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Corinthians
Escudo sc corinthians.png
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 (suspended)
Osmar Stabile (interim)
Head coach Dorival Júnior
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 team. This team plays in Brazil's top league, the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, and also in the main state competition, the Campeonato Paulista Série A1.

The club was started in 1910 by five railway workers. They were inspired by a team from London called Corinthian Football Club. Corinthians usually plays in white and black uniforms. Their badge, created in 1939, shows the São Paulo state flag, two 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 teams like Palmeiras, São Paulo, and Santos.

Corinthians is one of the most popular teams in the world, with over 30 million fans in Brazil. It's also one of Brazil's most successful clubs. They have won seven national titles, three Copa do Brasil trophies, and a record 31 São Paulo State championships.

Internationally, Corinthians won the first FIFA Club World Championship in 2000. They won it again in 2012 after becoming Copa Libertadores de América champions 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

How Corinthians Started

SCCP 1914
The Corinthians team in 1914

In 1910, many football clubs in São Paulo were only for rich people. Workers were left out. So, five railway workers from the Bom Retiro neighborhood decided to create their own club. Their names were Joaquim Ambrose, Anthony Pereira, Rafael Perrone, Anselmo Correia, and Carlos Silva.

On August 31, 1910, they watched a game played by a London team called Corinthian F.C.. After the game, they talked about their dream of starting a club. They decided to meet the next day to make it happen.

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

On September 1, 1910, at 8:30 PM, the five workers met with friends and neighbors. That night, they officially founded Sport Club Corinthians Paulista. Miguel Battaglia was chosen as the first club president.

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

Early Success and Growth

Because they played well and gained many fans, Corinthians joined the Liga Paulista in 1913. They played in the São Paulo State Championship for the first time. Just one year later, in 1914, Corinthians won its first championship. They won again two years later. When the club first started, a banner was put up saying, "This One Will Last," showing their determination.

Teleco1933
Teleco was a great Corinthians scorer, with 251 goals in 246 matches.

In 1922, Brazil celebrated 100 years of independence. This year also marked the start of Corinthians' strong run in the São Paulo State Championship. Back then, football was mostly played in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. So, the champions of these two states were seen as the best in Brazil. Corinthians beat América, the Rio de Janeiro champion, and became one of Brazil's top teams.

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 harder, and they only won one championship in 1941 before winning again in 1951.

The Golden Fifties

In the early 1950s, Corinthians made history in the São Paulo Championship. In 1951, the team scored 103 goals in 30 matches, averaging 3.43 goals per game. They also won the São Paulo Championships in 1952 and 1954.

In this decade, Corinthians won the Rio-São Paulo Championship three times (1950, 1953, and 1954). This tournament was becoming very important because it included the best clubs from Brazil's two biggest football states.

In 1953, Corinthians won the Small Cup of the World in Venezuela. Many people see this as an early version of the FIFA Club World Cup. Corinthians won six games in a row against teams like Roma and Barcelona.

Roberto Rivelino 1974
Rivellino, considered by many a great Corinthians player.

Breaking the Drought

After winning titles in 1954, Corinthians went a long time without a major championship. This "drought" finally ended in 1977 when they won the São Paulo state championship. This was a huge moment for the club and its fans.

Corinthians Democracy

In the early 1980s, Brazil was ending a military dictatorship. During this time, Corinthians players like Sócrates, Wladimir, and Casagrande started a movement called "Corinthians Democracy." The players and staff voted on all club decisions, from training to club policies.

In 1982, before an important election, the team wore jerseys that said "DIA 15 VOTE" (Vote on 15th). This encouraged more people to vote. In 1983, after winning the São Paulo state championship, they showed a banner saying, "Win or Lose, But Always with Democracy." This movement showed how football could be used to promote important ideas.

National and International Triumphs

In 1990, Corinthians won its first 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.

In the 1990s, they also won the state championship in 1995, 1997, and 1999. They won the national championship again in 1998 and 1999. In 2000, Corinthians won the first-ever FIFA Club World Cup. They beat Real Madrid and then Vasco da Gama in the final.

In 2002, the club won the Rio-São Paulo Tournament and the Copa do Brasil.

Ups and Downs

In 2004, Corinthians faced tough times with financial problems and poor performance. However, new young players and a new coach, Tite, helped the team improve. They finished 5th in the Brazilian championship, earning a spot in the Copa Sudamericana.

The club then made a deal with an investment group called Media Sports Investment (MSI). This brought in talented players like Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. In 2005, Corinthians won their fourth Brazilian Championship.

However, the partnership with MSI ended, and in 2007, Corinthians was relegated to the second division for the first time.

Corinthians Club World Cup 2012
In 2012, Corinthians won their second FIFA Club World Cup title.

Return to Glory

Corinthians quickly bounced back, winning the Serie B tournament in 2008 and returning to the top division. In 2009, they signed the famous player Ronaldo. With Ronaldo, Corinthians won their 26th Campeonato Paulista and their third Brazilian Cup.

