SC Internacional facts for kids
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| Full name | Sport Club Internacional | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Colorado (The Reds) Clube do Povo (The People's Club) Celeiro de Ases (Factory of Aces) Rolo Compressor (The Steamroller) |
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| Short name | Inter | |||
| Founded | 4 April 1909 | |||
| Stadium | Beira-Rio | |||
| Capacity | 50,128 | |||
| President | Alessandro Barcellos | |||
| Head coach | Roger Machado | |||
| League | Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Campeonato Gaúcho |
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| 2023 2023 |
Série A, 9th of 20 Gauchão, 3rd of 12 |
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Sport Club Internacional, often called Internacional or simply Inter, is a professional football club from Porto Alegre, Brazil. They play in the top Brazilian league, Série A, and also in the Rio Grande do Sul state league. Their home stadium is Estádio Beira-Rio, which hosted games during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. It can hold over 50,000 fans.
The club started in 1909 thanks to the Poppe brothers. They wanted a club that welcomed everyone, no matter their background. Inter's colors are red and white, and their fans are known as Colorados (The Reds).
Internacional is one of the most successful clubs in Brazil and the Americas. They have won seven international trophies, making them the third most successful Brazilian club in international competitions. Their biggest rival is Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, and their matches are called the Grenal. This is one of the most famous football rivalries in the world.
Inter had a fantastic year in 2006. They won the Copa Libertadores and then the FIFA Club World Cup. In the World Cup, they beat the famous Barcelona team from Europe. They won the Copa Libertadores again in 2010.
Other important wins for Inter include three Brazilian league titles in 1975, 1976, and 1979. The 1979 title was special because they won it without losing a single game! They also won the Brazilian Cup in 1992 and the Copa Sudamericana in 2008.
Contents
Club History
Starting Out (1910s)
Sport Club Internacional was founded by three brothers: Henrique, José, and Luiz Poppe. They moved to Porto Alegre around 1908. Football was becoming very popular in Brazil at that time. José and Luiz loved playing football, which they learned in São Paulo. Henrique, the oldest brother, helped them create a new club.
Inter was different from other teams in Porto Alegre back then. Those teams were mostly for people of German descent. Inter wanted to be a club for everyone, including Brazilians and foreigners. This was a big deal because other clubs like Grêmio and Fuss-Ball were not as open.
The club's colors, red and white, were inspired by the street parties of Porto Alegre. After a vote, red was chosen.
Inter's first football field was in a neighborhood called Ilhota. This area was known for its rich culture. Later, the club moved to Campo da Várzea, which is now Parque da Redenção. By 1912, Inter had its own special playing field at Chácara dos Eucaliptos. Here, they started winning titles, including the City Championship in 1913 and 1917.
Growing Stronger (1920s-1930s)
The 1920s were a challenging time for Inter. They didn't win many titles and faced money problems. The club almost had to close down. But Inter fought back and became stronger.
In 1927, they won their first state title. They also started building their first home stadium, Estádio dos Eucaliptos. Inter became even more popular by welcoming all athletes, including black players from the Canela Preta league.
The Eucaliptos Stadium opened in 1931. It became the place where Inter won many great victories. Inter became known as the "Clube do Povo" (People's Club). They connected with ordinary people in society. Talented players like Sylvio Pirillo and Tupan, who came from the Canela Preta league, played for Inter. This was the start of the famous "Rolo Compressor" team, which would soon dominate football in the state.
The "Steamroller" Era (1940s)
The 1940s were a golden age for Internacional. Many legendary players emerged, and the team consistently beat their rivals, Grêmio. The Eucaliptos stadium was always full of cheering fans.
The team from this time was called the "Rolo Compressor," which means "Steamroller" in Portuguese. This name was given because the team was so powerful. They crushed their opponents and won eight Rio Grande do Sul championships between 1939 and 1948. They even won the state championship six times in a row!
Inter's success was partly because they allowed black players on their team starting in 1928. Their rivals, Grêmio, did not allow black players until 1952. This decision made Inter's team much stronger. When football became professional, more black athletes joined Internacional.
Great players like Alfeu, Tesourinha, Abigail, Carlitos, and Adãozinho played for the "Rolo Compressor." The name "Steamroller" showed how superior the team was back then.
The "Little Steamroller" (1950s)
Inter fans helped build the concrete stands of Eucaliptos Stadium from 1947 to 1950. Just like with the new Beira-Rio stadium later, fans gathered resources and materials to improve the club's facilities. After these improvements, the stadium hosted two matches of the 1950 FIFA World Cup.
