Vasco da Gama
Full nameClub de Regatas Vasco da Gama
Nickname(s)Cruzmaltino (from Maltese Cross)
Gigante da Colina (Giant of the Hill)
Camisas Negras (Black Shirts)
O Legítimo Clube do Povo (The Authentic People's Club)
Vascaínos or Cruzmaltinos (supporters)[1]
Founded21 August 1898 (1898-08-21)
GroundSão Januário
Maracanã
Capacity21,880[2]
78,838[3]
SAF Owner777 Partners (70%)
Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama (30%)
PresidentPedrinho
Head coachRamón Díaz
LeagueCampeonato Brasileiro Série A
Campeonato Carioca
2023
2023		Série A, 15th of 20
Carioca, 3rd of 12
WebsiteClub website

Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈklubi dʒi ʁeˈɡatɐz ˈvasku dɐ ˈɡɐ̃mɐ]; English: Vasco da Gama Club of Rowing), commonly referred to as Vasco da Gama or simply Vasco, is a sports club based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Although originally a rowing club and then a multi-sport club, Vasco is mostly known for its men's football team, which currently competes in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the top tier of the Brazilian football league system, and in the Campeonato Carioca, the top tier of the of Rio de Janeiro state football league system.[4]

Named after Vasco da Gama 400 years after his European–Asian sea route in 1498, the club was founded on 1898 as a rowing club by workers from Brazil, Portuguese Brazilians and Portuguese immigrants who had arrived more recently to the country.[5][6] Vasco created its football department in 1915, with professionalism adopted in 1933 – pioneer in Brazil.[7][8] In addition to its main departments of football and rowing, Vasco has other sports departments since the 1910s. Its youth academy, which has brought up international footballers such as Romário, Philippe Coutinho, Hilderaldo Bellini, Roberto Dinamite, and Edmundo, is well known for its socio-educational methodology.

Due to its history of diversity and mobilization, most notably the Resposta Histórica (Historical Response) document and crowdfunding to build the São Januário stadium in the 1920s, Vasco became a symbol of anti-racism and multiculturalism, hence the motto "Respeito, igualdade, inclusão" (Respect, equality, inclusion).[9] Although, Vasco is historically subject of controversy due to its own complex political and administrative disputes, which reflects in instability.

In national football, Vasco da Gama has won 4 Brasileirão, one Copa do Brasil, and 24 state titles. In international club football, the club has won one Copa Libertadores, one Copa Mercosur, and one South American Championship of Champions. The golden generation of Vasco da Gama, dubbed O Expresso da Vitória, won five state titles in the eight year span between 1945–1952, and led Vasco to become the first continental club champion ever with the 1948 South American Championship of Champions title. This team, which included Barbosa, Ademir, Friaça, Danilo Alvim, Augusto, and Chico, among others, is considered one of the greatest teams of its generation and all time.

With fans worldwide, Vasco da Gama is one of the most widely supported clubs in Brazil, the Rio de Janeiro state and the Americas. Vasco plays their home matches in São Januário stadium since its inauguration in 1927. Occasionally, the club also plays their home matches in Maracanã stadium since its inauguration in 1950. Vasco holds many long-standings rivalries with Flamengo, Fluminense and Botafogo. Originally from rowing in 1900s and extended to football in 1920s as O Clássico dos Milhões (the Derby of Millions), the Vasco–Flamengo rivalry is considered the main rivalry of Brazilian sports and one of the biggest football rivalries in South America and the world.

History

Foundation

In the late 19th century, rowing was the most important sport in Rio de Janeiro. At this time, four young men – Henrique Ferreira Monteiro, Luís Antônio Rodrigues, José Alexandre d'Avelar Rodrigues and Manuel Teixeira de Souza Júnior – who did not want to travel to Niterói to row with the boats of Gragoatá Club, decided to found a rowing club.

