Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras
Encyclopedia
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras (pawˈmejɾɐs) is a Brazilian football club from São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...

. The club was founded on August 26, 1914, as Palestra Italia (paˌlɛstɾiˈtaliɐ) but changed to the current name on September 14, 1942. It is one of the most popular and successful Brazilian clubs, with almost 17 million supporters, including a large number Brazilians of Italian ancestry
Italian Brazilian
-Italian immigration to Brazil:The Italian government claims there are 25 million Brazilians of Italian descent, which would be the largest population of Italian background outside of Italy itself. There are no actual surveys, or even verifiable calculations supporting such claims. According to...

.

Palmeiras is one of the most successful clubs in Brazilian football
Football in Brazil
Football is the most popular sport in Brazil. The Brazilian national football team has won the FIFA World Cup tournament a record 5 times, in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002, and is the only team to succeed in qualifying for every World Cup competition ever held. It is among the favourites to win...

. The team has won 10 national competitions, a record in the country. The club's most important titles have been the 8 national league titles (4 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
The Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B...

, 2 Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa
Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa
The Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa, also known as Taça de Prata, or nicknamed Robertão, was a Brazilian national football competition contested between 1967 and 1970, before the creation of Campeonato Brasileiro in 1971...

 and 2 Taça Brasil
Taça Brasil
The Taça Brasil was a Brazilian national football competition which was contested from 1959 to 1968. It is considered by many historians the most important football tournament in Brazil at the time and is compared, in importance level, to the current Campeonato Brasileiro.Bahia, Cruzeiro and...

) and 2 national cups (1 Copa do Brasil
Copa do Brasil
The Copa Kia do Brasil, commonly known as Copa do Brasil , is a knockout competition played by 64 association football teams, representing all 26 Brazilian states plus the Federal District...

 and 1 Copa dos Campeões
Copa dos Campeões
Copa dos Campeões was a Brazilian football competition contested by the best teams from each one of the regional cups.The Copa dos Campeões winner was automatically qualified to following year's Copa Libertadores....

).
Their international titles include one Copa Libertadores. The team won the competition in 1999, after beating Deportivo Cali
Deportivo Cali
Asociación Deportivo Cali is a Colombian sports club based in Cali, Colombia. Mostly known for its football team, it also sponsors basketball, volleyball and swimming...

 of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...

. In 1951, Palmeiras won the international Copa Rio, known as the first world soccer club tournament, after beating Juventus of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

. In 1999, the team was declared the Champion of the Century in Brazilian football.

Foundation and name

Palmeiras was founded on August 26, 1914, initially as Palestra Italia, by Luigi Cervo, Vicenzo Ragognetti, Luigi Emanuele Marzo and Ezequiel Simone, four Italian men who were members of the Italian
Italian Brazilian
-Italian immigration to Brazil:The Italian government claims there are 25 million Brazilians of Italian descent, which would be the largest population of Italian background outside of Italy itself. There are no actual surveys, or even verifiable calculations supporting such claims. According to...

 community of São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...

. Its original colors were red, white and green (those of Italy). During the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, Brazil entered the war supporting the allies and its dictatorship along with the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB) forced Palestra Italia (and also Palestra Italia
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube is a Brazilian football team, from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Internacional. Founded on January 2, 1921, they are only one of three clubs to have participated in...

 of Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...

) to change its name because of the reference to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

. The original badge (a white ornamental "P" in a green shield) is still present in the current one, and the club has used red as a third color (mostly in friendly games during the club's 75th anniversary).

Palestra is born – opening game

At the beginning of the 20th Century, several young Italians decided to start club whose main goal was to form a soccer team that would be representative of the Italian community, and face the big names of São Paulo's soccer elite. Just over three decades earlier, Italy had been reunified – a fact that was not known to some Italian-Brazilians and to some non-Italian Brazilians.

There were numerous Italian clubs, but each one represented an Italian Province or was geared to activities other than soccer. At the time, the game was starting to take hold and drew many players and fans.

The founders of the club sought out the Fanfulla newspaper, which was the media mouthpiece that defended the interests of Italians in Brazil, and entrusted young Vincenzo Ragognetti – another supporter of the idea – to draft an invitation to those interested in forming a sports club.

After several meetings, 46 interested individuals (led by Luigi Marzo and Luigi Cervo) gathered at the Alhambra Room on what is now Rua do Ruachuelo, and founded a sports club for all Italian-Brazilians named "Palestra Italia". Ezequiel Simone was named club president. The Italian Consulate in São Paulo became interested in the new club because it would help spread the word among Italians that their country now had one flag and one anthem.

After some initial difficulties, Palestra Italia played its first game in the town of Votorantim (São Paulo State) – beating Savoy 2–0 with goals from Bianco and Alegretti to win the Savoy Cup.

