Cruzeiro Esporte Clube
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| Full name | Cruzeiro Esporte Clube | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | A Raposa (The Fox)[1] Os Celestes (The Celestials)[2] La Bestia Negra (The Dark Beast)[3][4] | |||
| Founded | 1921 as Sociedade Esportiva Palestra Itália | |||
| Ground | Mineirão Belo Horizonte | |||
| Capacity | 64,800[5][note 1] | |||
| President |  Zezé Perrella | |||
| Manager | Cuca | |||
| League | Campeonato Brasileiro Série A | |||
| 2009 | Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, 4th | |||
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Cruzeiro Esporte Clube (Portuguese pronunciation: [kruˈzɛrʊ ɛspoʁtʃɨ 'klub(ɨ)]) is a Brazilian football team, from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Founded on January 2, 1921 they are only one of three clubs to have participated in every edition of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. Cruzeiro has been Brazilian champions twice, domestic cup champions four times (a record shared with Gremio), and Mineiro champions 35 times. It is the only Brazilian team to have won the domestic triple crown of Brazilian football or treble, for winning the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the Copa do Brasil, and the Campeonato Mineiro in the same year, accomplishing this feat in 2003. Internationally they are the second most successful team in Brazil with seven international championships, including two Libertadores.[1]
Cruzeiro is a member of Clube dos 13, a group of the leading Brazilian clubs and is among FIFA's Classic Club. They play their home games at the Mineirão stadium[1]. Although the club's main focus is football, Cruzeiro also supports a long distance running[6] and a men's volleyball department [7]
History
Cruzeiro's history is traced back to the Italian community living in Belo Horizonte, a city where already some Italian immigrants lived[8] and their desire to set up a football club. Similar to the Italians of São Paulo (who founded Palestra Itália, now known as Palmeiras) the people of Belo Horizonte wanted the Italian colonies in Minas Gerais to have its own club as well.[9]
The idea of the club being created took a big step when Yale, a sports team from the city went though an administrative crises. When some players left Yale over a dispute (Yale, which itself had connections to the Italian community), some went on to found the all Italian, Sociedade Esportiva Palestra Itália of Belo Horizonte.[10][11] On January 2, 1921, about 72 Italians had appeared for the foundation of the Sociedade Esportiva Palestra Itália, (Italian: Societá Sportiva Palestra Itália). The adopted colors were the same as of the Italian flag: green, red, and white. The first uniform of the club was a green jersey, white shorts and red stockings. On the club’s shield, in the form of a rhombus, were the initials SSPI[12][13]. Until 1925 the club would only allow Italians men to participate.[9]
Palestra debuted in the Prado Mineiro Stadium with a 2–0 win in a friendly on April 3, 1921, against a combination from Nova Lima. The Nova Lima team united players from two teams from the city: Villa Nova, and Palmeiras, another team form Nova Lima[14]. However the first official match of Palestra was in a 3–0 win over future archrivals Clube Atlético Mineiro.[15]
On January 1942, Brazil entered World War II[16] and a decree of the federal government forbade the use of terms from enemy nations in entities, institutions, establishments, etc. With this, the Italian name was removed and the club could no longer call themselves Palestra Italia. The name was changed to Sociedade Esportiva Palestra Mineiro. The new name did not last long and was changed to Ypiranga by club president Ennes Cyro Poni. But because Ennes Cyro Poni did not consult any of the clubs directors before changing the club’s name and because the club lost on their debut, the name only lasted one game. In a meeting between the club’s directors, the name Cruzeiro Esporte Clube was approved. Cruzeiro is the constellation of the Southern Cross, and can only be seen from the southern hemisphere, therefore not related to Italy. The club’s colors changed to a blue shirt and blue stockings, and white shorts.[12] Only, however, in November 1942, did Cruzeiro Esporte Clube play it’s first official game under its new name. The game happened on November 11, 1942, against América. Cruzeiro won 1–0.[17]
