Sport Club do Recife facts for kids
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| Full name | Sport Club do Recife | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Leão (Lions) Leão do Norte (Lions of the North) Leão da Ilha (Lions of the Island) Moreninha (Little Brunette) |
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| Founded | 13 May 1905 (as Sport Club do Recife) | |||
| Ground | Ilha do Retiro | |||
| Capacity | 32,983 | |||
| President | Yuri Romão | |||
| Head coach | Pepa | |||
| League | Campeonato Brasileiro Série B Campeonato Pernambucano |
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| 2022 2022 |
Série B, 7th of 20 Pernambucano, 5th of 10 |
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Sport Club do Recife, often called Sport Recife or just Sport, is a Brazilian sports club. It is located in the city of Recife, in the state of Pernambuco. The club was started in 1905. Today, its football team plays in Série B, which is Brazil's second-highest football league.
In football, Sport has won six major titles from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBD/CBF). These include three national titles and three regional ones. Their biggest wins are the 1987 Brazilian Championship and the 2008 Copa do Brasil. Besides professional football, Sport also has women's football teams and competes in Olympic sports. These sports include rowing, swimming, hockey, basketball, futsal, volleyball, table tennis, taekwondo, judo, and athletics.
Sport has strong rivalries with other clubs. Their main rival is Náutico, and their matches are called the Clássico dos Clássicos. The game against Santa Cruz is known as the Clássico das Multidões. The match with América is called the Clássico dos Campeões.
Contents
History of Sport Club do Recife
How Sport Recife Started
Sport Club do Recife was founded on May 13, 1905. A person named Guilherme de Aquino Fonseca started the club. He came from a rich family in Pernambuco. Guilherme fell in love with football while studying in England.
Sport was the first football club ever recorded in the state of Pernambuco. Their very first game was on June 22, 1905. They played against a team called English Eleven and the game ended in a 2–2 tie.
Early Wins and State Titles
The Campeonato Pernambucano is the state championship for Pernambuco. It started in 1916. Sport won the first two titles of this competition. From 1923 to 1925, Sport won the championship three times in a row. This made them tricampeão, meaning "three-time champion."
Sport Recife's European Tour
In 1955, Sport Recife celebrated its 50th birthday. They marked this special year by winning their 15th state title. In 1957, the club went on a tour to Europe. They played 17 matches, winning 6, drawing 3, and losing 8. One famous game was a 5–3 loss against Real Madrid. This was the first night game ever played at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
Sport Recife also played in the 1963 International Soccer League. They finished fourth in their group.
Winning the First National Title
In 1987, Sport won their first national title. This was the 1987 Campeonato Brasileiro/Copa União. It took 30 years for the club to officially get this title, in 2017. This was because of a disagreement with Flamengo. Sport beat Bangu in the semi-final. Then, they defeated Guarani 3–2 in the final.
Winning this title allowed Sport to play in the 1988 Copa Libertadores. This is a big South American club competition. Sport finished third in their group. They had a great 5–0 win against Alianza Lima.
In 1989, Sport was relegated from the top league. But they quickly bounced back. They won the 1990 Série B (second division). They tied with Atlético Paranaense in the final. Sport won the title because they had a better record during the season.
Sport also won the first Copa do Nordeste in 1994. They beat CRB in a penalty shootout after a 0–0 draw.
Sport Recife in the 21st Century
In 2000, Sport won the Copa do Nordeste for the second time. They tied 2–2 with Vitória in the final. Sport won the title because of their better overall record. In the next Copa do Nordeste in 2001, Sport finished second. They lost to Bahia.
In 2006, Sport was promoted back to the top league, Série A. They had spent five years in Série B.
Sport made history in 2008. They became the first club from Northeastern Brazil to win the Copa do Brasil. They beat Corinthians in the 2008 final. Sport won on away goals. This victory meant Sport played in the Copa Libertadores again in 2009. They had a great start, finishing first in their group. They then faced Palmeiras again but lost on penalties.
In the second half of 2009, Sport struggled in the Brasileirão. They finished last and were relegated to Série B.