1920–1930 – First title and purchase of the stadium

In 1916, the team joined the city's main sports league and held its first official championship match. The following year it would be runner-up in the São Paulo State Championship, facing Corinthians
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, commonly just known as Corinthians , is a Brazilian football club based in the city of São Paulo. They play in the São Paulo state league, as well as the Brasileirão, Brazil's top national league...

 for the first time. Palestra won that initial game 3–0 with three goals from Caetano; it also won the rematch 3–1 of what would become the team's chief rivalry. In 1920, Palestra Italia captured the São Paulo State championship with a victory over the rugged Paulistano squad in the deciding match.

Palestra continued to grow as a sports club and also began acquiring more assets. Estádio Palestra Itália, purchased in 1920, was remodeled and expanded in 1933 – when it became the first Brazilian stadium with concrete grandstands and barbed-wire fences. Starting in 1964, the playing field would be suspended, which gave fans a complete, broad view and also created space in the lower levels.

The club continued to grow and won more championships, and at the outset of the 1930s became the three-time São Paulo State soccer and basketball champion – a feat which prompted Palestra fans to chant in celebration: "With the feet or with the hands, Palestra is the best in the land."

A Leader Dies, A Champion is Born

In 1942 during World War II, the government of President Getúlio Vargas made a decree banning any organization from using names related to the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan). Palestra Italia was compelled to change its name, and became Palestra São Paulo. "Palestra" is a Greek word that did not violate the government measure. However, the change did not soothe political and sporting pressures. Under penalty of forfeiting all its assets to another club and facing ejection from the championship that it currently led, Palestra was forced to change its name a second time. The night before the last game of the State championship
Campeonato Paulista
The Campeonato Paulista de Futebol Profissional da Primeira Divisão - Série A1, simply known as the Campeonato Paulista, is the top-flight professional football league in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. The league is contested between 20 clubs and typically lasts from January to April...

, scheduled for 20 September 1942, the Palestra board of directors held a heated meeting and changed the club's name. When the debate reached its peak, Dr. Mario Minervino took the floor and asked club Secretary, Dr. Pascoal W. Byron Giuliano, to note in the minutes:

– "They don't want us to be Palestra, so then we shall be Palmeiras – born to be champions."

Tensions flared during the final league match, where Palmeiras' opponent was the São Paulo Futebol Clube (SPFC) which was laying claim to the assets of the former Palestra Italia.

Palmeiras took the field carrying the Brazilian flag under the leadership of army Captain Adalberto Mendes. Palmeiras won the game 3–1 when a penalty was called in its favor. At that moment, the SPFC ordered its players to consider the Palmeiras squad an enemy of the homeland and pulled its side off the field amid jeers from even the club's own fans. The celebrations began on the spot. The next day, newspapers contained a photograph of Palmeiras entering the field with the headline: "A Leader Dies, A Champion is Born."

1951 – first World Championship

In January 1951, the Brazilian sports newspaper O Globo Sportivo ran a lead story reporting that FIFA President Jules Rimet would grant unconditional support to holding a world club championship in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...

.

The first World Club Championship was held in 1951, with the participation of eight squads, divided into two brackets of four teams apiece: Vasco da Gama (Brazil), Austria Vienna (Austria)
FK Austria Wien
Fußballklub Austria Wien is an Austrian association football club from the capital city of Vienna. They are considered the most successful club in Austria, having won the highest Austrian Bundesliga 23 times, the Austrian Cup 27 times and the Austrian Supercup 6 times. They also reached the UEFA...

, Nacional (Uruguay)
Club Nacional de Football
Club Nacional de Football is a Uruguayan sports club based in Montevideo. It is best known for its professional football team, which plays in the Uruguayan Primera División....

, and Sporting Lisbon (Portugal), playing in Rio; and Palmeiras (Brazil), Juventus (Italy), Red Star (Yugoslavia)
Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia. The club is a part of the Red Star Sports Society.Red Star Belgrade is the most successful Serbian club, with a record of 25 national championships and 23 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions...

, and Olympique (France)
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...

 playing in São Paulo. As it happened, FIFA would adopt this same number of teams, seed-city system, and tournament model for the World Club Championship in 2000.

The zeal to compete in this contest was such that the Uruguayan Football Association issued a directive signed by all first division team bosses on June 15, 1951 suspending its national championship from June 25 to July 27, so that a sufficiently strong Nacional team could represent the 1950 World Cup champs.

Palmeiras and Juventus played in the final, held over two matches. Palmeiras managed to win one game and tied the other to win the Rio Cup – the first ever World Club Championship.

The Academy, The Brazilian giant

In the 1960s, the standard of quality of Palmeiras play – led by the one who would come to symbolize this period of soccer excellence, Ademir de Guia – led the Palestra Italia team to be called the "Academy" of Brazilian football.

Headed by Filpo Nunes, Palmeiras players won the most important national competition in 1965, the Rio – São Paulo championship, with stand-out performances. Blow-outs against top rivals included seven goals scored against Santos, five against Botafogo
Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas
Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas , also known as Botafogo and familiarly as Estrela Solitária, is a Brazilian sports club based in Botafogo, neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, best known for its football team. They play in the Campeonato Carioca, Rio de Janeiro's state league, and the Campeonato...

 in their home stadium of Maracanã, five against São Paulo, and another four4 scored against Vasco. The title came to Palmeiras in another lopsided victory against Botafogo at Pacaembú Stadium in São Paulo.

