they quickly bounced back! In 2008, they won the Serie B tournament and returned to the top division.

Corinthians Club World Cup 2012
In 2012, Corinthians won its second FIFA Club World Cup title after defeating Chelsea 1–0 in the final.

In 2009, the famous Brazilian player Ronaldo joined Corinthians. Led by Ronaldo, the club won its 26th Campeonato Paulista and its third Brazilian Cup. To celebrate 100 years, Corinthians also announced plans for a new stadium, the Arena Corinthians. In 2011, they won their fifth national title.

A huge moment came on July 4, 2012. Corinthians won its first-ever Copa Libertadores title! They were undefeated in the tournament and beat six-time champions Boca Juniors in the final. Later that year, on December 16, 2012, they won their second FIFA Club World Cup by defeating English club Chelsea 1-0 in the final.

Corinthians continued to win. They secured their sixth league title in 2015. In 2017, they won the Campeonato Paulista for the 28th time and their seventh league title. They had a historic season, not losing in their first 20 games. They won the state championship again in 2018 and 2019, making it 30 titles!

Recent years have seen mixed results. In 2020, they lost the state final to rivals Palmeiras. In 2022, they had a strong league season, finishing 4th. They reached the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals and the Brazilian Cup final, making it their best season since 2017. In 2023, they reached the Copa Sudamericana semifinals.

Club Identity: Colors and Badges

Team Colors

Evolução Uniforme Corinthians
Evolutions of the uniform

Corinthians is known for its black and white colors. But when the club first started, their shirts were cream-colored with black shorts. The cream color would fade to white after washing, which was too expensive. So, the official shirt color was quickly changed to white. In 1954, the traditional black uniform with thin white stripes was introduced. It has been the team's alternate uniform ever since.

Club Badge

The Corinthians shirt didn't have a badge until 1913. That's when the league required every team to have one. A simple design with the letters "C" (for Corinthians) and "P" (for Paulista) was quickly made. This was the club's first badge.

The badge has changed many times over the years. In 1914, Hermogenes Barbuy designed the first official badge. In 1919, a round shield with the São Paulo state flag was added. In 1939, artist Francisco Rebolo updated it to include a rope, an anchor, and two oars. These symbols represent the club's early success in water sports.

Stars were added above the badge to celebrate national titles. A yellow star appeared in 1990 for their first national title. More stars were added for wins in 1998, 1999, and 2005. A larger star was added in 2000 for winning the first FIFA Club World Cup. However, in 2011, the club decided to remove all stars from the badge.

Badge evolution

Kit Makers and Sponsors

Nike has been making Corinthians' kits since 2003. Before that, other companies like Topper, Finta, and Penalty made their uniforms.

In 2023, Corinthians and Nike agreed to continue their partnership until 2029. This deal is worth a lot of money!

Corinthians has also had many different main sponsors over the years. These include companies like Bombril, Pepsi, Samsung, and Caixa. Since 2021, Neo Química has been a major sponsor, and Vaidebet.com joined in 2024.

Club Facilities: Where They Play and Train

Corinthians' Stadiums

Pacaembu
Pacaembu, Corinthians popular home from 1940–2014

Early Playing Fields

Corinthians first played in a vacant lot called Campo do Lenheiro ("Lumberjack's field"). The players themselves had to clean the field!

In 1918, Corinthians opened its first official football field, Ponte Grande. Players and fans helped build it. They played there until 1927.

Parque São Jorge: The Little Farm

In 1926, the club bought a new area called Parque São Jorge ("Saint George's Park"). This place was nicknamed Fazendinha ("Little Farm"). It became the club's main headquarters.

Over time, as Corinthians grew, the Fazendinha stadium became too small for big games. From the 1950s, it was mostly used for youth teams and friendly matches. Today, it's also the home ground for the women's football team.

Pacaembu Stadium

Corinthians also played many important matches at the Paulo Machado de Carvalho Stadium, better known as Pacaembu Stadium. It opened in 1940 and was once the largest stadium in Latin America. Corinthians played the opening match there and won 4-2. Pacaembu can now hold about 40,000 fans.

Neo Química Arena: The Modern Home

In 2010, it was announced that a new Corinthians stadium would be built. This stadium, the Arena Corinthians, would host the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. It's located in the Itaquera district of São Paulo.

On September 1, 2020, Corinthians' 110th anniversary, the stadium was officially renamed Neo Química Arena. This was part of a 20-year deal with Hypera Pharma, a large pharmaceutical company.

Training Facilities: CT Joaquim Grava

Corinthians opened its amazing training center in September 2010. It was named after Joaquim Grava, a long-time medical doctor for the club.

