Clube Atlético Mineiro
| Full name | Clube Atlético Mineiro | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nickname(s) | Galo (The Rooster) |
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| Founded | 25 March 1908 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Mineirão, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (Capacity: 75.000) |
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| Chairman |  Alexandre Kalil |
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| Manager | Leão |
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| League | Campeonato Brasileiro Série A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, 12th | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Clube Atlético Mineiro, usually known as Atlético, is a football club based in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Founded in March 25, 1908, Atlético is one of the most traditional clubs in Brazilian football. The first official match was played on March 21, 1909, against Sport Club Futebol. The team plays in black and white vertical striped shirts, black shorts and white socks.
The team is known nationwide as Galo, Portuguese for rooster, its mascot, and was the first official Brazilian Champion, in 1971. Other trophies include two CONMEBOL Cups (the precursor of the current Copa Sudamericana) and a record of 39 wins in the Minas Gerais State Championship. The club has spent its entire history in the top flight of Brazilian football except for one season, and it's the most stable team in national competitions, participating in 14 finals or semifinals in the Brazilian Championship.
Atlético has one of the biggest stadium crowd in Brazil. Galo plays its home games at the Mineirão stadium, which is shared with their local rivals Cruzeiro.
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History
Foundation and early wins
Clube Atlético Mineiro was founded on March 25, 1908 by 22 middle-class boys from Belo Horizonte.[1] The founding players were: Aleixanor Alves Pereira, Antônio Antunes Filho, Augusto Soares, Benjamin Moss Filho, Carlos Marciel, Eurico Catão, Horácio Machado, Hugo Francarolli, Humberto Moreira, João Barbosa Sobrinho, José Soares Alves, Júlio Menezes Melo, Leônidas Fulgêncio, Margival Mendes Leal, Mário Hermanson Lott, Mário Neves, Mário Toledo, Raul Fracarolli and Sinval Moreira. 3 other boys who were not in the founding meeting, but are considered as founders too are: Francisco Monteiro, Jorge Dias Pena and Mauro Brochado.[2]
The boys decided that the club's name would be Athletico Mineiro Foot Ball Club, and the kit would be a white shirt with a green horizontal strip on the chest. Soon after, they decided to change the kit to the black/white stripped shirt which is used nowadays.
Atlético's first match was against Sport Club Foot Ball, the biggest and oldest club in Belo Horizonte at the time. The match was played on March 21, 1909, and Atlético won 3-0. Furious, Sport's board demanded that Atlético play a rematch the following week to get revenge, to which Atlético agreed. Atlético won again, but this time the score was 4-0. From that day on, Atlético became a respected club in the city.
In 1913, the club officially changed its name from Athletico Mineiro Foot Ball Club to Clube Atlético Mineiro. The following year, in 1914, Atlético won its first championship, the Taça Bueno Brandão, a tournament between Atlético, América and Yale. In 1915, the club won the first Minas Gerais State Championship in history, which was organized by the Liga Mineira de Esportes Terrestres.
After 11 years without winning another championship, Atlético broke the record winning sequence of 10 State Championships won by América (MG) (from 1916 to 1925). From then on, Atlético's team consisted of 3 of the club's best players in history: Said, Jairo and Mário de Castro. They scored a combined total of 459 goals: 122 from Jairo, 142 from Said and 195 from Mário de Castro. In the 1930s, the club won the state championships of 1931, 1932, 1936, 1938 and 1939. In 1937, Atlético won the first national championship of its history: the Brazilian Champions Tournament, which included the champions of four states: Fluminense (Rio de Janeiro), Portuguesa (São Paulo), Rio Branco (Espírito Santo), and Atlético.
Atlético dominated the football scene of Minas Gerais State in the 1940s and 1950s, winning no less than 12 state championships between 1940 and 1960, including 5 championships in a row sequence, from 1952 to 1956. In 1950, Atlético accomplished one of the most celebrated achievements in its history by winning the symbolic title of Ice Champion, after a successful tour in Europe, where the team played against clubs like Schalke 04, Hamburger SV, and RSC Anderlecht.