That same year, the Brazilian Sports Federation (CBD) used the entire Palmeiras roster to launch Minerão Stadium and represent Brazil in an official national team match against Uruguay for the Inconfidência Cup. The day that it donned the green and white, Palmeiras as Brazil was victorious 3–0 over the Uruguayan blue.

In the previous year, Palmeiras had won the Rio de Janeiro Quadricentennial Cup by beating the Paraguayan national team 5–2 and besting Peñarol of Uruguay in the final.

At the end of the 1970s, Palmeiras won the Copa do Brasil and the Roberto Gomes Pedrosa tournament – the Brazilian Championship equivalent at the time. These victories laid the groundwork for the second Palmeiras Academy.

Led by Oswaldo Brandão, the team captured several titles in the 1970s. It was three-time São Paulo State champion – emerging undefeated in one of those tournaments – two-time Brazilian Champion, three-time winner of Spain's Ramón de Carranza Trophy, and winner of Argentina's Mar Del Plata Trophy – considered the South American Club Championship.

1980s: The lost decade

Accustomed to victories at the "Academy" in the 1960s and 1970s, Palmeiras fans saw the 1980s come and go without championships or titles. In 1986, Palmeiras fielded a good team – routing Corinthians 5–1 and playing an historic game in the semifinals of the São Paulo State Championship against that same rival, prevailing 3–0. The team had arrived at the final of the State Championship – 10 years after winning its last State title – but lost to Inter de Limeira.

On October 29, 1986, Palmeiras fans adopted the "Pig" as their mascot. At a game against Santos, the rival fans were chanting "pig"; the Palmeiras crowd responded with "Come On Pig!! Come On Pig!! Olé Olé Olé..." and "Go Piiiig...." A few days later, Placar sports magazine popularised the new nickname when it published an issue with Jorginho Putinatti – the symbol of that generation – holding a pig in his lap.

There were two noteworthy events during this decade. In the 1983 State Championship against Santos, referee José de Assis Aragão scored a goal for Palmeiras in the 47th minute of the second half. Striker Jorginho kicked inside the penalty area, the ball was on its way out but it hit Aragão – who was on the goal line about a meter from the goal and went into the Santos net. The game ended in a 2–2 tie – much to the chagrin of Santos.

The second unexpected event occurred on November 11, 1988, when striker Gaúcho defended two penalties against Flamengo
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo , also known as Flamengo and familiarly as Mengão, is a Brazilian sports club based in the Flamengo bairro, Zona Sul, Rio de Janeiro, best known for its professional football team...

 in a game for the Brazilian Championship at Maracanã. Gaúcho was put in goal after keeper Zetti broke a leg in the final minutes of the match. The game ended in a tie, and advanced to the penalty shootout phase. During the shootout, Gaúcho stopped two shots, from Aldair and Zinho. To cap off the evening, he scored a penalty himself while wearing the goalkeeper's jersey.

In 1989, Palmeiras had another chance to celebrate a title. Undefeated until the second last match, the team was eliminated when it lost to Bragantino in the semifinals of the São Paulo State Championship. The 1980s ended without significant victories, but the 1990s would make up for that.

The End of the 20th Century – The Greatest

In the 1990s, Palmeiras enjoyed countless sporting achievements, winning numerous important titles. In the first full year of the relationship, the team won the São Paulo State Championship in 1993. That same year, it also captured the Rio-São Paulo Championship and the Brazilian Championship. The next year, it achieved the unprecedented feat of becoming two-time State Champion and two-time Brazilian Champion.

Palmeiras also won the Mercosur Cup and the Brazil Cup – both in 1998. In 1996 it handily won the State Championship, scoring more than 100 goals. It would also win the Champions' Tournament against top Brazilian clubs (in 2000).

Featuring players with tremendous technical prowess like Edmundo, Evair
Evair Aparecido Paulino
Evair Aparecido Paulino is a retired Brazilian football player. During his career Evair played for several clubs, he is most famous for his time with Palmeiras and also his contributions to Vasco, when the club won Brazilian Série A in 1997...

, Zinho, Rivaldo
Rivaldo
Rivaldo Vítor Borba Ferreira , commonly known simply as Rivaldo , is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for São Paulo, on loan from Mogi Mirim, as an attacking midfielder and sometimes as a supporting striker.He most notably played five years with Spanish club FC Barcelona, with whom he...

, Alex
Alexsandro de Souza
Alexsandro de Souza, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Turkish club Fenerbahçe.He is a former captain of the Brazilian national team, he has also played for Coritiba, Palmeiras, Flamengo and Cruzeiro in Brazil and Parma in Serie A.-In Brazil:Alex first played professionally for Coritiba, a...