On 21 August 1898, in a room of the Sons of Talma Dramatic Society, 62 members (mostly Portuguese immigrants) formed Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama (Vasco da Gama Rowing Club). Inspired by the celebrations of the 4th centenary of the first sail from Europe to India, the founders named the club in honor of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama.[8] The club's colors were chosen as black and white; black was chosen as a representation of the unknown seas Vasco da Gama salied through, and white represented his victorious route. The first kit used these colors in a half and half combination, with the Order of Christ Cross in the center symbolizing the Christian faith just like in the sails of Gama's São Gabriel carrack. The emblem was created shortly after too; it was round with a sailboat bearing the Cross pattée.

On 26 November 1915, Vasco and Lusitania Sport Clube, another sports club founded by the local Portuguese community in Brazil and named after Lusitania which is often used as an alternative name for Portugal itself, merged, resulting in the creation of Vasco's footballing department. Beginning in the lower leagues, the club's first match was played on 3 May 1916; a 10–1 loss to Paladino FC.

1920s: Overcoming social & class inequality

During the 1920s, football in Brazil was a sport for the elites, and Vasco da Gama's racially diverse squad didn't appease them. Some players were required to take a literacy exam before putting on their boots.

Vasco won its first top-division title with the 1923 Campeonato Carioca, becoming champion with a team including whites, blacks and "mulatto" players of different social classes.

In 1924 Vasco da Gama was pressured by the Metropolitan League to ban some players who were not considered adequate to play in the aristocratic league, notably because they were black or mulato and/or poor. After Vasco refused to comply with such a ban, the other big teams, including Fluminense, Flamengo and Botafogo created the Metropolitan Athletic Association and prohibited Vasco from participating unless it complied with their racist demands.

As a result, The former President of Vasco, José Augusto Prestes, responded with a letter that became known as the Historic Response (Resposta Histórica),[10][11] which revolutionized the practice of sports in Brazil. After a few years, the racism barriers fell, and Vasco became known as "Clube de todas as raças" (Club of all races).[12] The club had led the move toward a more inclusive football culture, forward-thinking not employed by leaders from other Rio-based clubs like Fluminense, Flamengo and Botafogo.

Even though the club was not the first to field black players, it was the first one to win a league with them, which led to an outcry to ban "blue-collar workers" from playing in the league—a move that in practice meant barring blacks from playing.

In 1925 Vasco was readmitted into the "elite" league, with its black and mulatto players. By 1933, when football became professional in Brazil, most of the big clubs had black players.

On 21 April 1927, Vasco's Stadium was inaugurated with a match against Santos. Santos won the match 5–3.[13] On 26 April 1931, Vasco had a historic 7–0 victory over rivals Flamengo; this is the largest victory margin between the two clubs.[14]

Expresso da Vitória (1944–53)

Between 1944 and 1953, the club was nicknamed Expresso da Vitória (Victory Express), as Vasco won several competitions in that period, such as the Rio de Janeiro championship in 1945, 1947, 1949, 1950, and 1952, and the South American Club Championship, the world's first ever continental club tournament, in 1948. In 1953, Vasco da Gama won its first intercontinental trophy, the Torneio Intercontinental Octogonal Rivadavia Correa Meyer. Players such as Ademir de Menezes, Moacyr Barbosa, Bellini and Ipojucan starred in Vasco's colors during that period.[15]

The Super-Superchampions Generation (1956–59)

In 1956, the Vascaínos became Rio de Janeiro champions and Little World Cup runner-up, losing the title to Di Stefano's Real Madrid, which Vasco would beat in a friendly shortly after the end of the tournament, becoming the first non-European club to defeat a European Champion.[16] In 1957, this generation toured Europe and won 10 consecutive matches, including yet another victory against European champion Real Madrid (4–3) on 14 June, which sealed the Paris Tournament title - this match was the first ever, at a competitive level, between two continental champions. It also was the only international tournament Real didn't win between 1955 and 1960. Vasco would also beat Athletic Bilbao (champion of the Spanish League and Cup in the previous year) by winning the traditional Teresa Herrera Trophy with a 4–2 scoreline, and Barcelona (champion of the Spanish Cup a week earlier) inside Les Corts, with a historic scoreline of 2–7, the second worst defeat ever suffered at home by the Catalan team, and largest in international matches.[17] Benfica (Portuguese champion and Latin Cup runner-up) was also a victim of Vasco on this tour, losing to the Brazilian club with another impressive result, 5–2, in Lisbon on 30 June 1957.[18]

