Corinthians: 95 years of passion
[photo=trofeus.JPG id=104 align=right]Corinthians are São Paulo’s biggest team with an estimated 15 million supporters. Only Flamengo can boast of a larger fan base. Corinthians story begins when four workmen from the district of Bairro do Bom Retiro wanted to create a local football team. On September the 1st 1910 they met in order to find a name for their future club. The first proposal was Santos Dummont but it lacked originality, then they remembered an English club who had played in São Paulo and had impressed them, Corinthians.
From then on club meetings took place in the house of Miguel Bataglia, who became the clubs first president, but with an increasing number of people attending, they soon decided to continue these meetings at a local confectionery factory, which is regarded as the first registered office of the club.
In the beginning, the shirt of the Sporting Club Corinthians Pauliste was cream-coloured with a black band but through washing, the shirts colour faded. When it came to replacing them the clubs Directors chose to have a white shirt, replacing the beige.
The mascot of the club, a musketeer, was created in 1913 at the time of their entry into the League of São Paulo which led to the creation of the Association of São Paulo de Sports Athletic (Associação Paulista de Esportes Atléticos). Previously the division was made up of only three teams ‘the three musketeers’ so Corinthians became the fourth musketeer.
In 1914, the “Timão", nickname of the club which means “large team", won its first regional title. In 1919, the club plays at Chácara da Floresta. Three years later, the year of centenary of independence, Corinthians are crowned champions of Brazil after having gained the Paulista Championship and having beaten América F.C, which was the champion of Rio de Janeiro. At that time football is concentrated in the two capitals (Paulist and Carioca) and to beat the champion carioca came down to saying that you were champions of Brazil.
Between 1922 and 1924, Corinthians won the Paulista Championship before having four years drought which finished in 1928 when during the next three years the club remained champions Paulist. The Directors bought Parks São Jorge which was constructed for several years before finally being inaugurated on July 22, 1928.
For its first match at Parks São Jorge against Iparange, Corinthians ran away 8-0 winners. It is during this decade that the rivalry with Palestra Itália (Palmeiras) began. The supporters number increased dramatically in those years with the Corinthians called: Faithful (Gall). Timão will finish the Thirties with three titles of champions Paulista (37-38-39).
[photo=treino.JPG id=104 align=left]In April 1940, the club inaugurates another stadium which became the preferred destination of Timão, the Paulo Machado de Carvalho stadium, betetr known as the Pacaembu (district where the stage resides). These years will be among the worst in the history of the club which will win only one Paulista Championship into 41.
In 1950, after having finished fifth in the Paulista Championship, won by rivals Palmeiras, , the CBD (Brazilian Confederation of Sport) again organizes the tournament Rio-São Paulo, Corinthians finished winners in front of Botafogo. Two titles Paulista are followed from there (51-52) and a title of IV Centenary of the Foundation of São Paulo in 1954 as well as the tournament Rio-São Paulo 53 and 54.
The Sixties were not successful for the club winning only one tournament Rio-São Paulo in 1966 and some tournaments abroad, mainly due to the ‘Pelé’ factor at Santos. But in 1966 one of the largest players of the world signed for the Timão, admittedly at the end of his career but Mané Garrincha, 33 years old was still an idol, regarded as the hero of the people but his recurring knee problems and alcoholism restricted his abilities.
In 1976 came an incredible match between Fluminense and Corinthians for the semi-finals of the Brasileirão. More than 70.000 supporters Paulista in the Maracana to push their team to victory, ending with a pitch invasion by the Timão supporters. But unfortunately the adventure finished in the final against Internacional losing 2-0.
In 1978 Socrates ‘the Doctor’, arrived from Botafogo and went on to get two paulista medals 82/83 and 130 goals in 250 matches. He becomes one of the players who inseparable from the club like Rivelino in the Seventies with more than 150 goals.
The famous first victory of the Brasileirão title in 1990 was by followed by back to back titles in 98 and 99. Coached by Luxemburgo in 98, the Timão faced Cruzeiro and won 2-0 thanks to Edilson and the star Marcelinho Carioca. In 1999, coach Oswaldo de Oliveira had a fantastic team made up of Dida, Vampeta, Luizão, Ricardinho, Edilson and Marcelinho. The final was against Atlético-Mg but the title will be played over three meetings before Corinthians can win.
In addition to these three titles, Timão won three titles Paulista and Copa Brasil in 1995. They will undoubtedly be the most profitable years in titles for Timão becoming the so called “Champions of the Century" by the supporters.
The best was yet to come when at the first World Club Champiosnhip organized by FIFA in Brazil. Corinthians ran away winners against Vasco in overheated Maracanã, in front of 73.000 supporters. Dida was the hero of this final stopping Edmundo’s penalty, giving victory to the club.
Today the Timão is in a new era directed by powerful English group MSI represented by the Iranian businessman Kia Joorabchian. A new strategy, which seems to be succeeding with the club leading the Brazilian championship with Argentinian Carlos Tevez providing some outstanding performances. Success in Brazil may make it possible for Corinthians to win the illusive Copa Libertadores next season.
Recommended links:
The Santos card
The Corinthians pictures taken at the time of our travel to Brazil