The 1960s were known as the decade in which the Mineirão Stadium was built, but they were difficult times for the club. During this period, they only managed to win the state champions of 1962 and 1963. It was in the mid 1960s that the rivalry with Cruzeiro became strong, after the blue club won 5 state championships in a row (the first 5 championships of Mineirão era). In October 1969, Atlético beat the Brazilian National Team that would become champions of the 1970 FIFA World Cup by 2-1 at the Mineirão.
First Brazilian champions and Minas Gerais dominance
It was only in 1970 that Atlético won its first championship in Mineirão Stadium, breaking Cruzeiro's 5 titles sequence. In 1971, the club won the first Brazilian Championship in history; the club's biggest title ever. In 1976, Atlético won the State Championship again and also finished in third place in the 1976 Brazilian Championship. They also finished runners-up in the 1977 championship, despite not being defeated for the entire season. In 1978, Atlético won the Copa dos Campeões, a tournament between the past winners of the Brazilian Championship, defeating São Paulo Futebol Clube in the final.
The following decade, the 1980s, would be one of the best in Atlético's history. The club won the state championship 6 times in a row, from 1978 to 1983, winning also in 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1989. Atlético also had good performances in the Brazilian Championship, finishing runner-up in 1980 (when a consistent streak of defeats to Flamengo began), third placed in 1983, 1986 and in 1987 (after being defeated again by Flamengo on semifinals). It was in this decade too that the club saw some of the best players in history, like Reinaldo, Toninho Cerezo, Éder and João Leite.
Continental success, crisis and resurgence
In the 1990s, Atlético won the state championships in 1991, 1995 and in 1999 and had some good performances in Brazilian Championships, finishing runner-up in 1999, third placed in 1996 and fourth placed in 1994 and 1997. In 1992, Atlético won the CONMEBOL Cup, the club's first official international title, which was won again in 1997.
Financial situation turned worse in late 90's, with a scandal envolving the then Atlético's president Paulo Curi and, the 2000s did not start well for Atlético, as the club had suffered serious crisis. Atlético won only the state champioship in 2000, and was runner-up in 2001 and in 2004. In 2000, it reached the Copa libertadores quarter final, and was fourth placed in the Brazilian Championship in 2001. In 2004, Atlético almost got relegation to Série B. 2005 started disastrously, and was the worst year in its history; the club was relegated to Brazilian Second Division.
In 2006 the club won the Brazilian League Série B after a good campaign, qualifying to play the Brazilian League Série A in 2007. That year, Atlético won the Campeonato Mineiro again, defeating their rivals Cruzeiro in the final. After its promotion, the club managed to finish 8th in the Brasileirão, earning a spot at the Copa Sudamericana 2008.
Atlético currently has ties to D.C. United in the Major League Soccer and Queensland Roar in the Australian A-League.
Honours
Domestic
- Brazilian Championship
- Winners (1): 1971
- Runners-up (3): 1977, 1980, 1999
- State Championship of Minas Gerais
- Winners (39 - record): 1915, 1926, 1927, 1931, 1932, 1936, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1942, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1963, 1970, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2007.