In early 1958, just before the World Cup, Vasco won the Rio-São Paulo Tournament, the most important championship in Brazil at the time, which in this edition included teams such as Santos of Pelé, Botafogo of Garrincha, Flamengo of Zagallo and Fluminense of Telê Santana. After this memorable title, three Vasco players had important parts in the campaign for the first Brazil World Cup title: Vavá (who scored five goals in the World Cup, including two in the final) and defenders Orlando and Bellini (the best defending pair of the tournament, Bellini was still the Brazilian captain). After the World Cup, the team then won the greatest Carioca Championship of all time. In an epic competition against Flamengo of Zagallo and Botafogo of Garrincha and Nilton Santos (it needed two extra tiebreaker tournaments to decide the champion), Vasco became the carioca "super-superchampion" of 1958.

In 1959, the team went on to beat great European teams like Italian champion Milan and Atletico de Madrid (European Cup semi-finalist on that year) in the Metropolitano. Vasco was also Rio-São Tournament runner-up this year, only behind Santos of Pelé. Still in 1959, five Vasco players were called up for the 1959 Copa America: Paulinho, Orlando, Bellini, Coronel (defenders) and Almir (striker). Brazil would end the tournament unbeaten (four wins and two draws) with the four aforementioned Vasco players almost always being included in the starting eleven. Despite the good campaign, Argentina would keep the title, after ending the tournament with an extra victory. Vasco, together with Botafogo, was the club that gave the most players to the Brazil national team in that period. Most football lovers think this Vasco was one of the best clubs of the world at the time, and maybe the best in 1957–58.[19]

1970s: First League Title

In the 1965 Campeonato Brasileiro, Vasco da Gama reached the league's final and were very close to winning its first league title, but lost to Pele's Santos 1–6 on aggregate. In 1970, under star players Roberto Dinamite and Edgardo Andrada, Vasco won the regional title for the first time in 12 years. In 1974, they won their first league title, with Roberto Dinamite as the top scorer. In addition, they became the first team from Rio to win the league. Cruzeiro and Vasco had ended the season with the same number of points, meaning that a second match had to be played; Vasco later beat Cruzeiro 2–1 and won the title.[20]

1997–2000: Second Golden era

After winning the Campeonato Brasileiro in 1997, beating Palmeiras in the final, Vasco started its Projeto Tóquio, and invested US$10 million to win the 1998 Copa Libertadores. Vasco da Gama won the Copa Libertadores in its Centenary Year, beating Barcelona of Ecuador in the finals 4–1 on aggregate, and 50 years after winning its first South American trophy (South American Championship of Champions).

By winning the Copa Libertadores title, Vasco da Gama faced the 1997–98 UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid at the 1998 Intercontinental Cup, in Tokyo, Japan, losing 2–1.

As a result of their Copa Libertadores title two years prior, Vasco entered the inaugural 2000 FIFA Club World Championship held in Brazil. They beat Manchester United of England, Necaxa of Mexico, and South Melbourne of Australia in the group stage to reach the final. It finished 0–0 after extra time in an all-Brazilian clash with Corinthians, but Vasco lost 3–4 in the penalty shootout.