With the inauguration of the Mineirão in 1965, Cruzeiro entered one of the most successful periods in its history. A period in which the club won five Campeonato Mineiro titles in a row, and went on to conquer its first national title, the 1968 Taça Brasil (the highest honor in Brazilian football at that time) beating Santos of Pelé in the final. Cruzeiro won the first leg 6–2 at the Mineirão and the second leg 3–2 in São Paulo[12][17]. In the 1974 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Cruzeiro were runner-up for the first time, after losing to Vasco in the finals. Later in 1975, Cruzeiro were runner-up in the Campeonato Brasileiro once again, this time losing to Internacional. In 1976, Cruzeiro won its first Copa Libertadores de América, over River Plate of Argentina. Cruzeiro went on to be runner-up of the same competition in 1977, being defeated in the finals by Boca Juniors also of Argentina. After winning the 1976 Copa Libertadores, they participated in the 1976 Intercontinental Cup, now renamed as the FIFA Club World Championship, for the first time and tied Bayern Munich 0–0 at the Mineirão, but lost 2–0 to Bayern in the Olympiastadion.[12][17]
After tasting success in the 1960s and 1970s, Cruzeiro entered a dark period in the 1980s. With the exception of a couple of Campeonato Mineiro wins, the club won no other championships in the 1980s and had its worst performances in the Campeonato Brasileiro, 33rd in 1984 and 29th in 1985[18]. The 1980s was the only decade Cruzeiro did not participate once in the Copa Libertadores, since the tournament’s creation in 1960.[19]
In the 1990’s a new era began and a 15 year sequence of at least one title per year initiated. This included six of the clubs seven international championships and its only Campeonato Brasileiro (2003).[20][12][17]. The club’s biggest exploit in the 21st century happened when it won the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. With 100 points earned during the season, and just over 100 goals scored in 46 matches, it was one of the most successful campaigns ever by a club in a Brazilian championship. In 2003, besides winning the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Cruzeiro also won the Copa do Brasil and the Campeonato Mineiro to become the first Brazilian team to win the triple crown.[21][20][12][17]
Since 2003 Cruzeiro have only won one major tournament (four times): the Campeonato Mineiro (2004, 2006, 2008, 2009). However the club finished in the top five of the Campeonato Brasileiro in 2007, 2008 and 2009, guaranteeing a spot in the Copa Libertadores all three years. Cruzeiro's biggest success in recent years was reaching the finals of the 2009 Copa Libertadores, however, they losing to Estudiantes de La Plata 2–1.[22]
Symbols and Culture
Crest
The evolution of Cruzeiro’s crest has followed the transformation of their uniforms. The club was born as Societá Sportiva Palestra Itália and so the crest was a rhombus with the initials SSPI. In 1943 however in a game against São Cristóvão, the club started to use a new crest which was a blue circle with five white stars in it, symbolizing the Southern Cross. Cruzeiro used this crest on their jerseys, alternatively switching to loose stars on the shirt many times. As in 2004 the crest has been on the shirts rather than just loose stars. They also changed their crest from just a circle with five stars to having CRUZEIRO ESPORTE CLUBE being written around it. Lately they have been adding features to the crest, like in 2003 when the it had two trophies on its sides, representing two Libertadores conquers. In 2005 they added a crown to the crest along with the two trophies, representing the triple crown title of 2003. In 2006 they dropped the two trophies and just kept the crown on top. The crown is now a part of the official crest of the club, not just a temporary addition, as it was until 2006.
Anthem
See also: Jadir Ambrósio
The club's anthem, Hino ao Campeão, was written by Jadir Ambrósio in 1966, in homage to the team of his heart. He never meant for it to become the official anthem, but once fans started hearing it they liked it enough to adapt it as the new anthem. Cruzeiro have also had another anthem that was originally written by Arrigo Buzzacchi and Tolentino Miraglia when the club was still Italian, (-1925), and when it was still called the Palestra Itália. The anthem was published in newspapers in Brazil on May 5, 1922 it was called Hino ao Palestra.
Uniforms
As Palestra Italia, in the past, the team wore a plain green shirt. Later on, the club started wearing horizontal stripes colored wide red and green and thin white lines instead.
As the club changed names to Cruzeiro, it started wearing a horizontal striped blue & white kit. Traditionally, the crest is not worn on the kit, as the Southern Cross is proudly sported in the left side of the chest. Usually, the kit number three bears the clubs round crest instead of the cross.
In recent history, Cruzeiro home uniforms are blue shirts with white shorts, while the away kit has white shirt and blue shorts. The variation of the colour of the socks is constant, but traditionally, they follow the shirt color, instead of the shorts colours.
Third kits are launched each year but the colours don't vary much, since it's an internal rule that Cruzeiro kit can only be mainly blue or white.