On the field, Inter continued to be successful. The 1950s team had many great players like Paulinho, Florindo, and Chinesinho. They were led by manager Teté. This team was called the "Rolinho" (little steamroller), a nod to the amazing team of the 1940s. The biggest stars of this time were strikers Bodinho and Larry.
During this decade, Inter won five state titles. They also had a historic 6-2 victory against Grêmio when Grêmio's new stadium, Estádio Olímpico, opened. Inter also provided most of the players for the Brazilian national team that won the 1956 Pan-American Games in Mexico.
Building the Beira-Rio (1960s)
Inter played at the Eucaliptos Stadium for 30 years. It was a special place, but it became too small for the club's growing number of fans. So, in 1956, the idea for a new stadium, the Beira-Rio, began.
The Beira-Rio stadium was mostly built with help from the fans. They brought bricks, cement, and iron for the construction. There were even special radio shows to get fans from all over Rio Grande do Sul to help. The 1960s were tough for Inter in football, and it seemed like the Beira-Rio would never be finished. Fans would go to the construction site to cheer for the workers.
Even with limited money, Inter put together good teams. Young talents like Bráulio and Dorinho played well. In their first national competition, the Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa of 1967, Inter did great. They reached the final phase and finished second. The next year, they almost won the title again, finishing just behind Pelé's Santos. Inter was starting to become one of the top clubs in Brazil.
Finally, the Beira-Rio stadium opened on April 6, 1969. This was exactly 60 years and two days after Inter was founded. The first game was a 2-1 win against Benfica from Portugal, which had the famous player Eusébio. Claudiomiro scored the first goal in the new stadium.
Kings of Brazil (1970s)
In the 1970s, Internacional won eight Campeonato Gaúcho titles in a row. This was the longest winning streak in the state's history. They won all regional championships from 1969 to 1976. But the 1970s brought even more amazing achievements.
Many fans remember the 1970s as Inter's most successful time. The new Beira-Rio Stadium lived up to the fans' hopes. In 1975, Inter won their first Brazilian championship title. They beat Cruzeiro in a thrilling match at Beira-Rio. The only goal was scored by Chilean star defender Elías Figueroa.
In 1976, Internacional kept their winning team and became Brazilian champions for the second time. They beat Corinthians 2-0 in the final. Valdomiro was the best player in that match and scored a key goal. In 23 games for the Brazilian Championship that year, Inter won 19, drew one, and lost only three.
The end of the decade was even better. Inter won their third Brazilian title in 1979 by beating Vasco da Gama 2-1. They won 16 games and did not lose a single match during the championship. No other Brazilian club has done this since!
This decade was full of club legends like Paulo Roberto Falcão, Figueroa, Valdomiro, Paulo César Carpegiani, and Jair.
Almost There (1980s)
The 1980s started well for Internacional. In 1980, they reached the final of the Copa Libertadores for the first time. They played against Nacional from Uruguay. The first game at Beira-Rio was a 0-0 draw. In the second game in Montevideo, Inter lost 1-0.
Even though they lost this important match, Inter won the Campeonato Gaúcho four years in a row starting in 1981. However, their rivals Grêmio won the Brazilian Championship in 1981 and the Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup in 1983. Inter also lost other important finals, making this decade a mix of good and bad feelings.
Despite having talented teams, Inter often fell short in the biggest competitions. But they did well in many international friendly tournaments. They won the Joan Gamper Trophy in 1982, beating Barcelona and Manchester City. They were the only non-European team to win it.
In the late 1980s, Inter almost won the Brazilian Championship again. They reached two finals in a row. In 1987, they lost to Flamengo, a team with famous players like Zico and Bebeto.
In 1988, Inter reached another final. In the semi-finals, they played against their rivals Grêmio in a match called "The Grenal of the Century." Inter won 2-1 with two goals from Nílson. A few days later, Inter lost the final to Bahia.
In the 1989 Copa Libertadores, Inter almost won the title again. They reached the semi-finals but lost to Olimpia from Paraguay in a penalty shootout. This loss was a very sad moment for the fans at Beira-Rio.
Even though the 1980s weren't full of trophies, some great players emerged. Midfielder Dunga and goalkeeper Taffarel became big stars. They later won the World Cup in 1994 with the Brazilian national team. Inter also had many players on the Brazilian national team that won a silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Years of Challenge (1990s)
The 1990s started with hope for Inter. In 1992, Internacional finally won its fourth national title, the Copa do Brasil. Their journey to the championship was exciting. They beat Corinthians 4-0. Then, they faced Grêmio in the quarter-finals and won in a penalty shootout. In the semi-final, they beat Palmeiras.
