São Paulo FC

São Paulo Futebol Clube is one of Brazil's most storied football institutions, based in the Morumbi district of São Paulo. The club plays in the Campeonato Paulista and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. Its home ground is the Estádio do Morumbi, a 67,052-seat multipurpose stadium that is the largest privately owned field in Brazil. São Paulo competes in a wide variety of sports beyond football, but it is best known for its on-field success. The club is part of the Big Twelve of Brazilian football and, alongside Boca Juniors, Peñarol, and Nacional, is South America's biggest worldwide champion with three world titles. It is also one of only two clubs never relegated from Brazil's top division, the other being Flamengo.

Founded in 1930 from a merger between Club Athletico Paulistano and Associação Atlética das Palmeiras, São Paulo adopted its iconic white kit with red and black horizontal stripes. The colors honor the parent clubs' primary hues and also represent the state of São Paulo. The club boasts over 22 million supporters, making it the third best-supported club in Brazil. Their fans, called são-paulinos, are often nicknamed the Torcida que conduz (Supporters who lead) for their role in maintaining the club's relevance in South American football. In 2023, São Paulo ranked fifth in Brazil with a market value of R$ 2.214 billion.

São Paulo is one of Brazil's most decorated clubs, with 44 official titles, including 23 state championships, 6 Campeonato Brasileiro titles, 1 Copa do Brasil, 1 Supercopa do Brasil, 3 Copa Libertadores titles, 1 Copa Sudamericana, 1 Supercopa Libertadores, 1 Copa CONMEBOL, 1 Copa Masters CONMEBOL, 2 Recopa Sudamericanas, 2 Intercontinental Cups, and 1 FIFA Club World Cup. It is the only Brazilian club to have won all available competitions, earning the nickname "Champions of All" after winning the 2024 Supercopa do Brasil. Notably, all five FIFA World Cups won by Brazil included at least one São Paulo player, a distinction shared only with local rivals Palmeiras.[edit]

The club's roots go back to two earlier sides. Club Athletico Paulistano, founded in 1900, was a powerhouse in early São Paulo football but withdrew from the league in 1929 after a dispute over professionalism. Meanwhile, Associação Atlética das Palmeiras (founded 1902) had already embraced the professional game. On January 25, 1930, the two merged to form São Paulo FC, inheriting Paulistano's red and Palmeiras' black. The new club's first match was a 5-1 win over Botafogo on March 16, 1930.

After a difficult first decade, São Paulo won its first Campeonato Paulista in 1943, led by striker Leônidas da Silva. The 1940s brought three more state titles. The club's first national title came in 1977, when they beat Atlético Mineiro in the Campeonato Brasileiro final. The 1980s saw a resurgence, with another Brazilian title in 1986 and the emergence of stars like Müller and Careca.

The golden era arrived under manager Telê Santana, who took over in 1990. Between 1991 and 1993, São Paulo won the Brazilian league, back-to-back Copa Libertadores titles, and two Intercontinental Cups, beating Barcelona and AC Milan. Telê's team played an attacking, fluid style that captivated fans worldwide. After Telê's health declined in 1996, the club went through a transitional period but remained competitive, winning the 2005 Copa Libertadores and FIFA Club World Cup with Rogério Ceni as captain.

Under Muricy Ramalho from 2006 to 2008, São Paulo won three consecutive Brazilian titles, a feat unmatched in the modern era. The club then endured a decade without major silverware until the 2021 Paulista title under Hernán Crespo. In 2023, Dorival Júnior led the team to the Copa do Brasil, beating Flamengo in the final. The following year, they added the Supercopa do Brasil, completing the set of all possible trophies.[edit]