This training center has a 32-bedroom hotel for players. It also has a special complex for player movement studies (Lab Corinthians-R9, named after Ronaldo). There's also a center for player recovery and therapy. It even has basketball and volleyball courts! An extension is being built for the youth academy teams.

Club Culture: Fans and Rivals

The Faithful Fans

Festa da Fiel
Fans of Corinthians at an away match in Florianópolis, SC

Corinthians fans are known as Fiel ("The Faithful"). They are famous for their passion and loyalty. One memorable moment was the "Corinthian Invasion" in 1976. Over 70,000 Corinthians fans traveled from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro to watch a semifinal match.

Fans are known for their strong support, even in tough times. When the club was relegated in 2007, fans showed incredible loyalty. This inspired a documentary called "Faithful" about their support.

Many fan groups, called "torcidas organizadas," are part of the club's culture. The largest is Gaviões da Fiel ("The Hawks of the Faithful"), founded in 1969. Other important groups include Camisa 12 and Coringão Chopp. These groups often support social and cultural activities and are involved in the Brazilian Carnival festivities.

Big Rivalries

Derby Paulista: Corinthians vs. Palmeiras

Palestra Itália x Corinthians - Anos 20
Derby Paulista, c. 1920s

The Paulista Derby is a huge match between Corinthians and Palmeiras. It's considered one of the biggest rivalries in the world. Palmeiras was founded by former Corinthians members, which created a strong rivalry. The atmosphere at these games is always intense.

Clássico Majestoso: Corinthians vs. São Paulo

The Clássico Majestoso is another big rivalry, between Corinthians and São Paulo. Corinthians has the most fans in the state (25 million), while São Paulo is second (16 million). A memorable match for Corinthians fans was the 1990 Brazilian Championship final, which Corinthians won for their first national title.

Clássico Alvinegro: Corinthians vs. Santos

The Clássico Alvinegro is a regional rivalry between Corinthians and Santos. "Alvinegro" means "black and white," which are the colors both teams wear. A highlight of this rivalry was when Corinthians beat Santos in the 2012 Copa Libertadores semifinals.

Other Rivalries

Corinthians also has rivalries with Portuguesa (the "Derby of the Undefeated") and Ponte Preta. The "Classic of The Masses" is a rivalry with Flamengo, as they are the two most supported teams in Brazil. Corinthians and Vasco also have a rivalry, especially after their exciting match in the first FIFA Club World Cup final in 2000, which Corinthians won.

Club Symbols: The Musketeer and Saint George

The Musketeer Mascot

Statue dArtagnan
D'Artagnan, Corinthians Mascot

Corinthians' official mascot is the Musketeer. This symbol represents bravery and a fighting spirit. In 1913, when Corinthians joined the main São Paulo football league, three other teams were known as the "three musketeers." Corinthians joined them as D'Artagnan, the fourth and most loved musketeer, just like in the famous book The Three Musketeers. Corinthians had to prove its bravery to join this group, which it did by winning important games.

Saint George: The Warrior Saint

Sede social SCCP
Corinthians Headquarters, located at 777 Rua São Jorge (Parque São Jorge), Tatuapé, São Paulo

Saint George is a very important symbol for Corinthians. He is a highly respected saint in Brazil. Fans see him as a "Warrior Saint" who protects those who believe in him. This warrior spirit is why Corinthians fans feel connected to Saint George.

The club's headquarters, bought in 1926, is located at Parque São Jorge (St. George Park) on Rua São Jorge. This created a strong link between the club and the saint.

During a long period without championships (1954-1977), fans felt blessed by Saint George. In the early 1960s, a chapel was built at the club in honor of the saint. This helped strengthen the club's spirit. In 1974, after a tough loss, a popular song about Corinthians mentioned Saint George, asking him for strength. In 2011, Corinthians even had a special burgundy kit with an image of Saint George on it.

Club Leadership

Current Board of Directors

Board of Directors
Country Name Position
Brazil Augusto Melo President
Brazil Osmar Stabile Vice-President
Brazil Armando José Terreri Rossi Vice-President
Brazil Wesley Melo Financial Director
Brazil José Colagrossi Neto Marketing Director
Brazil Herói Vicente Legal Director