Also in 2000, Vasco won the Copa Mercosur against Palmeiras in a historic match on 20 December 2000. Typically the finals are played over two legs, but a third match would be needed if a different team won each leg. This ended up being the case; Vasco had won the first leg 2–0, but Palmeiras won the second leg 1–0 six days later. Trailing 3–0 at the end of first-half, with Palmeiras scoring 2 goals in less than a minute, Vasco managed to score 3 goals to level the match at 3–3 with five minutes remaining, while playing with 10 men after Júnior Baiano got a red card in the 77th minute. In the 93rd minute, Romário scored a decisive goal and Vasco won the match 4–3.[21] The match is still considered one of the best games in Brazilian history.[22][23][24]

Vasco won the Copa João Havelange in 2000. Seen as a controversial competition organized by Clube dos 13 rather than CBF, Vasco played São Caetano in the finals. The club drew the first game 1–1 at Estádio Palestra Itália, and the second game was called off by Rio de Janeiro State Governor Anthony Garotinho in the first half because a fence collapsed at São Januário Stadium, which resulted in the injuries of many fans.[25][26][27] Despite the disaster, Vasco won the rescheduled second leg 3–1 at the Maracana to lift the trophy.

2001–2008: Decline

In the 2001 Copa Libertadores, Vasco became the first team to win all six group games, which included big victories (0–3 and 4–1), against Colombian champions América de Cali. In the round of 16, the club eliminated Deportes Concepción, but then suffered a 4–0 aggregate loss against eventual champions Boca Juniors, which was considered a disappointing elimination despite the high hopes that were set after their perfect group stage run.[28]

Shortly after the 2001 season, the club experienced a sharp decline, finishing 15th in 2002 and narrowly avoiding relegation in 2003 and 2004, although in 2005 they qualified for the 2006 Copa Sudamericana with a 12th-placed finish. Vasco's 2006 season was decent, finishing sixth in the league and gaining qualification for the following years Sudamericana, as well as reaching the Copa do Brasil final for the first time, losing to Flamengo.

2007 Vasco shirt

2008: First ever Relegation

The team finished the 2008 Série A in a disastrous 18th place and was relegated to the second division for the first time since its foundation after a 0–2 home loss against EC Vitória.[29] Until then, it had been one of only six clubs to have never been relegated from the first division, along with Cruzeiro, Flamengo, Santos and São Paulo. (The last two didn't participate in the 1979 Brazilian Championship, in order to avoid conflicts with Paulista Championship schedule.)

Vasco immediately secured their return to Serie A, sealing promotion to the 2010 Série A on 7 November 2009 with a 2–1 victory over Juventude in front of a Serie B-record 81,000 fans at Maracanã, and finishing as Serie B champions as well.[30]

2010–2012: Copa do Brasil title, Return to Copa Libertadores

In the 2010 league season, their first season back in the top flight since relegation, Vasco finished in 11th place, and qualified for the 2011 Copa Sudamericana. In the 2010 Copa do Brasil, the team reached the quarterfinals, being eliminated by Vitoria on away goals.

2011: The Redemption Year

Vasco beat Coritiba on away goals in the 2011 Copa do Brasil finals, and lifted the trophy for the first time in the club's history.[31] In the Série A, Vasco enjoyed an excellent campaign, finishing only 2 points behind Corinthians. A win on the last matchday would've given them the title, as Corinthians drew their match, but Flamengo held Vasco to a draw. The club also ended the year as semifinalists in the Copa Sudamericana, a competition that saw the club defeat Palmeiras, Aurora and Universitario in historic fashion before being eliminated by eventual champion Universidad de Chile on away goals. The season was dubbed as "Vasco's Redemption Year", with many lauding Vasco as one of Brazilian football's elite teams once again.

2012: Return to Copa Libertadores

Vasco's played their first final of 2012 in the Taca Guanabara, losing 1–3 to Fluminense after eliminating Flamengo in the semifinals. Two months later, they were playing a final again, this time losing to Botafogo in the Taca Rio, eliminating Flamengo in the semifinals again.