Kit Suppliers and Sponsors
From 2009 to 2012, Reebok will provide Cruzeiro with uniforms. Since 1998, the team has offered two spaces in their shirts, and in 2010, for the first time, the team is offering three sponsorship spots, with the Premium spot (Front and Upper Back) being occupied by the BMG Bank; the Master spot (Sleeves) used by electronic stores Ricardo Eletro and a Standard spot (Lower back) yet to be defined.
| Year | Official Kit Suppliers | Master Sponsors | Premium Sponsors | Standard Sponsors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Topper | Medradão | ||
| 1985 | Topper | Frigorifico Perrella | ||
| 1986 | Adidas | BDMG | ||
| 1987 | Adidas | |||
| 1988 | Adidas | |||
| 1989 | Adidas | Coca-Cola | ||
| 1990 | Finta | Coca-Cola | ||
| 1991 | Finta | Coca-Cola | ||
| 1992 | Finta | Coca-Cola | ||
| 1993 | Finta | Coca-Cola | ||
| 1994 | Finta | Coca-Cola | ||
| 1995 | Finta | Coca-Cola | ||
| 1996 | Finta | Energil C | ||
| 1997 | Rhumell | Energil C | ||
| 1998 | Rhumell, Topper | Energil C | Gelmax, Telebingão Campeão | |
| 1999 | Topper | Energil C | Gelmax, Telebingão Campeão | |
| 2000 | Topper | FIAT | Ceras Grand Prix | |
| 2001 | Topper | FIAT | Ceras Grand Prix, Lousano | |
| 2002 | Topper | FIAT | Lousano | |
| 2003 | Topper | FIAT | Lousano | |
| 2004 | Topper | Siemens | ||
| 2005 | Topper | Siemens | ||
| 2006 | Puma | Xerox | ||
| 2007 | Puma | Xerox, Construtora Tenda | Aethra | |
| 2008 | Puma | Construtora Tenda | FIAT | |
| 2009 | Reebok | Banco Bonsucesso | ||
| 2010 | Reebok | Banco BMG | Ricardo Eletro | Questão de Estilo Jeans |
Mascot
Fernando Pieruccetti, more popularly known as Mangabeira, created the club's mascot. The mascot is a fox (raposa, in Portuguese). The club is widely known in the country for their mascot, it appears on TV and on websites that have to do with Cruzeiro.
Mangabeira was inspired by the clubs' ex-president, Mario Grossa, celebrity known for being very smart and cunning, and he thought the fox was perfect. "He was a guy who never let anyone trick him. He was so sly, crafty, intelligent and clever just like a fox", observed the cartoonist.
In the 2000s, Cruzeiro has made the Raposão (the big fox), it's biggest mascot, appearing at all home games and cheering with the crowd while wearing the club's colours.
Structure
In less than 100 years Cruzeiro E.C. is one of the clubs with the best structures in Brazil, structures for club partners, as much as for athletes. For they make use of two training centers (Toca da Raposa I, for youth squad and development, and the Toca da Raposa II for professional player development). Cruzeiro also has three other club structures, an administrative head quarters (Sede Administrativa) and two sporting complexes, (Sede Urbana and Sede Campestre).
Presidents
| Name | Nat | Presidintial Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Aurélio Noce | |
1921–1922 |
| Alberto Noce | |
1923–1924 |
| Américo Gasparini | |
1925–1926 & 1928 |
| Antonio Falci | |
1927&1929–1930 |
| Braz Pelegrino | |
1927–1928 |
| Lidio Lunardi | |
1931–1932 |
| José Viana de Souza | |
1933 |
| Miguel Perrela | |
1933–1936 |
| Romeo de Paoli | |
1936 |
| Osvaldo Pinto Coelho | |
1936–1940 |
| Ennes Cyro Poni | |
1941–1942 |
| João Fantoni, Wilson Saliba, Mario Torneli | |
1942 |
| Mário Grosso | |
1942–1947 |
| Fernando Tamietti | |
1947 & 1950 |
| Antônio Cunha Lobo | |
1947–1949 |
| Antônio Alves Simões | |
1949 |
| Manoel F. Campos | |
1950 |
| Divino Ramos | |
1951 |
| José Greco | |
1952–1953 & 1955 |
| Wellington Armanelli | |
1954 |
| José Francisco Lemos Filho | |
1954 |
| Eduardo S. Bambirra | |
1955–1956 |
| Manoel A. de Carvalho | |
1957–1958 |
| Antonio Braz Lopes Pontes | |
1959–1960 |
| Felicio Brandi | |
1961–1982 |
| Carmine Furletti | |
1983–1984 |
| Benito Masci | |
1985–1990 |
| Salvador Masci | |
1990 |
| César Masci | |
1991–1994 |
| José Perrella de Oliveira Costa | |
1995–2002 |
| Alvimar de Oliveira Costa | |
2003–2008 |
| José Perrella de Oliveira Costa | |
2009–2011 |
Current squad
- As of July 5th, 2010.