In 2011, Corinthians won its fifth national title. On July 4, 2012, Corinthians won its first Copa Libertadores title, beating Boca Juniors. Later that year, on December 16, 2012, they won their second FIFA Club World Cup by defeating English club Chelsea 1–0.

In 2015, the team won its sixth league title. In 2017, they won the Campeonato Paulista for the 28th time and their seventh league title. They continued their success by winning the Campeonato Paulista in 2018 and 2019, making it 30 state titles.

In 2020, Corinthians lost the state final to Palmeiras. In 2021, former player Willian returned to the club. In 2022, Corinthians had a strong season, finishing 4th in the league and reaching the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals and the Copa do Brasil final. In 2023, they reached the Copa Sudamericana semifinals.

Club Identity

Team Colors

Evolução Uniforme Corinthians
Evolutions of the uniform

Corinthians is known for its black and white colors. However, the first uniform was cream shirts and black shorts. The cream color faded when washed, so the club changed to white shirts. In 1954, the black uniform with thin white stripes was introduced as the away kit.

Club Badge

The Corinthians shirt didn't have a badge until 1913. A simple "C" and "P" (for Corinthians Paulista) was first used. 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 the badge to include a rope, an anchor, and two oars. These symbols represent the club's early success in water sports. The badge has had small changes since then.

For a while, yellow stars were added above the badge to celebrate national titles. A larger star was added for the 2000 FIFA Club World Cup win. However, in 2011, the club decided to remove all stars from the badge.

Badge evolution

Kit Sponsors

Nike has been making Corinthians' kits since 2003. They recently renewed their partnership until 2029. Many different companies have sponsored the club's jerseys over the years, including Pepsi, Samsung, and Caixa.

Club Facilities

Stadiums

Pacaembu
Pacaembu, Corinthians' popular home from 1940–2014

Early Grounds

Corinthians first played in a field called Campo do Lenheiro in the Bom Retiro neighborhood. The players themselves had to prepare the field. In 1918, they opened their first official field, Ponte Grande, which was built by players and fans.

Parque São Jorge

In 1926, the club bought Parque São Jorge, also known as Fazendinha ("Little Farm"). This became the club's main headquarters. Over time, as the club grew, bigger stadiums were needed for most games. The Fazendinha is now mostly used for youth team matches and the women's football team.

Pacaembu

From the 1940s to 2014, Corinthians often played at the Paulo Machado de Carvalho Stadium, known as Pacaembu. It was once the largest stadium in Latin America.

Neo Química Arena

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

On September 1, 2020, the stadium was officially renamed Neo Química Arena as part of a long-term partnership with Hypera Pharma, a big pharmaceutical company.

Training Facilities

CT Joaquim Grava

Corinthians opened its modern training center in September 2010, for the club's 100th anniversary. It's named after Joaquim Grava, a long-time medical doctor for the club.

The facility has a hotel for players, a special complex for player movement studies, and a center for player recovery. It also has courts for basketball and volleyball.

Club Culture

Supporters

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

Corinthians fans are known as the Fiel ("Faithful"). They are famous for their passion and loyalty. A great example is the "Corinthian Invasion" in 1976, when over 70,000 fans traveled from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro for a match.

The club even made a documentary called "Faithful" to honor their fans' support during tough times, like when the team was relegated in 2007.

There are many fan organizations, like Gaviões da Fiel ("The Hawks of the Faithful"), which is one of the largest in Brazil. These groups actively support the club and are involved in social and cultural activities, including the Brazilian Carnival.

Politics and the Club

Between 1964 and 1985, Brazil was under a military dictatorship. During this time, Sport Club Corinthians Paulista became known for a unique political movement called Democracia Corinthiana. Starting in 1981, players like Sócrates and Wladimir decided that everyone in the team, including players and staff, would vote on all club decisions.

In 1982, the team wore shirts saying “Dia 15 Vote” to encourage people to vote in Brazil’s first multi-party elections in a long time. In 1983, after winning a championship, they held a banner that read “Win or Lose, But Always with Democracy.” This movement is a famous example of how sports can be used to promote important ideas like democracy.

Rivalries

Derby Paulista

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

The Derby Paulista is a huge rivalry between Corinthians and Palmeiras. It's considered one of the biggest rivalries in the world. This rivalry started in 1914 when a group of Italians left Corinthians to form Palmeiras. The games are always very intense.

Clássico Majestoso

The Clássico Majestoso is another big rivalry, between Corinthians and São Paulo. This rivalry began in 1935. Corinthians has the most fans in the state, and São Paulo is second. A memorable match for Corinthians fans was the 1990 Brazilian Championship final, which Corinthians won for their first national title.

Clássico Alvinegro

The Clássico Alvinegro is a rivalry between Corinthians and Santos. "Alvinegro" means "black and white," which are the colors both teams wear. A very important game in this rivalry was the 2012 Copa Libertadores Semi-Finals, which Corinthians won.