Vasco qualified for the 2012 Copa Libertadores as Brazilian Cup champion, marking a return to the top South American competition after 12 years. In the group stage, Vasco finished second tied with Libertad on points and only losing once. Vasco beat Lanús on penalties in the round of 16,[32] to set a quarterfinal matchup with Corinthians, who eliminated Vasco 1–0 with an 88th-minute goal by Paulinho.[33][34] In the Brazilian Championship, the team set the record for 54 consecutive rounds in the top 4 (continuing from the 2011 and 2012 seasons), although they ultimately finished in fifth and missed out on qualifying for the Libertadores the following year due to poor form, losing six of their last ten games.

2013–present

2013: Second-ever Relegation

After a good season in 2012, Vasco started their 2013 poorly and were hampered by financial issues. In the Taca Rio, the club had a terrible campaign and finished seventh of eight in the table. By the end of the year, the club had been relegated for the second time in 5 years and just the second time in their history, which was secured with a 5–1 defeat to Atletico Paranaense on the final matchday.[35] In the Copa do Brasil the team entered in the round of 16, beating Nacional and then being eliminated by Goiás on away goals, despite winning the second leg 3–2.

After one season in the Série B during 2014, the team gained promotion, and in May 2015, won the Campeonato Carioca after a 12-year drought. However, they were relegated again in the 2015 edition, placing eighteenth. In 2016, Vasco became back-to-back Carioca champions, and had a 34 match unbeaten streak, their longest in official games.[36] Once again, they were promoted after one season in the B-level league, and in the 2020 season they were relegated for the fourth time and, for the first time, spent two consecutive seasons in the second division as they failed to be promoted during the 2021 season, placing tenth.[37]

2022: 777 Partners

On 22 February 2022 it was announced that 777 Partners, a Miami-based private investment firm founded by Steven W. Pasko and Josh Wander, bought a controlling stake in Vasco da Gama. According to the terms of the deal, 777 Partners acquired a 70% stake in the club which was valued at approximately $330 million.[38]

On 6 November 2022, Vasco sealed their return to Série A, after a two-year absence.

Supporters

According to census and polls, Vasco da Gama is the second most supported club in Rio de Janeiro state, and varies between the third and fifth most supported club in Brazil, with an estimate of more than 15 million supporters in the country.[39][40][41] Vasco fans are very diverse stretching across social class lines, however the core of most Vasco support lies within the working class of the Northern Zone of Rio de Janeiro and Rio outskirt cities like Niterói. Vasco da Gama have significant support in other regions in Brazil, notably the Northeastern and North regions as well as strongholds in southern Minas Gerais, Espirito Santo and in Santa Catarina. Vasco also have a huge support in Distrito Federal; a study conducted by TV Globo concluded that Vasco were the second-most supported team in the city, behind Flamengo.[42] As of 29 June 2022, the club has 60,326 sócios in its membership program, having its peak in December 2019 with more than 178,000 memberships.[43] In April 2023, CNN carried out a survey that revealed that Vasco is the team with the most fans considered "fanatics" in the Southeast Region clubs and among the G-12 (Big Twelve), in addition to being the third in the country.[44][45]

Main torcidas organizadas
  • Força Jovem Vasco[46]
  • Guerreiros do Almirante
  • Ira Jovem
  • Torcida Organizada do Vasco
  • Rasta
  • Força Independente
  • Mancha Negra
  • Vasconha
  • União Vascaína
  • Super Jovem
  • Loucos pelo Vasco
Notable or public supporters

Other sports

Although best known as a football, rowing and swimming club, Vasco da Gama is actually a comprehensive sports club. Its basketball section, CR Vasco da Gama Basquete (three times Brazilian Champion and four times South-American Champion) produced former NBA player Nenê. The club is also the first Brazilian club to play against an NBA team, against San Antonio Spurs, in 1999, in the McDonald's Championship final. Its rowing team is one of the best of Brazil and of the continent, which swimmers regularly represent Brazil in international competitions. Vasco da Gama also has a four-times National Champion women's soccer team as well. Vasco's beach soccer team is one of the best in the world, being once World Champion, three times South-American Champion and many times National Champion. In addition to these, Vasco has many other sports with World, South American and Brazilian titles.