Jersey numbers to be used in Copa Libertadores games.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Junior players with first team experience
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable players
Notable managers
Vanderlei Luxemburgo (won the triple crown in 2003)- Levir Culpi (won the Copa do Brasil in 1996)
- Luiz Felipe Scolari (left to manage the national team in 2001)
- Paulo Autuori de Mello (won the Copa Libertadores de América in 1997)
- Adílson Batista (current manager, coached the team for a record 40 matches (as of January 2010) in Copa Libertadores)
- Zezé Moreira (won the Copa Libertadores de América in 1976)
Records and statistics
The player with the most appearances for Cruzeiro is Zé Carlos with 619 appearances between 1965 and 1977.[23][24]. The goalkeeper with the most appearances for Cruzeiro is Raul Plassman, who played a total of 557 games for Cruzeiro[25]. Current goalkeeper Fabio is third on the list, with 307 games, as well as being the current player with the most appearances[26]. The non-Brazilian with the most appearances for the club is the Argentine Roberto Perfumo who made 138 appearances for the club between 1971 and 1974.[23]
Brazilian hall of famer Tostão has scored the most goals for Cruzeiro, 242 between 1963 and 1972[27]. Ninão holds the record for goals scored in a single match: 10 in Cruzeiro's 14 x 0 win over Alves Nogueira during Campeonato da Cidade on June 17, 1928[27]. Nelinho holds the record for most goals scored from penalties: 38; and the record for goals scored from fouls: 42[27]. Claudio Maldonado's 137 goals make him the non-Brazilian with the most goals for Cruzeiro.[27]
Honours
International
- Copa Libertadores de América (2): 1976, 1997
- Supercopa Sudamericana (2): 1991, 1992
- Recopa (1): 1998
- Copa Oro (1): 1995
- Supercopa Masters (1): 1995
CONMEBOL's Treble
Cruzeiro is one of eight teams to have won CONMEBOL's treble, having won the Copa Libertadores de América, Supercopa Sudamericana and the Recopa. (The others being Boca Juniors, Olimpia, São Paulo, Independiente, Vélez Sársfield, Internacional and LDU Quito).
Domestic
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (1): 2003
- Taça Brasil (1): 1966
- Copa do Brasil (4): 1993, 1996, 2000, 2003
The Triple Crown
Cruzeiro is the only team in Brazil to have achieved the National Triple Crown. In 2003, the team, managed by Vanderlei Luxemburgo and commanded by midfielder Alex, won all three competitions played, the National League, the National Cup and the Regional League, being the first and only Triple Crowned team ever.
Regional
- Copa Sul-Minas (2): 2001, 2002
- Copa Centro-Oeste (1): 1999
- Campeonato Mineiro (36): 1926, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1940, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1956, 1959,1960, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002[note 2], 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009
Friendly tournaments
- Copa Bimbo (1): 2009
Youth
- Dallas Cup (1): 2010
- Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20 (1): 2007
- Copa São Paulo de Juniores (1): 2007
- Taça Belo Horizonte de Juniores (5): 1985, 1993, 1995, 2001, 2004
- Copa Santiago de Futebol Juvenil (2): 2002, 2004
- Copa Macaé de Juvenis (2): 2007, 2008
- Copa Sub-17 de Promissão (3): 2004, 2005, 2006
Home Stadium
Cruzeiro plays their home games at Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto, or simply, Mineirão, at Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. The stadium is owned by the government and Cruzeiro shares it with fierce rivals Clube Atlético Mineiro. Cruzeiro had revealed plans to build a stadium of their own, but with the plans for the renewal of Mineirão for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the team board decided not to go through with those plans.
It is said that Mineirão had held 132,834 people in 1997 in the match between Cruzeiro and Villa Nova in the final match of the state league, but in this match, women and children did not have to pay. The paying attendance was 74,857, and there were 56,618 women and children who entered for free. For safety reasons the capacity of Mineirão had been reduced for the majority of its 40 years of history. In 2004, by imposition of FIFA, the capacity of the stadium was reduced to less than 72,000 people.
To apply for FIFA's requirements and be used in the 2014 World Cup, the stadium will undergo reforms, to finish the ceiling above the audience and widen the parking lot.