, and César Sampaio, Palmeiras won other international tournaments – culminating with victory at the Libertadores de América Cup in 1999; an accomplishment ranking among the biggest in the club's history.

Having won key national and international competitions, Palmeiras was proclaimed Brazilian soccer's Champion of the 20th Century by the São Paulo State Soccer Federation (FPF), newspapers Folha and Estado de São Paulo, and Placar magazine rankings.

1999 – Libertadores Cup Winners

Famous coach Luiz Felipe Scolari
Luiz Felipe Scolari
Luiz Felipe Scolari , ComIH , also known as Felipão in Brazil and Phil Scolari in the United Kingdom, is a World Cup-winning Brazilian football manager. He is currently the manager of Palmeiras. He served as the manager of the Portuguese national team from July 12, 2003 to June 30, 2008...

 led the team to one of the club's most important titles: The 1999 Libertadores Cup. The final match was against Deportivo Cali
Deportivo Cali
Asociación Deportivo Cali is a Colombian sports club based in Cali, Colombia. Mostly known for its football team, it also sponsors basketball, volleyball and swimming...

 from Colombia. Important players from that team were World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...

 winners Marcos
Marcos Roberto Silveira Reis
Marcos Roberto Silveira Reis , known simply as Marcos, is a Brazilian World Cup winning footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. He plays for Palmeiras, of the Série A, since he started playing professional football in 1992 and has since become one of its greatest idols, being nicknamed "São Marcos"...

, Zinho and Roque Júnior, as well as Alex de Souza, Evair
Evair Aparecido Paulino
Evair Aparecido Paulino is a retired Brazilian football player. During his career Evair played for several clubs, he is most famous for his time with Palmeiras and also his contributions to Vasco, when the club won Brazilian Série A in 1997...

, Paulo Nunes
Paulo Nunes
Arílson de Paula Nunes, better known as Paulo Nunes , is a former Brazilian football player. He retired in 2003 playing for Mogi Mirim Esporte Clube.-Career:...

 and César Sampaio. In the first leg, in Cali
Calì
Calì, also written in English as Cali, is an Italian surname, widespread mainly in the Ionian side of Sicily.For the surname Calì is assumed the origin of the Greek word kalos , or from its Sanskrit root kali, "time."The surname refers to:...

, Deportivo beat Palmeiras 1–0. In the second leg, at Estádio Palestra Itália, Palmeiras beat Deportivo 2–1 and won the competition in the penalty shootout.

In the same year, in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

, Palmeiras disputed Intercontinental Cup
Intercontinental Cup (football)
The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...

, but were defeated in the final by Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...

 of England.

2000 – 4 Final Championship Matches

In 2000, Palmeiras disputed 4 Final Championship Matches. At first, the team won the Rio-São Paulo Tournament
Torneio Rio-São Paulo
Torneio Rio – São Paulo was a traditional Brazilian football competition contested between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro teams until from 1935 until 2002....

 after beating Vasco da Gama in the final. In the first leg, in Rio de Janeiro, Palmeiras beat Vasco 2–1. In the second leg, at Estádio do Morumbi, the club from São Paulo beat Vasco 4–0.

The club again reached the Libertadores Cup final, this time against Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....

 from Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...

. In the first leg, in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...

, the game ended 2–2. In the second leg, at Morumbi stadium, in São Paulo, the game ended 0–0 and Boca won the competition in the penalty shootout.

In the same year, Palmeiras won Brazilian Champions' Cup
Copa dos Campeões
Copa dos Campeões was a Brazilian football competition contested by the best teams from each one of the regional cups.The Copa dos Campeões winner was automatically qualified to following year's Copa Libertadores....

 after beating Sport Recife in the final. By the end of this year, the club again reached the Mercosur Cup
Copa Mercosur
The Copa Mercosur was a football competition played from 1998 to 2001 by the traditional top clubs from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Chile. The competition was created by CONMEBOL to generate TV money to the participating teams, but it went beyond and ended up as a natural replacement...

 final against Vasco da Gama.

The new millenium

The 2004 and 2005 seasons were rather successful when the team qualified for the Libertadores Cup but unfortunately was sent home before the end of the championship.

In 2008, Palmeiras made a sponsorship agreement with Traffic, a Sports Marketing Agency. The club made some big investments on some big name players and also on coach Wanderley Luxemburgo. This new strategy paid off with a 22nd Paulista Championship.

Also in 2008, Palmeiras won the São Paulo State Cup with a 5–0 victory over Ponte Preta. Palmeiras finished 4th in the Campeanato Brasileiro, which qualified them to the 2009 edition of the Copa Libertadores.

In 2009 Palmeiras were close to the Brazilian championship, but political problems inside the club caused internal turmoil and affected on-field performances, and Palmeiras finished the League in the 5th position.