The final was against Fluminense. Inter won the first game away, but Fluminense came back. In Porto Alegre, Inter needed to win. The winning goal came from a penalty kick by Célio Silva in the 88th minute. Inter won the title because of the away goals rule.
However, the 1990s were mostly a time of struggle for Inter. Their rivals Grêmio were playing very well. Despite the ups and downs, the fans stayed strong and united. Inter managed to win four state championships (1991, 1992, 1994, and 1997). They also had an unforgettable 5-2 win against Grêmio at their stadium.
The 1999 season was very dramatic. Inter almost got relegated to the second division. The season started with the return of midfielder Dunga, a former captain of the world champion Brazilian team. But Dunga didn't play well, and the team was fighting to avoid relegation. On November 10, in a packed Beira-Rio stadium, Dunga scored a header in the 81st minute. Inter won 1-0 against Palmeiras and avoided relegation. The stadium lights even went out for a few minutes during the game!
Rise to International Success (2000-2015)
After the tough 1990s, Inter faced more challenges in the early 2000s. In 2002, they almost got relegated again. In the last game of the season, Inter needed other teams to lose their matches to stay in the top division. Luckily, the results went their way. Inter also had to beat Paysandu in Belém. They won 2-0, with goals from Mahicon Librelato and Fernando Baiano. Sadly, just eleven days later, Librelato died in a car accident. Fans remembered him with a banner at Beira-Rio.
But things started to change under a new president, Fernando Carvalho. He helped transform the club. They started giving young players longer contracts and invested a lot in their youth academy. When he became president, the club had only 7,000 members. By the time he left, they had 45,000!
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Under this new leadership, Inter's youth teams helped the club rise again. They won four state titles in a row from 2002 to 2005. The club became modern and ready for a new era.
In 2006, Inter won the Copa Libertadores, a huge South American tournament. They won eight games, drew six, and lost only one. To win the title, they had to beat two clubs that had won the tournament three times: Nacional from Uruguay and São Paulo FC, who were the defending champions.
Against São Paulo, Inter won the first game away from home. Rafael Sóbis scored twice, stunning the 80,000 São Paulo fans. Inter only needed a draw in the second game at home, and they became South American champions for the first time. Striker Fernandão was a key player. He scored in the final and was named Man of the Match. He even auctioned off his prize car and gave the money to charity.
Internacional then played in the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup. They surprised everyone by beating the strong European champions Barcelona 1-0 in the final. This was their first ever World Championship! They also won the 2007 Recopa Sudamericana by beating Pachuca from Mexico 5-2 on aggregate.
After these big wins, Inter had a tough start in 2007. But in 2008, they won their state championship again. They also won the Copa Sudamericana, beating Estudiantes from Argentina. This made them the first Brazilian club to win this trophy. In 2009, Inter finished second in the Brazilian Championship and reached the Copa do Brasil final. They also won the Suruga Bank tournament. For their 100th anniversary in 2009, Inter launched a special golden uniform.
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In the 2010 season, Inter finished first in their Copa Libertadores group. Key players included Kléber, Alecsandro, Giuliano, and Andrés D'Alessandro. They then beat Banfield and Estudiantes to reach the semi-finals. There, they faced São Paulo again, just like in the 2006 final. Inter won and reached their third Libertadores final.
Internacional won their second Copa Libertadores title by beating Guadalajara 5-3 over two games. This win meant they could play in the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup again. They hoped to win it a second time, but they were surprisingly beaten 2-0 in the semi-final by TP Mazembe from Congo. This was a big shock for Brazilian football fans.
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The Beira-Rio stadium underwent a big renovation from 2011 to 2014. This was to prepare it for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The project was called 'Giant Forever'. The stadium was updated to meet FIFA's international standards. It reopened in April 2014 with a celebration and a friendly match against Peñarol. Just like the Eucaliptos stadium in 1950, Beira-Rio became a World Cup venue. Famous players like Messi and Toni Kroos played there during the tournament.
Relegation and Comeback (2016-Present)
After a good start in the 2016 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Internacional began to struggle. They had a 14-game losing streak. This led to the club's first relegation in its history. This happened just ten years after they won the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup. Despite this setback, the club was promoted back to the top league in 2017 after finishing second in 2017 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B.
Beira-Rio Stadium
Internacional plays its home games at its own stadium, Beira-Rio. Fans largely helped build the stadium in the 1960s by bringing bricks, cement, and iron. It opened in April 1969.
The Beira-Rio stadium was greatly modernized for the 2014 World Cup. The project, called 'Gigante Para Sempre' (Giant Forever), took about two years. The stadium was closed for renovations starting in December 2012. During this time, Inter played their home games at other stadiums.
