Sport Club do Recife facts for kids
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| Full name | Sport Club do Recife | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Leão (Lion) Leão do Norte (Lion of the North) Leão da Ilha (Lion 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 | Daniel Paulista | |||
| 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, Sport Recife plays in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. This is the top football league in Brazil. They also play in the Campeonato Pernambucano, which is Pernambuco's main state league.
Sport Recife has won six major titles from the Brazilian Football Confederation. These include three national titles and three regional ones. Their biggest win was the 2008 Copa do Brasil (Brazil Cup). Besides professional football, the club also has women's football teams. They also compete in Olympic sports like rowing, swimming, basketball, and volleyball.
Sport Recife has big rivalries with other teams. Their main rival is Náutico. Their matches are known as the Clássico dos Clássicos (Derby of Derbies). The game against Santa Cruz is called the Clássico das Multidões (Derby of Crowds).
Contents
Club History: How Sport Recife Started
Beginning of Sport Recife
Sport Club do Recife was founded on May 13, 1905. A person named Guilherme de Aquino Fonseca started the club. He loved football after studying in England. Sport Recife was the first football club ever recorded in Pernambuco state.
Their first game was on June 22, 1905. They tied 2–2 against a team called English Eleven. This team was made up of English company workers in Recife.
The Campeonato Pernambucano league began in 1916. Sport Recife won the first two titles. They also won three times in a row from 1923 to 1925. This made them tricampeão, meaning three-time champions.
Traveling and Big Wins
In 1955, Sport Recife celebrated 50 years. They won their 15th state title that year. In 1957, the club went on a tour in 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 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
Sport Recife also played in the 1963 International Soccer League. They finished fourth in their group.
First National Title Win
Sport Recife won their first national title in 1987. This was the 1987 Campeonato Brasileiro/Copa União. It took 30 years for them to officially get the title, in 2017. This was because of a disagreement with Flamengo. Sport won their semi-final against Bangu 5–4. Then they beat Guarani 3–2 in the final.
Winning this title meant they could play in the 1988 Copa Libertadores. They didn't make it past the group stage. But they had a big 5–0 win against Alianza Lima.
In 1989, Sport Recife was moved down to a lower league. But they quickly won the 1990 Série B title. They tied 1–1 with Atlético Paranaense in the final. Sport won because they had a better record during the season.
In 1994, Sport won the first ever Copa do Nordeste. Coach Givanildo Oliveira led the team. They beat CRB on penalties after a 0–0 draw.
Sport Recife in the 21st Century
Sport Recife won the Copa do Nordeste again in 2000. They tied 2–2 with Vitória and won because of their better record. In 2001, they were runners-up in the same cup.
In 2006, Sport Recife moved back up to the top league (Serie A). They finished second in the Série B after five years there.
Sport became the first club from Northeast Brazil to win the Copa do Brasil. They beat Corinthians in the 2008 final. They won because they scored more away goals. This win allowed them to play in the Copa Libertadores again in 2009. They started very well, finishing first in their group. They played against Palmeiras in the next round. They tied 1–1 but lost on penalties. Later in 2009, Sport Recife struggled in the Brasileirão and was moved down to Série B.
O Leão da Ilha (The Lion of the Island) returned to Série A for the 2012 season. However, they were moved down again that year. Even though they were in Serie B, Sport got a spot in the 2013 Copa Sudamericana. They were knocked out by Libertad from Paraguay.
The year 2014 was great for Sport. They returned to Serie A. They also won their third Copa do Nordeste and their 40th Campeonato Pernambucano title. They finished 11th in the league, which gave them a spot in the Copa Sudamericana.
In 2015, Sport Recife had a good year, even without winning titles. They finished 6th in the Série A. This was their best result since 2000. They were even in the top 4 for 15 matches and led the league in five of them.
In 2016, Sport finished 14th in Serie A. This allowed them to play in the 2017 Copa Sudamericana. They reached the quarter-finals of the Copa Sudamericana. They were knocked out by Junior, losing 2-0 overall. André Felipe was a key player, scoring four goals in the tournament.