Team Players and Staff

First-Team Squad

No. Position Player
1 Brazil GK Hugo Souza (on loan from Flamengo)
2 Brazil DF Matheuzinho
3 Ecuador DF Félix Torres
4 Brazil DF Caetano
5 Brazil DF André Ramalho
6 Ecuador DF Diego Palacios
7 Brazil MF Maycon (on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk)
8 Brazil MF Charles
9 Brazil FW Yuri Alberto
10 Argentina MF Rodrigo Garro
11 Paraguay FW Ángel Romero
13 Brazil DF Gustavo Henrique
14 Brazil MF Raniele
16 Brazil FW Pedro Henrique
17 Brazil FW Giovane
19 Peru FW André Carrillo
20 Brazil FW Pedro Raul
No. Position Player
21 Brazil DF Matheus Bidu
22 Spain FW Héctor Hernández
23 Brazil DF Fagner (captain)
25 Brazil DF Cacá (on loan from Tokushima Vortis)
27 Brazil MF Breno Bidon
30 Brazil MF Matheus Araújo
31 Brazil FW Kayke
32 Brazil GK Matheus Donelli
33 Brazil MF Ruan Oliveira (on loan from Metropolitano)
35 Brazil DF Léo Mana
37 Brazil MF Ryan
43 Brazil FW Talles Magno (on loan from New York City FC)
46 Brazil DF Hugo
70 Venezuela MF José Andrés Martínez
77 Brazil MF Igor Coronado
80 Brazil MF Alex Santana
94 Netherlands FW Memphis Depay

Academy Players

No. Position Player
40 Brazil GK Felipe Longo
42 Brazil DF Pellegrin
No. Position Player
48 Brazil DF Rafael Venâncio
49 Brazil MF Yago

Players on Loan to Other Teams

No. Position Player
Brazil GK Igor Ratier (on loan to Coimbra Sports until 31 December 2024)
Brazil GK Matheus Roger (on loan to Avaí until 31 January 2025)
Brazil DF João Pedro (on loan to Ceará until 31 December 2024)
No. Position Player
Brazil MF Roni (on loan to Atlético Goianiense until 31 December 2024)
Brazil MF Guilherme Biro (on loan to Sharjah until 30 June 2025)

Coaching and Management Team

Coaching Staff
Name Position
Argentina Ramón Díaz Head coach
Argentina Italy Emiliano Díaz Assistant coach
Argentina Juan Romanazzi Assistant coach
Argentina Damian Paz Performance analyst
Brazil Diego Pereira Fitness coach
Brazil Leandro Serafim da Silva Assistant fitness coach
Brazil Marcelo Carpes Goalkeeping coach
Brazil Bruno Mazziotti Medical Consultant
Management Staff
Name Position
Brazil Mauro da Silva Technical Supervisor
Brazil André Figueiredo Academy Manager

Club Achievements: Trophies and Titles

Corinthians has won many important titles throughout its history. Here are some of their biggest achievements:

Worldwide Titles
Competitions Titles Seasons
FIFA Club World Cup 2 2000, 2012
Continental Titles
Competitions Titles Seasons
Copa Libertadores 1 2012
Recopa Sudamericana 1 2013
National Titles
Competitions Titles Seasons
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 7 1990, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2011, 2015, 2017
Copa do Brasil 3 1995, 2002, 2009
Supercopa do Brasil 1 1991
Campeonato Brasileiro Série B 1 2008
Inter-state Titles
Competitions Titles Seasons
Torneio Rio-São Paulo 5s 1950, 1953, 1954, 1966, 2002
State Titles
Competitions Titles Seasons
Campeonato Paulista 30 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, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019
Copa Paulista 1 1962
  •      record
  • s shared record

Other Trophies

Corinthians has also won several other cups and friendly tournaments:

  • Taça dos Campeões Estaduais RJ/SP (2): 1929, 1941
  • Torneio Início (9): 1919, 1920, 1921, 1929, 1936, 1938, 1941, 1944, 1955
  • Taça Competência (3): 1922, 1923, 1924
  • Taça Cidade de São Paulo (5): 1942, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1952
  • Torneio das Missões (1): 1953
  • Taça Charles Miller (2): 1954, 1958
  • Taça Piratininga (1): 1968
  • Torneio Laudo Natel (1): 1973
  • Copa Bandeirantes (1): 1994
  • Small Club World Cup (1): 1953
  • Torneio Internacional Charles Miller (1): 1955
  • Copa do Atlântico (1): 1956
  • Coppa Città di Torino (1): 1966
  • Apollo V Trophy (1): 1969
  • Trofeo Costa del Sol (1): 1969
  • Copa Cidade de São Paulo (1): 1975
  • Troféu Feira de Hidalgo (1): 1981
  • Los Angeles Nations Cup (1): 1985
  • Ramón de Carranza Trophy (1): 1996
  • Torneio do Povo (1): 1971

Images for kids

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Sport Club Corinthians Paulista para niños

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  • Corinthians (youth)
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