Club Athletico Paranaense

Club Athletico Paranaense, often shortened to Athletico Paranaense or simply CAP, is a Brazilian football club based in Curitiba, the capital of Paraná state. Founded on March 26, 1924, the club has grown into one of the most competitive forces in Brazilian football, frequently challenging the traditional powerhouses. While not part of the so-called Big 12, CAP is widely regarded as the strongest team outside that elite group, and at times has outperformed them in domestic and international competitions.

The club's trophy cabinet includes the 2001 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A title, a historic achievement that put them on the national map. On the international stage, they have won the Copa Sudamericana twice, in 2018 and 2021, making them the only team from Paraná to lift continental silverware. Domestically, they also captured the Copa do Brasil in 2019. In the Copa Libertadores, South America's premier club competition, Athletico Paranaense finished as runners-up in 2005 and again in 2022. The team plays its home matches at the Arena da Baixada, a modern stadium that hosted matches during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Known for a passionate fanbase and a shrewd administrative model, CAP has become a model of sustainability and success in Brazilian football.[edit]

Club Athletico Paranaense was founded on March 26, 1924, from the merger of two earlier clubs: International Foot-Ball Club and América Futebol Clube. The club initially played in blue and white but adopted red and black in 1927 after absorbing another local side, Palestra Itália. The nickname Furacão (Hurricane) dates to 1949, when a powerful state championship-winning team earned that moniker from the press.

The 2001 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A title was a watershed moment, as CAP became the first club from outside the Rio-São Paulo axis to win the national league. Coached by Paulo Autuori, the team featured stars like Alex Mineiro and Kléber Pereira. In 2005, they reached the Copa Libertadores final for the first time, losing to São Paulo. The club was renamed to Athletico Paranaense in 2014, dropping the 'h' from 'Athletico' to modernize its image.

The 2018 Copa Sudamericana victory, under Tiago Nunes, was the club's first international trophy. They defeated Junior de Barranquilla in the final on penalties. The following year, they won the Copa do Brasil, beating Internacional in the final. In 2021, they won a second Sudamericana, defeating Red Bull Bragantino 1-0 in the final. The 2022 season saw another Libertadores final appearance, this time losing to Flamengo. The club has also won the Campeonato Paranaense 26 times, most recently in 2023.[edit]