Club Achievements
Sport Recife has won many important titles. Here are some of their main achievements:
| National Titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 45 | 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, 2025 |
| Copa Pernambuco | 3 | 1998, 2003, 2007 |
- record
- s shared record
Other Tournaments Won
- Leopoldo Casado International Tournament (1): 1980
- Troféu Ariano Suassuna (4): 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
- Qualificatório da Taça Ouro (1): 1980
- Troféu Roberto Gomes Pedrosa (Módulo Amarelo) (1): 1987
- Zona Norte-Nordeste da Taça Brasil (1): 1962
- Torneio Paraíba-Pernambuco (1): 1965
- Torneio Início de Pernambuco (18): 1920, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1932, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1968, 1974, 1977
Second Place Finishes
- Copa do Brasil (1): 1989
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série B (2): 2006, 2019
- Copa dos Campeões (1): 2000
- Copa do Nordeste (4): 2001, 2017, 2022, 2023
- Torneio Norte-Nordeste (1): 1970
- Campeonato Pernambucano (24): 1919, 1922, 1940, 1951, 1954, 1957, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1986, 1987, 1990, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2021
- Copa Pernambuco (2): 2000, 2005
Women's Football Achievements
- Campeonato Pernambucano de Futebol Feminino (10): 1999, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024
Current Team Players
Main Team
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Youth Team Players
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Other Players Under Contract
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Players on Loan to Other Teams
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Coaching Staff
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Top Goal Scorers
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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 Fans
In 2013, a study showed that Sport Recife was the 13th most popular club in Brazil. They had about 2.4 million fans across the country. Fans of the club are called Leonine or Sportistas.
The club has several organized fan groups, including:
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Club Rivalries
Sport vs. Santa Cruz
This match is called the "Derby of Crowds" (Clássico das Multidões). It's a big game between the two largest fan groups in Pernambuco. Sport has won more games against Santa Cruz. They have 236 wins, while Santa Cruz has 169.
Sport vs. Náutico
The "Derby of Derbies" (Clássico dos Clássicos) is one of the oldest derbies in Brazil. It features the two oldest teams in Pernambuco. Sport also has a big lead in wins, with 218 victories compared to Náutico's 187.
Sport vs. América-PE
This rivalry is known as the "Champions Derby" (Clássico dos Campeões). It's a very old derby in Pernambuco. It got its name because Sport and América were the two teams with the most titles until the late 1930s. This derby is not as popular now because América-PE has not won any major trophies since the 1940s.
Sport vs. 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 fans in the region. The rivalry grew stronger in the 2010s. This is because fans saw their state rivals doing less well compared to them.
The states of Pernambuco and Bahia also have their own rivalry. They argue about which state is more important in the Northeast. They also debate which state has the best carnival. This state rivalry is strongest between people from the capital cities, Recife (Sport's home) and Salvador (Bahia's home).
Club 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 the club's current stadium. It opened on July 4, 1937. It was named after a club president, Adelmar da Costa Carvalho. But it's 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 until 2013. That's when the Arena Pernambuco was built.
Training Center
- CT Presidente José de Andrade Médicis (CT do Leão)
This is Sport Recife's training center. It's used by the main team and all youth teams. It is located in Paulista, about 30 km from Recife. The area is 8 hectares (80,000 square meters). The complex was improved for 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 opened on September 9, 2008.
Club Symbols
Club Badge
The first club badge looked very different from today's. It showed symbols for all the sports the club played back then. But it was too complicated and didn't have the club's colors.
In 1919, Sport Recife traveled to Belém do Pará for friendly games. They won a trophy called the Lion of the North. This trophy had a sculpture of a lion. Sport won the trophy, which surprised many. An angry fan even damaged the lion's tail on the trophy. This event inspired the club to adopt the lion as its new symbol. The lion represents bravery, courage, and a winning spirit.
The current badge has stars:
- Two gold stars for their two biggest titles: the 1987 Brasileirão Serie A and the 2008 Copa do Brasil.
- One silver star for their other important title: the 1990 Brasileirão Série B.
The gold stars are larger and at the corners. The silver star is smaller and in the middle.
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The club badge from 1905.
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The club badge from 1919 to today.
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Club Anthem
The official song of the club was written by Eunitônio Edir Pereira.
Club Mascots
After winning the Lion of the North trophy in 1919, the lion became the club'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.
Colors and Uniforms
Sport Recife's official colors are black, red, and gold.
The club's uniforms are described in their rules. The team's shield must always be on the left side of the shirt. Here are the main uniform styles:
- Shirt with black and red stripes, with white or black shorts and black socks.
- All white shirt, shorts, and socks.
- All black shirt, shorts, and socks, with pink details.
- All gold shirt, shorts, and socks, with small pink and black details.
Uniform Makers
Many companies have made Sport Recife's uniforms over the years. Some of them 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)
Club Presidents
Here is a list of Sport Recife presidents since the year 2000:
- Luciano Bivar (1997–2001, 2005–06, 2013)
- Fernando Pessoa (2001–02)
- Severino Otavio (Branquinho) (2003–04)
- Milton Bivar Caldas (2007–08)
- Silvio Alexandre Guimaraes (2009–10)
- Gustavo Dubueux (2011–12, 2019)
- Joao Humberto Martorelli (2014–16)
- Arnaldo Barros Jr. (2017–18)
- Leonardo Lopes (2021)
- Yuri Romão (2021-present)
See also
In Spanish: Sport Club do Recife para niños