The stadium reopened in April 2014. Beira-Rio is now the second-biggest stadium in Rio Grande do Sul state and in Southern Brazil. It can hold 50,848 people. Since 2019, a standing area can hold up to 5,000 more fans.
The stadium has hosted the final matches for most of Inter's biggest titles. These include the national titles in 1975, 1976, and 1979. It also hosted the finals for the 1992 Copa do Brasil, the 2006 and 2010 Copa Libertadores, and the 2008 Copa Sudamericana.
Club Symbols
Crests
The first crest of Sport Club Internacional had the letters SCI in red on a white background. Later, the colors were swapped, with white letters on a red background. Stars were added after the 1975 and 1976 national titles. A third star and a silver laurel were added after the 1979 undefeated national title. The laurel was removed in the 1980s. A fourth star was added after the 1992 Copa do Brasil win.
After winning the Copa Libertadores, the emblem got another star, which was 50% bigger. But then Inter won the FIFA Club World Cup that same year. The Libertadores star moved down, and a new diamond star was placed above it for the world title. In 2007, after winning the Recopa Sudamericana, a crown was added to the crest. This showed the club's three international titles in a row. Silver laurels were also added below the crest for the Brasileirão titles. This version didn't last long. In 2009, for the club's 100th anniversary, a circle with the club's name and founding year was added around the traditional crest. The crown, laurels, and stars were all removed.
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First crest, used when the club started.
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Added circle, used in the 1910s.
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Colors were swapped in the late 1950s.
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Crest used after the second national title in 1976.
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Crest used after the third national title in 1979, won without losing.
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Updated crest used in the 1980s.
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Crest used after the Copa do Brasil title in 1992.
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Crest used after the 2006 Libertadores title.
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Crest used after the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup title.
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Crest used after the international titles of 2006 and 2007.
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Current crest, created for the club's 100th anniversary in 2009.
Flag
The flag of Sport Club Internacional has two triangles, one red and one white. The red triangle is at the top, near the flagpole. In the top corner, there is the club's crest and the year it was founded. At the Beira-Rio stadium, there is a huge flag that is 110 square meters on a 55-meter-high pole.
Saci (Mascot)
In the 1950s, newspapers drew a little black boy in an Inter jersey to represent the club's popular and diverse fanbase. This character later became a Saci. A famous drawing by Ziraldo made the Saci popular. The Saci is a playful character from Brazilian folklore. He likes to play tricks on animals and people. Internacional adopted the Saci as their mascot because of these traits, showing how the club "plays pranks on its opponents."
Anthem
Nélson Silva, a composer from Rio de Janeiro, lived in Porto Alegre. He became a radio host and an Internacional fan. In 1956, he was upset because Inter lost a game. He sat down at a bar and started writing a song praising Inter. That's how "Celeiro de Ases" (Barn of Aces) was created.
The song became popular among fans. In 1966, the club held a contest for a new anthem. Many songs were submitted, but none captured the spirit of Inter like Nélson Silva's song. It soon became the club's official anthem. Nélson Silva never charged the club for using his song. He said his greatest achievement was being known as the person who wrote the Colorado anthem.
First Team Players
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Club Personnel
Technical Staff
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach |  Roger Machado |
| Assistant coach | Adaílton Bolzan |
| Goalkeeping coach | Leonardo Martins |
| Director of Football | Felipe Dallegrave |
| Sporting director | Andrés D'Alessandro |
| Fitness coaches | Paulo Paixão |
Management Team
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| President | Alessandro Pires Barcellos |
| Vice president | Dannie Dubin |
| Vice president of football | Felipe Becker |
| CEO | Giovane Zanardo |
Player Statistics
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Club Honours (Trophies)
| Worldwide Titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| FIFA Club World Cup | 1 | 2006 |
| International Titles | ||
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Levain Cup-Sudamericana | 1 | 2009 |
| Continental Titles (South America) | ||
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Copa Libertadores | 2 | 2006, 2010 |
| Copa Sudamericana | 1 | 2008 |
| Recopa Sudamericana | 2 | 2007, 2011 |
| National Titles (Brazil) | ||
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Campeonato Brasileiro Série A | 3 | 1975, 1976, 1979 |
| Copa do Brasil | 1 | 1992 |
| State Titles (Rio Grande do Sul) | ||
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Campeonato Gaúcho | 45 | 1927, 1934, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1961, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
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See also
In Spanish: Sport Club Internacional para niños
- Sport Club Internacional (women), women's team
- List of world champion football clubs