Arena Palestra Itália

The year 2008 marked the beginning of the planning phase for a new stadium
Arena Palestra Itália
Arena Palestra Itália, located in São Paulo, Brazil, will be the home football stadium of Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras. It was also known as Parque Antárctica after Companhia Antarctica de Bebidas, a beverages company from which Palmeiras acquired the property in 1920...

 for the club, as well as remodeling the social club, to prepare Palmeiras for both the centenary of the club, and the World Cup, in 2014. The planned arena will seat 42,000 fans or 60,000 people at events like concerts, and will consist of fully covered spectator seating. It is planned to open in 2012. In 2008 Palmeiras once again won the Campeonato Paulista and qualified for the Copa Libertadores.

Stadium

Palmeiras plays its home games at Estádio Palestra Itália. In the past its capacity was listed as 35,000 spectators. However, even though its grandstands were extended in the late 1990s, it currently only seats 27,640 people due to regulations which enforce safety and comfort. The venue is also known as Parque Antártica because the area was a park built by the Antarctica Paulista Company in the beginning of the last century, before being acquired by Palmeiras in 1920.

Local derbies against São Paulo are still played at home, while derbies against Corinthians are usually played in a larger stadium.

There are plans to rebuild the stadium. The project proposes the first FIFA ready stadium in South America, billed as a multipurpose events arena (for shows, seminars, meetings, parties, etc.). Capacity will be increased to 43,000 seats and 2,000 press staff for soccer games. Many other facilities will be in place, including: enhanced parking area, VIP area, 3 restaurant and bar, helicopter point, etc.

On July 9, 2010, Palmeiras played its last match in Palestra Itália against Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....

 in an international friendly, due to the construction of the new stadium, the Arena Palestra Itália
Arena Palestra Itália
Arena Palestra Itália, located in São Paulo, Brazil, will be the home football stadium of Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras. It was also known as Parque Antárctica after Companhia Antarctica de Bebidas, a beverages company from which Palmeiras acquired the property in 1920...

.

The Arena Palestra Itália will hold up to 45,000 seats and should be inaugurated in January 2013.

Club colors

Palmeiras' first kit consisted of green jerseys, white shorts and green socks. Palmeiras' first jersey was green with a horizontal white band, and a red and white Savoy cross as the crest. Palmeiras have played in blue shirts twice as a tribute to the Italian National Team. Their supporters are also well known for creating the mancha verde (green spot) of fog and smoke when Palmeiras is entering the pitch.

From 2007 to 2009 Palmeiras used a third jersey: a light yellow shirt with a dark green shorts and socks.

In 2010 Palmeiras the light yellow jersey became the second jersey, and started using a blue and white shirt, with white shorts, for their third jersey.

Supporters

Originally, Palmeiras was a club heavily supported by Brazilians of Italian descent. Over time, that distinction has reduced, and today the fan base is very diverse.

Palmeiras largest ultras
Ultras
Ultras are a type of sports fans renowned for their fanatical support and elaborate displays. They are predominantly European followers of football teams...

 groups are Mancha Alvi-Verde (in English: White and Green Stain – a green version of "Phantom Blot", the enemy of Mickey Mouse in a cartoon), TUP (which is the oldest ultra group), Acadêmicos da Savóia, Porks and others.

Rivalries

Palmeiras' biggest rival is Corinthians
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, commonly just known as Corinthians , is a Brazilian football club based in the city of São Paulo. They play in the São Paulo state league, as well as the Brasileirão, Brazil's top national league...

. The rivalry between the two clubs is considered one of the most intense in Brazil, and their matches are known as The Paulista Derby. São Paulo
São Paulo Futebol Clube
São Paulo Futebol Clube , commonly known as São Paulo, is a professional football club based in São Paulo, Brazil. They play in the Campeonato Paulista, São Paulo's state league, and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A or Brasileirão, Brazil's national league, and are one of the only five clubs to...

 is another local rival; the games between the two clubs are called the Choque-Rei
Choque-Rei
The Choque-Rei or Palmeiras and São Paulo football rivalry is the football match known among São Paulo clubs Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras and São Paulo Futebol Clube. Is the football rivalry between two very big, classic football clubs. The Derby dates from back from 1936. The tension between both...

 (King Clash). Palmeiras was featured heavily in the film O Casamento de Romeu e Julieta
O Casamento de Romeu e Julieta
O Casamento de Romeu e Julieta is a 2005 Brazilian film directed by Bruno Barreto and starring Brazilian actress and model Luana Piovani as well as Marco Ricca...

 where the rivalry between Palmeiras and Corinthians played a major role in the plot.

Official mascot

The club's official mascot is a green parrot
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...

.

During the late 1960s, fans of Palmeiras' biggest rivals Corinthians
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, commonly just known as Corinthians , is a Brazilian football club based in the city of São Paulo. They play in the São Paulo state league, as well as the Brasileirão, Brazil's top national league...

 would mockingly refer to the team as "Pig", (Espírito de Porco in Portuguese) and soon after, other teams followed.

In 1986, at the Campeonato Paulista playoffs, supporters adopted the pig like their mascot. Although the parrot is the official mascot, fans will refer to and yell: "PORCO!" (Pig) enthusiastically during matches, as the pig became their preferred mascot.