- Brazilian Championship Série B
- Winners (1): 2006
- Copa dos Campeões Estaduais (Cup of State Champions)
- Winners (1): 1937
- Copa dos Campeões Brasileiros (Cup of Brazilian Champions)
- Winners (1): 1978
International
- CONMEBOL Cup
- Winners (2): 1992, 1997
- Runners-up (1): 1995
Futsal
- Brazilian Champions
- Winners (2): 1997, 1999
- Intercontinental Cup
- Winners (1): 1998
Performances in Brazilian Championship
- Atlético's performances in the Brazilian Championship year by year:
| Year | Position | Year | Position | Year | Position | Year | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 1st | 1981 | 14th | 1991 | 3rd | 2001 | 4th |
| 1972 | 11th | 1982 | 19th | 1992 | 13th | 2002 | 8th |
| 1973 | 11th | 1983 | 3rd | 1993 | 32nd | 2003 | 7th |
| 1974 | 7th | 1984 | 19th | 1994 | 4th | 2004 | 20th |
| 1975 | 19th | 1985 | 4th | 1995 | 7th | 2005 | 19th* |
| 1976 | 3rd | 1986 | 3rd | 1996 | 3rd | 2006 | 1st (Série B) ** |
| 1977 | 2nd | 1987 | 3rd | 1997 | 4th | 2007 | 8th |
| 1978 | 34th | 1988 | 10th | 1998 | 9th | 2008 | 12th |
| 1979 | 8th | 1989 | 8th | 1999 | 2nd | 2009 | |
| 1980 | 2nd | 1990 | 5th | 2000 | 24th | 2010 |
* Atlético was relegated to play the Brazilian League Série B in the next year.
** Atlético played and won the Brazilian League Série B, qualifying to play the Série A in 2007.
Players
Current squad
- As of August 23 2008.
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Notable players
Football
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Notable managers
Atlético Mineiro's most famous coach is Telê Santana.
The coaches with most matches in Atlético's history are:
- Telê Santana - 434
- Procópio Cardoso - 328
- Barbatana - 227
- Levir Culpi - 174
Ricardo Díez - 168
Supporters
Atlético's fan base is the biggest in the state of Minas Gerais, ahead of América and Cruzeiro.
Atlético's average attendances per year in Brazilian Championship:
| Year | Attendance | Year | Attendance | Year | Attendance | Year | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | - | 1981 | - | 1991 | 26,763 | 2001 | 30,679 |
| 1972 | 20,396 | 1982 | 26,693 | 1992 | 17,310 | 2002 | 22,248 |
| 1973 | 17,813 | 1983 | 39,249 | 1993 | 5,650 | 2003 | 14,034 |
| 1974 | 12,727 | 1984 | 21,199 | 1994 | 22,673 | 2004 | 10,222 |
| 1975 | 27,087 | 1985 | 29,668 | 1995 | 21,072 | 2005 | 21,889 |
| 1976 | 46,581 | 1986 | 36,150 | 1996 | 25,449 | 2006 | 31,922¹ |
| 1977 | 55,664 | 1987 | 34,879 | 1997 | 23,342 | 2007 | 17,145 |
| 1978 | 14,958 | 1988 | 8,330 | 1998 | 19,562 | 2008 | |
| 1979 | 18,965 | 1989 | 14,136 | 1999 | 42,322 | 2009 | |
| 1980 | 48,252 | 1990 | 26,748 | 2000 | 13,657 | 2010 |
¹ In 2006 Atletico played Serie B
Atlético is also the club which attracted the most people to Mineirão; as of 2002, 20,887,391 people in 1,011 matches. Even with 51 less games than the second placed Cruzeiro, Atlético brought 1,542,884 people more. These stats do not include derbies.
Some ultra groups are:
Galoucura, Galo Metal , Uniformizada (TUA), Esquadrão Atleticano, Netg@lo, Galosampa/SPCandangalo/DF, Gargalo, Dragões da FAO, Máfia Atleticana Organizada (MAO), Força Jovem Atleticana, Galo Prates, Galo Elite, Galodum, Super Força Viva, Galos de Porão, Medgalo, Eficigalo, Desempregalo, Movimento Galo 105'
Derbies
Atlético plays two derbies in Belo Horizonte City: Atlético vs. América and Atlético vs. Cruzeiro. Until the 1950s and early 1960s, the biggest derby of Minas Gerais State was Atlético vs América, but from the mid-1960s on, Atlético vs. Cruzeiro became the biggest.
The Atlético vs Cruzeiro derby has been played 450 times, with 185 wins for Atlético, 144 wins for Cruzeiro and 121 draws.