Supporters
Notes
- ^ Sources vary on the stadiums actual capacity, however 64,800 was the number of tickets sold for the 2009 Copa Libertadores finals.
- ^ The 2002 Minas Gerais State Championship had no teams that were playing Copa Sul-Minas: América Mineiro, Atlético Mineiro, Cruzeiro, and Mamoré. These teams plus Caldense -- who won the State Championship -- played the Minas Gerais Super State Championship when the State Championship and the Copa Sul-Minas were finished. The tournament was dubbed the Minas Gerais Super State Championship and Cruzeiro became the champions.
References
- ^ a b c "Cruzeiro's climb to power". FIFA. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
- ^ "Diretoria celeste pede árbitro de elite para apitar clássico de domingo em Sete Lagoas" (in Portuguese). Cruzeiro Esporte Clube. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
- ^ "Cruzeiro encara sua "Bestia Negra", em jogo decisivo pela Libertadores" (in Portuguese). Globominas.com. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
- ^ "Cruzeiro-São Paulo... 'La Bestia Negra' espera repetir hazaña sobre 'Tricolor Paulista'" (in Spanish). Mediotiempo.com. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
- ^ "Ingressos para Cruzeiro e Estudiantes já estão esgotados" (in Portuguese). UOL Esporte. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
- ^ Long distance "Championships" (in Portuguese). Cruzeiro Esporte Clube. Retrieved 2006-06-06.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ "Sada Cruzeiro" (in Portuguese). Cruzeiro Esporte Clube. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- ^ "História da emigração em Minas Gerais" (in Portuguese). Federação dos Círculos Trentinos do Brasil. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
- ^ a b "História do Club" (in Portuguese). Cruzeiro Esporte Clube. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
- ^ "CRUZEIRO ESPORTE CLUBE" (in Portuguese). JB Online. Retrieved 2007-08-15.
- ^ "ESPECIAL: os 100 anos do futebol em Belo Horizonte" (in Portuguese). Esporte Esportivo. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
- ^ a b c d e f "HISTÓRIA" (in Portuguese). Máfia Azul. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
- ^ "Cruzeiro completa 86 anos de uma história gloriosa" (in Portuguese). O Globo Online. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
- ^ "Duas vezes os reis da América" (in Portuguese). GazetaEsportiva.net. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
- ^ "Atlético tem ampla vantagem em clássicos pelo Brasileiro" (in Portuguese). Goal.com. Retrieved 2007-08-17.
- ^ D. McCann, Frank. "Brazil and World War II: The Forgotten Ally. What did you do in the war, Zé Carioca?". Estudios Interdisciplinarios de América Latina y el Caribe (Tel Aviv University). Retrieved 2007-08-17.
- ^ a b c d e "O Palestra Itália" (in Portuguese). Cruzeiro Esporte Clube. Retrieved 2007-12-14.
- ^ "Campeonato Brasileiro (Brazilian Championship)". RSSSF. Retrieved 2007-12-24.
- ^ "Copa Libertadores de América". RSSSF. Retrieved 2007-12-24.
- ^ a b "Títulos" (in Portuguese). Cruzeiro Esporte Clube. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ^ "Cruzeiro é o campeão brasileiro de 2003" (in Portuguese). Gazet. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
- ^ "Libertadores: Cruzeiro perde para Estudiantes" (in Portuguese). O Globo. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ a b "Jogadores que mais atuaram no Cruzeiro" (in Portuguese). Blog do Cruzeiro. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ "Zé Carlos: o recordista em número de atuações" (in Portuguese). Guerreiro dos Gramados. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ "Fábio supera Dida e já é o 3º goleiro que mais atuou pelo Cruzeiro" (in Portuguese). UOL. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ "Fábio supera Dida e já é o 3º goleiro que mais atuou pelo Cruzeiro" (in Portuguese). UOL. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ a b c d "Os maiores artilheiros do Cruzeiro" (in Portuguese). Blog do Cruzeiro. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
External links
Official
- Template:Pt icon Official Website - Cruzeiro Esporte Clube
News
- Template:Pt icon GloboEsporte - Cruzeiro at GloboEsporte
- Template:Pt icon SuperEsportes - Cruzeiro at SuperEsportes
- Template:Pt icon Placar - Cruzeiro at Placar
- Template:Pt icon Lancenet - Cruzeiro at Lancenet
- Template:Pt icon UOL Esporte - Cruzeiro at UOL Esporte