Other Rivalries

Corinthians also has rivalries with Portuguesa (Derby dos Invictos) and Ponte Preta. There's also the Classico das Multidões (Classic of The Masses) with Flamengo, as they are the two most supported teams in Brazil. Corinthians and Vasco da Gama also have a strong rivalry, especially after their exciting matches in the 2000 FIFA Club World Cup final and the 2012 Copa Libertadores.

Club Symbols

Statue dArtagnan
D'Artagnan, Corinthians Mascot

The Musketeer

Corinthians' official mascot is the Musketeer. This symbol represents bravery and a fighting spirit. In 1913, when Corinthians joined the Liga Paulista, there were three other main clubs 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.

Saint George

Saint George (or Ogum in some Brazilian cultures) is a very important symbol for Corinthians. He is seen as a warrior saint who protects those who believe in him. This warrior spirit connects with Corinthians' history as a team for the working class.

The club's headquarters, bought in 1926, is located at Parque São Jorge (St. George Park). This helped connect the club even more to Saint George. During a tough period from 1954 to 1977, when Corinthians didn't win many titles, fans felt blessed by their "Warrior Saint." In the 1960s, a chapel was built at the club in honor of Saint George.

A famous song from 1974, "Oh Corinthians," mentions Saint George, asking for strength during difficult times. In 2011, Corinthians even had a special burgundy uniform that featured an image of Saint George.

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

Players and Staff

First-team squad

No. Position Player
1 Brazil GK Hugo Souza
2 Brazil DF Matheuzinho
3 Ecuador DF Félix Torres
5 Brazil DF André Ramalho
6 Ecuador DF Diego Palacios
7 Brazil MF Maycon (on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk)
8 Argentina MF Rodrigo Garro
9 Brazil FW Yuri Alberto
10 Netherlands FW Memphis Depay
11 Paraguay FW Ángel Romero (captain)
13 Brazil DF Gustavo Henrique
14 Brazil MF Raniele
19 Peru MF André Carrillo
21 Brazil DF Matheus Bidu
No. Position Player
22 Spain FW Héctor Hernández
25 Brazil DF Cacá
26 Argentina DF Fabrizio Angileri
27 Brazil MF Breno Bidon
31 Brazil FW Kayke Ferrari
32 Brazil GK Matheus Donelli
33 Brazil DF Léo Mana
35 Brazil MF Charles
37 Brazil MF Ryan
40 Brazil GK Felipe Longo
43 Brazil FW Talles Magno (on loan from New York City FC)
46 Brazil DF Hugo
47 Brazil DF João Pedro Tchoca
70 Venezuela MF José Andrés Martínez

Academy

No. Position Player
42 Brazil DF Pellegrin
48 Brazil DF Rafael Venâncio
49 Brazil MF Yago
54 Brazil MF Bahia
No. Position Player
55 Brazil MF Luiz Eduardo
56 Brazil FW Gui Negão
59 Brazil DF Jacaré
61 Brazil FW Dieguinho

Out on loan

No. Position Player
Brazil DF Renato (on loan to Atlético Goianiense until 31 March 2026)
Brazil DF Fagner (on loan to Cruzeiro until 31 December 2025)
No. Position Player
Brazil MF Alex Santana (on loan to Grêmio until 31 December 2025)
Brazil FW Pedro Raul (on loan to Ceará until 31 December 2025)

Technical staff

Coaching Staff
Name Position
Brazil Dorival Júnior Head coach
Brazil Lucas Silvestre Assistant coach
Brazil Pedro Sotero Assistant coach
Brazil Celso de Rezende Fitness coach
Brazil Leandro Serafim da Silva Assistant fitness coach
Brazil Marcelo Carpes Goalkeeping coach
Management Staff
Name Position
Brazil Mauro da Silva Technical Supervisor
Brazil André Figueiredo Academy Manager

Club Achievements

Official Titles

Worldwide
Competitions Titles Seasons
FIFA Club World Cup 2 2000, 2012
Continental
Competitions Titles Seasons
Copa Libertadores 1 2012
Recopa Sudamericana 1 2013
National
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
Competitions Titles Seasons
Torneio Rio-São Paulo 5s 1950, 1953, 1954, 1966, 2002
State
Competitions Titles Seasons
Campeonato Paulista 31 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, 2025
Copa Paulista 1 1962
  •      record
  • s shared record

Youth Team Titles

  • Copa do Brasil Sub-17 (1): 2016
  • Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior (11): 1969, 1970, 1995, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2024
  • Taça Belo Horizonte de Juniores (1): 2015
  • Copa Rio Grande do Sul de Futebol Sub-20 (1): 2014
  • Copa Votorantim Sub-15 (4): 2003, 2004, 2022, 2025

See also

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

  • Sport Club Corinthians Paulista (women)
  • Sport Club Corinthians Paulista (youth)
  • Sport Club Corinthians Paulista (futsal)
  • Sport Club Corinthians Paulista (beach soccer)
  • Sport Club Corinthians Paulista (basketball)
  • Corinthians Steamrollers (american football)
  • Sport Club Corinthians Paulista (Superleague Formula team)
  • List of world champion football clubs
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