Cruzeiro Esporte Clube
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Cruzeiro is a Brazilian football team from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, founded on January 2, 1921. It has the second largest number of fans among the state's 17 million (approx.) inhabitants[1] (http://placar.abril.com.br/aberto/rankings/torcidas/sudeste.shtml), and also counts with fans spread all-over the country.
Established for sportsmen of the Italian colony of Belo Horizonte with the name of Societá Sportiva Palestra Itália. The adopted colors, as it could not leave of being, had been the same ones of the Italian flag: green, red and white. The first uniform of the club was green shirt, white shimstock and red stockings. The club was restricted only the participation of elements of the colony until the year of 1925, when it opened the doors for sportsmen of any nationality.
In January of 1942, Brazil entered in the WW-II and a decree law of the federal government hindered the use of terms from enemy nations in entities, institutions, establishments, etc. With this, the Italian name was removed and the direction and the partners of the club took 10 months to create a name and a new symbol for the club that was entirely Brazilian. In October, a consensus of the directors approved the name Cruzeiro Esporte Clube. Cruzeiro is a constellation of the Southern Cross, and can only be seen from the southern hemisphere, therefore, not related to Italy. The uniform also switched to blue shirt, shimstock and white stockings.
Among the top Brazilian football clubs, Cruzeiro has an impressive list of titles that can only be compared to a few others in Brazil. It is undoubtedly the most successful club in present-day Minas Gerais, although its rivals had their golden years in the past. America - MG won ten state tournamenst in a row, but for more than half a century has not been able to accomplish much more. Clube Atlético Mineiro, known only as Atletico, won the Brazilian League in 1971, but since then have only won state and lower-level tournaments. Meanwhile, Cruzeiro has won Copa Libertadores, South America's most important competition in 1976 and 1997. It also won Copa do Brasil (Brazilian Cup) four times over the last 13 years, and Taca Brasil in 1966, the only national level tournament at the time. Cruzeiro has also dominated the state league since the 1990's , which it won 32 times during its existence.
For years Cruzeiro struggled to win the Brazilian League, without success. After a few second places, in 2003 it was finally able to win the only title it did not have untill then. The most successful Brazilian club during the 1990's, it provided its fans the last accomplishment it had not achieved with a superb participation in 2003. With 100 points won during the season, and just over 100 goals scored, it will be a long time untill another club achieve the same success as Cruzeiro did in 2003.
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Relevant Titles
Cruzeiro_libertadores_gotardo.jpg
Intenacional titles
1976, 1997 - Copa Libertadores;
1991, 1992 - Supercopa Sudamericana (tournament disputed by Copa Libertadores champions).
1999 - Recopa
1995 - Copa Oro
1995 - Masters of Supercopa
National titles
2003 - Brazilian League;
1966 - Taça Brasil;
1993, 1996, 2000, 2003 - Brazilian Cup;
2001, 2002 - Copa Sul Minas
1999 - Copa Centro Oeste
Some Famous Players
Tostao_cruzeiro.jpg
Alex - currently in Fenerbahçe;
Brito - defender, 1970 World Cup Champion;
Dida - 2002 World Cup Champion, currently in Milan, goalkeeper;
Dirceu Lopes - scored 224 goals and 594 matches for Cruzeiro;
Edmundo - know as "The Animal", played the 1998 World Cup Final for Brazil;
Jairzinho - 1970 World Cup Champion;
Juan Pablo Sorín - 2002 World Cup;
Nelinho - 1978 World Cup;
Rivaldo - 2002 World Cup Champion, currently in Olympiacos;
Ronaldo - currently in Real Madrid, 1994 and 2002 World Cup Champion;
Toninho Cerezo - 1978 and 1982 World Cups, won two times the Intercontinental Cup playing for São Paulo
Tostão - 1970 World Cup Champion;
Wilson Piazza - 1970 World Cup Champion.
Some Famous Coaches
Luiz Felipe Scolari - 2002 World Cup Champion coaching Brazil, now he´s Portugal team´s coach;
Vanderlei Luxemburgo - former Brazilian National Team Coach and newest Real Madrid´s coach.
External links
Official Web Site (http://www.cruzeiro.com.br)
Template:Campeonato Brasileiro Série Apt:Cruzeiro Esporte Clube