Anthem

Palmeiras' anthem was composed in 1949 by conductor Antonio Sergi. Sergi also wrote the lyrics for the anthem, but did that under the pseudonym Gennaro Rodrigues.

Quando surge o alviverde imponente

(When the imposing white-green emerges)

No gramado em que a luta o aguarda

(On the pitch where battle awaits)

Sabe bem o que vem pela frente

(Aware of what lies ahead)

Que a dureza do prélio não tarda

(That the hardness of the game is approaching)



E o Palmeiras no ardor da partida

(And Palmeiras, in the heat of the match)

Transformando a lealdade em padrão

(Making a pattern out of loyalty)

Sabe sempre levar de vencida

(Always knows how to emerge as the winner)

E mostrar que de fato é campeão

(And show that it's indeed the champion)



Defesa que ninguém passa

(Impenetrable defense)

Linha atacante de raça

(Vigorous attacking line)

Torcida que canta e vibra

(Singing, cheering supporters)



Por nosso alviverde inteiro

(For our white-green whole)

Que sabe ser brasileiro

(Who know how to be Brazilian)

Ostentando a sua fibra

(Boasting its fiber)

Current squad

Out on loan

Top scorers

These are Palmeiras's top scorers since its foundation (data as of 12 May 2006):
# Name Goals Years
1 Heitor
Ettore Marcelino Dominguez
Heitor, real name Ettore Marcelino Dominguez , was a Brazilian football player at the position of striker. He scored 327 goals for Palmeiras.-Honours:*Palmeiras...

284 1916–1931
2 César Maluco
César Augusto da Silva Lemos
César Augusto da Silva Lemos, usually called César Maluco or just César, is a former Brazilian footballer who was included in the 1974 FIFA World Cup squad of the Brazil national football team. He played for Palmeiras.-References:...

180 1967–1974
3 Ademir da Guia
Ademir da Guia
Ademir da Guia is a councilman for the city of São Paulo, Brazil. He was elected in 2004 for the legislative period 2005–2008....

153 1961–1977
4 Lima 149 1938–1954
5 Servílio 140 1963–1968
6 Evair
Evair Aparecido Paulino
Evair Aparecido Paulino is a retired Brazilian football player. During his career Evair played for several clubs, he is most famous for his time with Palmeiras and also his contributions to Vasco, when the club won Brazilian Série A in 1997...

127 1991–1994, 1999
7 Humberto
Humberto Tozzi
Humberto Barbosa Tozzi was a Brazilian international footballer who played for São Cristóvão, Palmeiras, Lazio and Fluminense. Tozzi represented Brazil at the 1954 FIFA World Cup.-External links:* *...

126 1953–1958, 1960–1961
8 Rodrigues
Francisco Rodrigues (Brazilian footballer)
Francisco Rodrigues was a Brazilian footballer.He played for the following clubs: Ypiranga-SP, Fluminense, Palmeiras, Botafogo, Juventus, Paulista and Rosario Central...

125 1950–1955
9 Luizinho
Luíz Mesquita de Oliveira
Luís Mesquita de Oliveira, best known as Luisinho, was an association footballer, one of the most valuable strikers of the 1930s....

123 1935–1941
10 Tupãzinho
José Ernâni da Rosa
Tupãzinho, real name José Ernâni da Rosa , was a Brazilian football player at the position of striker.-Honours:*Palmeiras**São Paulo State Championship: 1963, 1966...

122 1963–1968

Current staff

Position Name
Head Coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...

  Luiz Felipe Scolari
Luiz Felipe Scolari
Luiz Felipe Scolari , ComIH , also known as Felipão in Brazil and Phil Scolari in the United Kingdom, is a World Cup-winning Brazilian football manager. He is currently the manager of Palmeiras. He served as the manager of the Portuguese national team from July 12, 2003 to June 30, 2008...

Assistant Coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...

  Flávio Murtosa
Flávio Murtosa
Flávio Teixeira , known as Flávio Murtosa or simply Murtosa, is an Brazilian former footballer and now a manager...

Football Supervisor   Marcos Aurélio Galeano
Goalkeeping Coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...

  Carlos Pracidelli and Fernando Miranda
Fitness Coaches
Physical fitness
Physical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness...

 
  Anselmo Pereira Sbragia and José Omar Alves Feitosa
Club Doctors
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...

 
  Rubens Sampaio, Vinícius Martins and Otávio Vilhena
Physiotherapists
Physical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...

 
  José Rosan Júnior, Mário Galdi Peixoto and Joao Carlos Ferreira de Sousa
Masseurs
Massage
Massage is the manipulation of superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue to enhance function, aid in the healing process, and promote relaxation and well-being. The word comes from the French massage "friction of kneading", or from Arabic massa meaning "to touch, feel or handle"...

 
  Sérgio Luís, Miguel de Oliveira and Luiz Carlos

Presidents

The club associates congregate in a general assembly every four years to elect the seventy-six members of the Conselho Deliberativo (Deliberating Council) who in their turn chose amongst them a president for a two-year mandate. As of 2006 the president can only be re-elected once.