O Leão da Ilha (The Lion of the Island) returned to Série A for the 2012 season. However, they were relegated again, finishing seventeenth. Even though they were in Série B, Sport got a spot in the 2013 Copa Sudamericana. They were knocked out by Libertad from Paraguay.
2014 was a fantastic year for Sport. They returned to Série A. They also won their third Copa do Nordeste and their 40th Campeonato Pernambucano. They finished 11th in the league, which earned them a spot in the Copa Sudamericana. In the 2015 Copa Sudamericana, Sport beat Bahia. They then faced Argentine club Club Atlético Huracán. After a 1–1 draw at home, they lost 3–0 away and were eliminated.
The "Vigor Gang"
In 2021, Sport gained a famous fan named Gil do Vigor. He became well-known from a TV show called Big Brother Brasil. Gil showed his love for Sport, and the club honored him. He became a symbol of the team and of Gay Pride.
Today, Sport Recife is also known as the "Turminha do Vigor" (Vigor's Gang). This shows the team's modern vision, embracing its history and being open-minded.
Sport Recife's Trophies
| National Titles | ||
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| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Campeonato Brasileiro Série A | 1 | 1987 |
| Copa do Brasil | 1 | 2008 |
| Campeonato Brasileiro Série B | 1 | 1990 |
| Regional Titles | ||
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Copa do Nordeste | 3 | 1994, 2000, 2014 |
| Torneio Norte-Nordeste | 1s | 1968 |
| State Titles | ||
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Campeonato Pernambucano | 44 | 1916, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1928, 1938, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1948, 1949, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2024 |
| Copa Pernambuco | 3 | 1998, 2003, 2007 |
- record
- s shared record
Other Football Achievements
- Torneio Paraíba-Pernambuco (1): 1965
Friendly Tournament Wins
- Ariano Suassuna Trophy (4): 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Women's Football Success
- Campeonato Pernambucano de Futebol Feminino (9): 1999, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023
Current Football Squad
First Team Players
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Players on Loan to Other Clubs
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Coaching Staff
The current technical staff for Sport Recife includes:
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Top Goal Scorers in Sport Recife History
Here are the top 10 goal scorers for Sport Recife:
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| 1º | Traçaia | 202 |
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| 2º | Djalma Freitas | 161 |
| 3º | Leonardo | 133 |
| 4º | Luís Carlos | 108 |
| 5º | Naninho | 105 |
| 6º | Dadá Maravilha | 94 |
| 7º | Marcílio de Aguiar | 93 |
| 8º | Raúl Bentancor | 91 |
| 9º | Roberto Coração de Leão | 89 |
| 10º | Bé | 80 |
Sport Recife Supporters
In 2013, a study showed that Sport Recife was the 13th most supported club in Brazil. It had about 2.4 million fans across the country. Supporters of the club are called Leonine and Sportistas.
The club has many organized fan groups, including:
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Sport Recife's Rivalries
Rivalry with Santa Cruz
The "Derby of Crowds" (Clássico das Multidões) is a football match between Sport and Santa Cruz. These two clubs have the largest fan bases in Pernambuco. Sport has won more games against Santa Cruz. They have 236 wins compared to Santa Cruz's 169 wins.
Rivalry with Náutico
The "Derby of Derbies" (Clássico dos Clássicos) is the third oldest derby in Brazil. It is played between Sport and Náutico, the two oldest teams in Pernambuco. Sport also has a big advantage in this rivalry. Sport has won 218 matches, while Náutico has won 187.
Rivalry with América-PE
The "Champions Derby" (Clássico dos Campeões) is another old and classic rivalry in Pernambuco. It got its name because, until the late 1930s, Sport and América were the two teams with the most titles. They were also the main clubs in Recife. This derby is less popular now because América-PE has not won any trophies since the 1940s. América currently plays in the second division of the Campeonato Pernambucano.
Rivalry with Esporte Clube Bahia
The rivalry between Sport and Bahia is one of the biggest in Brazil's Northeast region. Both are the most successful football clubs from the Northeast. They are the only two clubs in the region to have won major national titles. They also have the most supporters in the region. Their rivalry grew in the 2010s as both clubs became stronger.