Players

First team squad

As of 13 January 2024[51]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Brazil BRA Léo Jardim
2 DF Uruguay URU José Luis Rodríguez
3 DF Brazil BRA Léo (vice-captain)
4 DF Brazil BRA Maicon
5 MF Brazil BRA Patrick de Lucca
6 DF Brazil BRA Lucas Piton
8 MF Brazil BRA Jair
10 MF France FRA Dimitri Payet
11 FW Brazil BRA Gabriel Pec
14 FW Argentina ARG Luca Orellano
16 FW Brazil BRA Erick Marcus
17 DF Chile CHI Gary Medel (captain)
18 MF Brazil BRA Paulinho
22 DF Argentina ARG Manuel Capasso
23 MF Brazil BRA Zé Gabriel
24 GK Brazil BRA Halls
No. Pos. Nation Player
25 MF Brazil BRA Marlon Gomes
31 FW Brazil BRA Rossi
32 DF Paraguay PAR Robert Rojas (on loan from River Plate)
35 DF Brazil BRA Miranda
38 DF Brazil BRA João Victor
44 DF Brazil BRA Zé Vitor
70 FW Brazil BRA Serginho
77 FW Brazil BRA Rayan
85 MF Brazil BRA Mateus Carvalho
88 MF Brazil BRA Cauan Barros
96 DF Brazil BRA Paulo Henrique
99 FW Argentina ARG Pablo Vegetti
— GK Brazil BRA Alexander
— GK Brazil BRA Pablo
— DF Brazil BRA Matheus Julião
— MF Brazil BRA Rodrigo

Youth academy

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
27 MF Brazil BRA Ray
29 DF Brazil BRA Paulinho
33 DF Brazil BRA Lyncon
No. Pos. Nation Player
42 FW Brazil BRA Paixão
99 FW Brazil BRA Gabriel

Other players

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK Brazil BRA Patrick
— MF Brazil BRA Marlon Santos

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK Brazil BRA Cadu (on loan at Bangu until 8 April 2024)
— DF Brazil BRA Riquelme (on loan at Sport Recife until 30 November 2024)
— DF Brazil BRA Ulisses (on loan at Nacional da Madeira until 30 June 2024)
— MF Brazil BRA Matheus Nunes (on loan at Santa Clara until 30 June 2024)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF Paraguay PAR Matías Galarza (on loan at Talleres until 31 December 2024)
— FW Brazil BRA Figueiredo (on loan at Coritiba until 30 November 2024)
— FW Brazil BRA Lucas Oliveira (on loan at Volta Redonda until 8 April 2024)
— FW Brazil BRA Vinícius Paiva (on loan at Sheriff Tiraspol until 30 June 2024)

Management and coaching staff

Position Name Nationality
Chairman Pedrinho  Brazilian
CEO (SAF) Lúcio Barbosa  Brazilian
Director of Football Alexandre Mattos  Brazilian
Technical Director
Head coach Ramón Díaz  Argentinian
Assistant coach Emiliano Díaz  Argentinian
Juan Romanazzi  Argentinian
Celso Martins  Brazilian
Fitness coach Diego Pereira  Brazilian
Marcelo Arouca  Brazilian
Goalkeeping coach Daniel Crizel  Brazilian
Mateus Famer  Brazilian
José Alberto  Brazilian
Scout Witor Bastos  Brazilian
Damián Paz  Argentinian
Eduardo Lung  Brazilian
Matheus Coelho  Brazilian
CFO Kátia dos Santos  Brazilian