These are all Palmeiras presidents since the club's foundation,:
  EWLINE
Name Years
Ezequiel Simone 1914
Leonardo Pareto 1915
Augusto Vaccaro 1915
Ludovico Bacchiani 1916
Guido Farti 1917
Dulio Frugoli 1918
Valentino Sola 1918
Menotti Falchi 1919–1920
David Pichetti 1921–1922
Francisco De Vivo 1923–1924
Giuseppe Perrone 1925–1927
Eduardo Matarazzo 1928–1931
  EWLINE
Name Years
Dante Delmanto 1932–1934
Raphael Parisi 1934–1938
Ítalo Adami 1939–1940
Enrico de Martino 1939–1940
João Minervino 1939–1940
Ítalo Adami 1941–1944
Francisco Patti 1945–1946
Higino Pellegrini 1947–1948
Ferrúcio Sandoli 1949–1950
Mário Frugiuelle 1951–1952
Pascoal Walter Byron Giuliano 1953–1954
Mário Beni 1955–1958
Delfino Facchina 1959–1970
Paschoal Walter Byron Giuliano 1971–1976
  EWLINE
Name Years
Jordão Bruno Sacomani 1977–1978
Brício Pompeu Toledo 1977–1978
Delfino Facchina 1979–1980
Brício Pompeu Toledo 1981–1982
Paschoal Walter Byron Giuliano 1983–1984
Nélson Tadini Duque 1985–1988
Carlos Bernardo Facchina Nunes 1989–1992
Mustafá Contursi Goffar Majzoub 1993–2005
Afonso Della Monica Netto 2005–2009
Luiz Gonzaga de Mello Belluzzo 2009–2011
Arnaldo Tirone 2011–present

Achievements

In its history, the club has won 22 championships of the State of São Paulo and 5 Rio-São Paulo Tournament, but the most important titles have been 8 national league titles ( 4 Campeonato Brasileiros, 2 Torneios Roberto Gomes Pedrosa and 2 Taças Brasil), 2 national cups (1 Brazil Cup and 1 Brazilian Champion's Cup), 1 Libertadores Cup, 1 Mercosur Cup and 1 world tournament (1951 Copa Rio). Palmeiras is recognised as Brazil's most victorious club. In 1999, the Club was claimed by Federação Paulista de Futebol (Football Federation of São Paulo) 'Champion of The 20th Century' in Brazil.
International
  • Copa Rio
    Copa Rio
    Copa Rio may refer to:* Copa Rio - An international tournament held in Brazil.* Copa Rio - A tournament in which Rio de Janeiro's state teams take part....

Winners (1): 1951


  • Copa Libertadores
Winners (1) : 1999
Runners-up (3) : 1960, 1968, 2000


  • Copa Mercosul
Winners (1) : 1998
Runners-up (2) : 1999, 2000


National
  • Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
    Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
    The Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B...

    :
Winners (8): 1960
1960 Taça Brasil
The 1960 Taça Brasil is the 2nd edition of Taça Brasil . It began on September 6, 1960 and ended on Dezember 28, 1960.-Format:The competition is a single elimination knockout tournament featuring two-legged ties.-Teams:-Northern Zone:...

, 1967
1967 Taça Brasil
-Northeastern Group: 1. Treze 6 3 3 0 11- 6 9 2. CSA 6 2 3 1 11- 9 7 3. ABC 6 1 2 3 7-12 4 4. América-SE 6 1 2 3 8-10 4Final*Leônico 1-2 1-2 Treze-Northern Group:...

, 1967
1967 Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa
The 1969 Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa, commonly known as Robertão, was the 11th season of the Brazilian top-level of professional football and the inaugural of the Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa, which at the time was equivalent to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and recognized by CBF today as...

, 1969
1969 Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa
The 1969 Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa, commonly known as Robertão, was the 13th season of the Brazilian top-level of professional football and the 3rd of the Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa, which at the time was equivalent to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and recognized by CBF today as one...

, 1972, 1973, 1993, 1994
Runners-up (3): 1970
1970 Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa
The 1970 Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa, commonly known as Robertão, was the 14th season of the Brazilian top-level of professional football and the 4th and last season of the Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa, which at the time was equivalent to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and recognized by CBF...

, 1978, 1997


  • Copa do Brasil
    Copa do Brasil
    The Copa Kia do Brasil, commonly known as Copa do Brasil , is a knockout competition played by 64 association football teams, representing all 26 Brazilian states plus the Federal District...

Winners (1) : 1998
Runners-up (1) : 1996


  • Copa dos Campeões
    Copa dos Campeões
    Copa dos Campeões was a Brazilian football competition contested by the best teams from each one of the regional cups.The Copa dos Campeões winner was automatically qualified to following year's Copa Libertadores....

Winners (1) : 2000


  • Série B
    Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
    The Série B is the second division of Brazilian football. It is played by 20 teams. However, the competition format has changed almost every year since it first occurred, in 1971. In some years, it was not played altogether...