This rivalry also reflects a bigger competition between the states of Pernambuco and Bahia. People from these states often debate which state is more important or has the best carnival. This state rivalry is strongest between people in the capital cities, Recife (where Sport is based) and Salvador (where Bahia is based).
Sport Recife Facilities
Stadiums
- Avenida Malaquias
This stadium opened on May 15, 1918. It belonged to Sport Recife from 1918 to 1937. It could hold 8,000 people.
- Adelmar da Costa Carvalho Stadium (Ilha do Retiro Stadium)
This is Sport's current stadium. It opened on July 4, 1937. It is named after a former club president, Adelmar da Costa Carvalho. But it is better known as Ilha do Retiro. This is because of the neighborhood where it is located. The stadium can hold up to 30,000 people. It was considered the best stadium in Northeast Brazil for a long time. This changed when the Arena Pernambuco was built in 2013.
Training Center
- CT Presidente José de Andrade Médicis (CT do Leão)
This is Sport's training center for all its teams, from professional to youth. It is located in Paulista, about 30 km from Recife. The center covers 8 hectares (80,000 square meters). It has been greatly improved over the years. This was done to prepare for big events like the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2014 FIFA World Cup.
The training center has 5 official fields, two hotels, a restaurant, a medical center, a gym, and dressing rooms. It first opened on September 9, 2008.
Sport Recife Symbols
Club Badge
The first badge of Sport Recife was very different from the one today. It showed symbols of many sports the club played, like cricket and spearfishing. It also had the letters SCR for Sport Club Recife. However, this badge was too complex and did not use the club's red and black colors.
In 1919, the club's president, Arnaldo Loyo, took the team to Belém do Pará for friendly games. Sport won a trophy called the Lion of the North. This trophy had a sculpture of a powerful lion. Winning this trophy was a big surprise because football in Pará was more developed. After the win, a fan of the opposing team damaged the trophy's lion tail. This event inspired a new badge for the club.
The lion was chosen as the new symbol. It represented boldness, courage, and a winning spirit. A designer named Armando Vieira dos Santos created the new badge. It was based on Scottish heraldry (designs for coats of arms).
The current badge has stars:
- Two gold stars for its two biggest titles: the 1987 Brasileirão Série A and the 2008 Copa do Brasil. These gold stars are larger.
- One silver star for its other important title: the 1990 Brasileirão Série B. This silver star is smaller and sits between the gold stars.
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1905
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1919–present
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Club Anthem
The official song of Sport Club do Recife was written by Eunitônio Edir Pereira.
Club Mascots
After winning the Lion of the North trophy in 1919, the lion became Sport's mascot. This also led to one of the club's nicknames: Leão do Norte (Lion of the North).
The mascot's name is Leo. A cartoonist named Humberto Araujo created Leo over 25 years ago. Leo is at all home games, entertaining the fans. The name Leo means "lion" in Latin.
Sport Recife Colors and Uniforms
The official colors of Sport Club do Recife are black, red, and gold.
The club's uniforms are described in its rules. The team's shield (badge) must always be on the left side of the shirt, at chest level. The uniforms can be:
- A shirt with black and red stripes, with white or black shorts and black socks.
- A white shirt, white shorts, and white socks.
- A black shirt, black shorts, and black socks, with pink details.
- A gold shirt, gold shorts, and gold socks, with small pink and black details.
Kit Manufacturers
Many companies have made Sport Recife's uniforms over the years. Some of the well-known ones include:
- Penalty (1973–74)
- Adidas (1980–82, 2014–2017)
- Le Coq Sportif (1983–87)
- Topper (1988–92, 1998–08)
- Lotto (2008–2013)
- Under Armour (2018)
- Umbro (2019–present)
Images for kids
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1905 Sport Recife team
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A match between Sport Recife and Palmeiras in the 2007 Brasileirão
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Invitation to Sport's first game, showing the Lion symbol.
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Émerson Leão led Sport to their first national title in 1987.
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Dadá Maravilha is one of Sport Recife's top goal scorers.
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Estádio Ilha do Retiro
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Estádio Ilha do Retiro – a panoramic view
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1905
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1919–present
See also
In Spanish: Sport Club do Recife para niños