Honours

Continental
Competitions Titles Seasons
Copa Libertadores 1 1998
South American Championship of Champions 1 1948[52]
Copa Mercosul 1s 2000
International
Competitions Titles Seasons
Torneio Octogonal Rivadavia Correa Meyer 1 1953
National
Competitions Titles Seasons
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 4 1974, 1989, 1997, 2000
Copa do Brasil 1 2011
Campeonato Brasileiro Série B 1 2009
Inter-state
Competitions Titles Seasons
Torneio Rio–São Paulo 3 1958, 1966, 1999
Torneio João Havelange 1 1993[53][54]
State
Competitions Titles Seasons
Campeonato Carioca Série A 24 1923, 1924, 1929, 1934, 1936, 1945, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1956, 1958, 1970, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2003, 2015, 2016
Copa Rio 2 1992, 1993
Taça Guanabara 13 1975, 1976, 1977, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2016, 2019
Taça Rio 11 1984, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2017, 2021

Others

Friendly tournaments

Statistics

Explanation:

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
Increase Promoted
Decrease Relegated

Former head coaches

Top scorers

As of November 2015
Top scorers
Pos. Player Goals
1 Brazil Roberto Dinamite (1970–79), (1980–89), (1990), (1992–93) 469
3 Brazil Romário (1985–88), (1999–02), (2005–06), (2007) 266
2 Brazil Ademir Menezes (1942–45), (1948–56) 345
4 Brazil Pinga (1953–61) 250
5 Brazil Russinho (1924–34) 225
Brazil Ipojucan (1944–54) 225
7 Brazil Vavá (1951–64) 191
8 Brazil Sabará (1952–64) 165
9 Brazil Lelé (1943–48) 147
10 Brazil Valdir Bigode (1992–95), (2002–04) 143
11 Brazil Edmundo (1992), (1996–97), (1999–00), (2003), (2008) 138
12 Brazil Maneca (1947–55) 137

Stadium

View of Sao Januário in 2020

Vasco da Gama's stadium is Estádio São Januário, inaugurated in 1927, with a maximum capacity of 35,000 people. The National Championship games have a maximum capacity of 21,880 people, for security reasons.[2]

Occasionally, Vasco has used the Maracana for rivalry matches or international matches. It has a capacity for 78,000 people.

Rivalries

Vasco's biggest rival is Flamengo, and games between the two clubs, called Clássico dos Milhões (Classic of Millions), are among the most watched in Brazil. The matches are usually played in the Maracanã, and reunite two of the biggest fanbases of Rio de Janeiro. The match received its name due to Flamengo and Vasco hacing the largest fanbases in the city. The teams first met in 1922, with Flamengo winning 1–0. This rivalry has the historically highest attendance in the Serie A.[56][57]

Another big city rival for Vasco is Fluminense and the matches between them are known as Clássico dos Gigantes (Giants Classic). The derby gets its name because of the "giant" matches that have been played between the two, these being the final for the 1984 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, which was won by Flumiense, and the 1985 Copa Libertadores, which had two draws. The 1984 final had a crowd of over 125,000 people, one of the largest crowds in football ever.

This Clássico da Amizade (Friendship Classic) is the confrontation between Vasco and Botafogo derby gets its name due to the "mild" rivalry both have, with Vasco having a large margin of victories over Botafogo and there being few championship deciding games between them. Nevertheless, Botafogo is a city rival and matches draw big crowds. In 2021, Botafogo beat Vasco 4–0 in the Serie B, virtually eliminating any possibility of promotion for Vasco, while Botafogo put themselves closer to promotion.[58] The first match between the two clubs was in 1923, a 3–1 victory for Vasco.

Matches between Vasco and city rivals America are known Clássico da Paz (Peace Classic) because during the 20th century America was one of the top clubs in Rio, but towards the turn of the 21st century it declined in performance. On 12 February 2011, Vasco thrashed America 9–0 in what was one of the worst defeats of any rivalry.[59]

Kit evolution

Vasco da Gama's kit evolution

Vasco da Gama is one of the oldest Brazilian clubs and has had several different kits in its history. Vasco da Gama's first kit, used in rowing, was created in 1898, and was primarily black, with a left white diagonal sash.