     (1): 2003


Inter-state
  • Torneio Rio-São Paulo
    Torneio Rio-São Paulo
    Torneio Rio – São Paulo was a traditional Brazilian football competition contested between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro teams until from 1935 until 2002....

     (5): 1933, 1951, 1965, 1993, 2000
  • Champion Cup Rio-São Paulo State Tournament (4): 1926, 1934, 1942, 1947


Regional
  • Campeonato Paulista
    Campeonato Paulista
    The Campeonato Paulista de Futebol Profissional da Primeira Divisão - Série A1, simply known as the Campeonato Paulista, is the top-flight professional football league in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. The league is contested between 20 clubs and typically lasts from January to April...

     (22): 1920, 1926, 1927, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1940, 1942, 1944, 1947, 1950, 1959, 1963, 1966, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2008
  • Campeonato Paulista Extra (2): 1926, 1938
  • São Paulo City Cup (4): 1945, 1946, 1950, 1951

Friendly

International
  • Ramón de Carranza Trophy
    Ramón de Carranza Trophy
    The Ramón de Carranza Trophy is a pre-season football tournament organised by Cádiz CF, in memory of its former president, Ramón de Carranza - after whom their stadium is named as well....

     (3): 1969, 1974, 1975
  • Brasil-Argentina Tournament (2): 1936, 1945
  • Mission Tournament (1): 1947
  • Mexico Tournament (1): 1959
  • Manizales City Tournament (1): 1962
  • Lima City Cup (1): 1962
  • Five Clubs Mexico Cup (1): 1963
  • Firenze Cup (1): 1963
  • João Havelange Four International Clubs Tournament (1): 1966
  • Brazil-Japan Cup (1):1967
  • Barcelona Cup (1): 1969
  • Greece Cup (1): 1970
  • Mar del Plata Tournament (1): 1972
  • Italian Imigration Cup (1): 1975
  • Kirin Cup
    Kirin Cup
    The Kirin Cup is an annual association football tournament sponsored in Japan by the Kirin Brewery Company. The host, Japan, is a participant in every edition. The tournament was founded in 1978 as an international club competition. From 1992 onwards the format was changed to a round robin national...

     (1): 1978*
  • Euro-America Cup (2): 1991, 1996
  • Nagoya Cup (1): 1994
  • Brazil-Italy Cup (1): 1994
  • Naranja Cup (1): 1997
  • Friendship Tournament (1): 1997
  • Lev Yashin Tournament (1): 1994
  • Estudiantes Century Championship (1): 2005


National
  • Rio-São Paulo Champions Cup (4): 1926, 1934, 1942, 1947
  • Porto Alegre Cup (1): 1936
  • Paraná Tournament (1): 1938
  • Fortaleza Tournament (1): 1938
  • Pacaembu Stadium Cup (1): 1940
  • Belo Horizonte Tournament (1): 1945
  • Rio Grande do Sul Tournament (1): 1964
  • Four Clubs Cup São PauloxRio (1): 1952
  • Recife Cup (1): 1955
  • Maringá Tournament (1): 1969
  • Paraná Four Clubs Cup (1): 1984
  • Goiás Tournament (1): 1997
  • Torneio Maria Quitéria (1 :1997
  • Taça dos Invictos (4): 1934, 1972, 1973, 1989

Youth competitions

  • Super Copa São Paulo de Juniores (1): 1995
  • Torneo Internazionale Under 19 Bellinzona (1): 2007

Palmeiras B Team

Palmeiras has a "second" team that plays the second division of the Paulista Championship (Série A2
Campeonato Paulista Série A2
Campeonato Paulista Série A2 is the second level of the São Paulo state professional football championship, one of the Brazilian state championships. This tournament is played by 20 teams, in which the four best teams are promoted to Série A1 and the four worst teams are relegated to Série...

). Palmeiras B is a second team to put young boys to train real competitions.

Other sports

Palmeiras has a victorious tradition in various sports, such as rink hockey and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...

. Leandro Barbosa
Leandro Barbosa
Leandro Mateus Barbosa is a Brazilian professional basketball player, who plays at the guard position with Flamengo Basketball in Brazil. He is also under contract with the National Basketball Association's Toronto Raptors, and is expected to return to that team once the 2011 NBA lockout ends...

 and Oscar Schmidt
Oscar Schmidt
Oscar Daniel Bezerra Schmidt is a retired Brazilian basketball player. He is also known as Oscar Schmidt Bezerra in Spain, where he played for Fórum Valladolid for the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons, and simply Oscar or Mão Santa in his homeland. At his peak, he was 2.05 m tall and weighed...

, two of the best Brazilian basketball players of all time, started their careers at Palmeiras.

Palmeiras has in it history 2 Brazilian Roller Hockey National Championship
Brazilian Roller Hockey National Championship
The Brazilian Roller Hockey National Championship is the biggest Roller Hockey Clubs Championship in Brazil.-Participated Teams in the last Season:...

s, being one of the main teams from São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...

.

External links

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