Grêmio FBPA

Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, commonly known as Grêmio, is a Brazilian professional football club based in Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul. Founded on September 15, 1903, by businessman Cândido Dias da Silva and 32 others, many from the city's large German immigrant community, the club has grown into one of South America's most storied institutions. Grêmio currently competes in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Brazil's top division, and the Campeonato Gaúcho, the state league. The team's colors are blue, black, and white vertical stripes, earning them the nickname "Tricolor." Their home ground is Arena do Grêmio, a modern 55,000-seat stadium opened in 2013, replacing the historic Estádio Olímpico Monumental, which served the club from 1954 to 2012.[edit]

Grêmio was founded on September 15, 1903, when Cândido Dias da Silva, a local businessman, brought a football from a visiting English team and proposed creating a club. The founding members included 32 individuals, many from Porto Alegre's German community, and the club's first match was played in 1904. Grêmio quickly established itself in the nascent Rio Grande do Sul football scene, winning its first Campeonato Gaúcho in 1921. The club's first major national success came in 1981, winning the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. Two years later, Grêmio achieved its first international glory by winning the Copa Libertadores in 1983, followed by a victory over Hamburger SV in the Intercontinental Cup later that year, with Renato Gaúcho scoring the winning goal.

The 1990s brought further success: a second Brasileirão title in 1996 and three Copa do Brasil trophies (1994, 1997, 2001). In 1995, Grêmio won its second Copa Libertadores, defeating Atlético Nacional of Colombia in the final. The club also claimed the Recopa Sudamericana in 1996. After a period of relative decline in the early 2000s, Grêmio returned to prominence in 2016 by winning the Copa do Brasil, followed by a third Libertadores title in 2017 under coach Renato Gaúcho. That triumph included a memorable semifinal victory over Barcelona SC and a final win against Lanús. Grêmio added the 2018 Recopa Sudamericana to its collection. Domestically, the club has won the Campeonato Gaúcho over 40 times, with the most recent state title in 2024.[edit]