Clube Atlético Mineiro

Clube Atlético Mineiro, better known as Atlético Mineiro or simply Galo (Portuguese for "Rooster"), is a powerhouse of Brazilian football based in Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais state. Founded on March 25, 1908, by twenty-two students, the club embraced inclusivity from the start, welcoming players from all social classes despite its upper-class origins. The rooster mascot, introduced in the 1930s, became so iconic that it now serves as the team's primary nickname. The team's traditional kit features black-and-white vertical stripes, black shorts, and white socks.

At the state level, Atlético dominates the Campeonato Mineiro with a record 50 titles. Nationally, it has won the Campeonato Brasileiro three times (1937, 1971, 2021) and finished runner-up five times. The club also boasts two Copa do Brasil trophies, along with single wins in the Supercopa do Brasil and Copa dos Campeões Brasileiros. On the international stage, Atlético captured the Copa Libertadores and Recopa Sudamericana once each, and holds a record two Copa CONMEBOL titles. The team has appeared in three other continental finals. Beyond football, Atlético fields successful teams in other sports, notably futsal.

Home matches are played at Arena MRV, a modern stadium with an operational capacity of over 46,000. Construction began on April 20, 2020, and the venue opened on April 15, 2023, hosting its first official match on August 27, 2023. The club's fierce local rivalry with Cruzeiro, known as the Clássico Mineiro, is one of Brazil's most intense. Atlético also has rivalries with América Mineiro and, inter-state, with Flamengo. As of 2025, Atlético ranks as Brazil's fourth most valuable brand at R$3.373 billion (€516.74 million). It draws the eighth-largest football crowds in the country and generated R$657 million (€100.6 million) in revenue in 2024. On November 1, 2023, Galo Holding acquired a 75% controlling stake in the club's SAF (Sociedade Anônima do Futebol), with investors paying 913 million reais, a third of which went to paying down debts.[edit]

Atlético Mineiro was founded on March 25, 1908, by a group of twenty-two students from Belo Horizonte. The club quickly established itself in local competitions, winning its first Campeonato Mineiro in 1915. The 1930s introduced the rooster mascot, which became synonymous with the club. In 1937, Atlético won the first official Brazilian national championship, the Taça Brasil, by defeating Rio Branco in the final.

The 1970s were a golden era. Under coach Yustrich, the team won the Brazilian Championship in 1971, led by stars like Reinaldo and Toninho Cerezo. Reinaldo, the club's all-time leading scorer with 255 goals, became a legend. The 1980s brought more state titles but national success remained elusive until the 1990s, when Atlético won the Copa CONMEBOL in 1992 and 1997.

The 21st century saw a resurgence. In 2013, under manager Cuca, Atlético won the Copa Libertadores for the first time, defeating Olimpia in the final. Ronaldinho Gaúcho, who joined in 2012, was instrumental. The following year, the club added the Recopa Sudamericana and its first Copa do Brasil. After a period of transition, the 2021 season was historic: Atlético won the Campeonato Brasileiro, the Copa do Brasil, and the Campeonato Mineiro in a treble, with Hulk as the star. In 2024, the club reached the Copa Libertadores final again but lost to Botafogo. The Arena MRV opened in 2023, giving the club a dedicated home for the first time.[edit]