SE Palmeiras

With nine National Championships, three Brazilian Cups, and one Copa Libertadores, Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras is the most successful Brazilian club of all time. Due to its rich history and tradition, Palmeiras is also one of the most popular clubs in the country, with approximately 18 million supporters. The club is often recognized by its traditional green jerseys and their two mascots: a parakeet and a pig.

The first Palmerias (Palestra Italia) team to win Campeonato Paulista.

History

Foundation and early exploits

As the game of football was starting to take hold in Brazil, a group of young Italians decided to start their own club. The main idea was to form a club that would represent the Italian community. In 1914, 46 interested individuals formed the club under the name of Palestra Italia. They played their first official game in the city o Votorantim, beating Savoy 2-0. Two years later, they joined the official São Paulo State Championship.

In 1917, Palmeiras faced Corinthians for the first time, laying the foundation for one of the greatest rivalries in Brazilian football. Much to the chagrin of Corinthians fans, Palmeiras won the initial two games 3-0 and 3-1. Soon thereafter, the club moved to the Palestra Italia Stadium, which would be their home until 2010.

Team picture in 1933.

Name changes

In the midst of WW2, the Brazilian government decreed that football organizations were forbidden from using names related to the Axis powers. The club responded by changing its name to Palestra São Paulo, but that wasn’t enough to soothe the political pressure. During a heated meeting the night before the deciding State Championship game, Dr. Mario Minervino suggested the name Palmeiras, which was accepted by the board of directors.

The next day, Palmeiras players walked onto the pitch carrying the Brazilian flag. They were to play São Paulo Futebol Clube, who were reportedly laying claim to the Palestra Italia assets. With the score 3-1 in favor of Palmeiras and another penalty being whistled in their favor, the SPFC called its team off the field. In response, Palmeiras players began celebrating their title.

The Academy of Brazilian football

During the 60’s, Palmeiras became known as the Academy of Brazilian football. This generation was led by Ademir da Guia, a gifted playmaker with an eye for goal. After winning its first Brazilian Championship in 1960, Palmeiras established itself as the defining team of that era. By 1973, they claimed no less than five additional league titles. In 1977, Ademir retired from football as Palmeiras’ most capped player and the third best goalscorer of all time

This period of dominance was also recognized by the Brazilian Sports Federation, which decided to “borrow” the entire Palmeiras team for the grand opening of the Minerão Stadium. Representing Brazil in an official Inconfidência Cup match, Palmeiras defeated the Uruguayan national team 3-0.

Estádio Palestra Itália (a.k.a. Parque Antártica), home ground of Palmeiras for many years.

The Parmalat sponsorship

Following a significant title drought during the 80’s, Palmeiras supporters were getting quite desperate. However, the club’s fortunes changed after signing an 8-year sponsorship deal with Italian giant Parmalat. This led to Palmeiras becoming the richest club in the country, putting them in a great position throughout the 90’s.

Led by stars such as Marcos, Edmundo, Zinho, and Rivaldo, Palmeiras stormed their way to two Brazilian Championships (1993, 1994) and one Brazilian Cup (1998). This generation’s crowning achievement, however, was winning the 1999 Copa Libertadores. In the final match, Palmeiras defeated Deportivo Cali on penalties, fighting back from a 1-0 loss in the first leg.

Decline and Rise

Despite these great victories, the club neglected to prepare for the future. Not long after the Parmalat sponsorship ended in 2000, Palmeiras was relegated to the second division of Brazilian football for the first time in its history. However, they managed to win the league the very next year, immediately returning to the top echelon. In 2014, the club celebrated its centenary year by moving to the Allianz Parque stadium.

After winning two more Brazilian Cups, Palmeiras made another run at the league title in 2016. Led by Gabriel Jesus, the team put in a dominant performance, leading the league for 29 consecutive rounds. With a 1-0 victory over Chapecoense, they managed to secure the title before the final round.

By Martin Wahl

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociedade_Esportiva_Palmeiras
https://www.fifa.com/news/y=2008/m=6/news=palmeiras-the-green-giant-810777.html
Image source:
1. Unknown
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3. Leonef