Atlético vs América has been played 376 times, with 186 wins for Atlético, 100 wins for América and 90 draws.
The Rooster (Galo)
The team's mascot, the rooster, is one of the most well-known mascots in the country. It was created in the 1940s by Fernando Pierucetti, a cartoonist for "A Folha de Minas" newspaper. He was designated to design a mascot for each of the three greatest clubs in Belo Horizonte. According to Pierucetti, the symbol of Atlético was the rooster because the team used to play with plenty of passion, and would never give up until the end of each match, just like roosters used in cockfights. Another reason is that the most popular hen breed raised in Brazil has mostly black-and-white feathers, thus making the rooster suitable.
Presidential History
- 1908-1910 - Margival Mendes Leal
- 1911 - Aleixanor Alves Pereira
- 1912-1913 - Jair Pinto dos Reis
- 1914 - João Luiz Morethzon
- 1915-1916 - Roberto Xavier Azevedo
- 1917 - Nilo Rosemburg
- 1918 (6 months) - Jorge Dias Pena
- 1919 (6 months) - Antônio Antunes
- 1920 - Alvaro Felicíssimo
- 1921-1922 - Alfredo Felicíssimo de Paula Furtado
- 1923 - Roberto Xavier de Azevedo
- 1924-1925 - Alfredo Furtado
- 1926-1930 - Leandro Castilho de Moura Costa
- 1931 - Anibal Matos
- 1932-1932 - Afonso Ferreira Paulino
- 1933-1938 - Tomáz Naves
- 1939 - Casildo Quintino dos Santos
- 1940 (5 months) - Sálvio Noronha
- 1940-1941 (2 months) - Hélio Soares de Moura
- 1942 - Olímpyo Mourão de Miranda
- 1943-1944 - Alberto Pinheiro
- 1945 - Edward Nogueira
- 1946-1949 - Gregoriano Canedo
- 1949 (3 months) - Geraldo Vasconcelos
- 1949 (6 months) - Osvaldo Silva
- 1950-1951 - José Cabral
- 1952-1953 - José Francisco de Paula Júnior
- 1954-1955 - Mário de Andrade Gomes
- 1956-1957 - José Francisco de Paula Júnior
- 1958-1959 - Nelson Campos
- 1960 - Antônio Álvares da Silva
- 1961 - Edgard Neves
- 1962-1963 - Fábio Fonseca e Silva
- 1964 (4 months) - José Ramos Filho
- 1964 (8 months) - Lauro Pires de Carvalho
- 1966-1967 (8 months) - Eduardo Catão Magalhães Pinto
- 1967 (4 months) - Fábio Fonseca e Silva
- 1968-1969 - Carlos Alberto de Vasconcellos Naves
- 1970-1973 - Nelson Campos
- 1973 (6 months) - Rubens Silveira
- 1974-1975 - Nelson Campos
- 1976-1979 - Walmir Pereira da Silva
- 1980-1985 - Elias Kalil
- 1986 - Marum
- 1986-1988 - Nelson Campos
- 1989-1994 - Afonso Araújo Paulino (Aníbal Goulart for some time)
- 1995-1998 - Paulo Curi
- 1999-2001 - Nélio Brant
- 2001-2003 - Ricardo Annes Guimarães (during the license of Nélio Brant)
- 2004-2006 - Ricardo Annes Guimarães
- 2007-2008 - Luiz Otávio Ziza Valadares
- 2008-present - Alexandre Kalil
References
- ↑ "Atlético Mineiro, 100 años de grandeza" (in Spanish). FIFA (2008-04-04). Retrieved on 2008-09-28.
- ↑ "Atlético: 100 anos honrando o nome de Minas" (in Portuguese). Gazeta Esportiva (2008-03-25). Retrieved on 2008-09-17.
External links
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Clube Atlético Mineiro
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| Preceded by First holders |
Champions 1971 |
Succeeded by Palmeiras |
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