Vasco's first football kit, created in 1916, was completely black, and was easily identified because of the presence of a white tie and a belt. In 1929, the tie and the belt were removed. However, the kit remained all-black. In the 1930s, the home kit's color was changed again; it became black with a white right diagonal sash.[60]

In 1945, the kit's color was changed to white, and a black diagonal sash was introduced. The sash was introduced because the club's manager at the time, Uruguayan Ondino Viera liked the sash used in his previous club's kit, River Plate of Argentina, and adopted this pattern in Vasco's away kit. So, both kits had a right-to-left diagonal sash.[60]

In the 1970s the Order of Christ Cross was replaced with the Cross patteé, which is still used today.

In 1988, the sash located on the back of the shirt was removed. At the beginning of the 90s, stars representing the club's titles began to be used above the logo, and numbers were black and white instead of red. In 1996, the sash located on the back was returned. This kit became very similar to the 1945 one, with the exception of the addition of a thin red line that outlines the sash.[60]

Vasco currently has three kits. The home shirt's main color is black with a white sash. The short and the socks are black. The away kit is similar to the home kit, but the main color is white, the sash is black, and the shorts and socks are white. In 2009–10 the third kit was all white, with a red "cross of the Knights Templar". In 2010, the away kit changed to black in honor of 1923's team, which gave up playing for having black players, as they were not allowed to play with white players at that time.

From July 2009, after breaking the partnership with Champs,[61] to 2013, the official jerseys were produced by Penalty.[62] Since 2020, the kits are made by Kappa (brand).

Vasco's first shield was created in 1898. The current shield with the diagonal sash was not adopted until the 1920s. The current shield bears a black background, with a white diagonal sash going left to right, that has a sailboat in the center, and letters CR and VC being directly left and below the sailboat respectively.[60]

In 1980, an outline was added to the logo. The logo has gone through various changes throughout the years, but still resembles the main layout used in 1920. The current logo, adopted in 2021, curved the sails of the sailboat and the flag on top, emphasized the waves, added a front spine to the sailboat, and removed the rectangles that had been present in the 2015 logo.[60]

Anthems

Vasco's official anthem was composed in 1918, by Joaquim Barros Ferreira da Silva, and it was the club's first anthem.[63] There is another official anthem, created in the 1930s, called "Meu Pavilhão" (meaning My Pavilion), whose lyrics were composed by João de Freitas and music by Hernani Correia. This anthem replaced the previous one. The club's most popular anthem, however, is an unofficial anthem composed by Lamartine Babo in 1942.

Clubs named after Vasco

Due to Vasco's tradition, several clubs are named after it, including Associação Desportiva Vasco da Gama, of Acre state, founded in 1952, Vasco Esporte Clube, of Sergipe state, founded in 1931, Esporte Clube Vasco da Gama, of Americana, São Paulo state, founded in 1958, Vasco Sports Club, which is an Indian football club founded in 1951, and CR Vasco da Gama Football Club, which is a South African football club founded in 1980. Tomazinho Futebol Clube, from São João de Meriti, Rio de Janeiro state, founded in 1930, has a logo strongly inspired by Vasco's logo, and share the same colors.

References

  • Enciclopédia do Futebol Brasileiro, Volume 1 – Lance, Rio de Janeiro: Aretê Editorial S/A, 2001.
  1. ↑ "Vasco - Apelidos do Clube". Netvasco.com. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Vasco x Timão: novo laudo expande capacidade para 21.880 mil pessoas". globoesporte (in Portuguese). 13 November 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  3. ↑ http://secure.rio2016.com/maracana/o-novo-estadio-do-maracana-tera-capacidade-para-78639-espectadores
  4. ↑ UNZELTE, Celso – O Livro de Ouro do Futebol; page 689 (Editora Ediouro, 2002) – ISBN 85-00-01036-3
  5. ↑ Porto Editora – Vasco da Gama (futebol) na Infopédia [em linha]. Porto: Porto Editora. [consult. 2023-08-28 01:04:51]. Disponível em https://www.infopedia.pt/$vasco-da-gama-(futebol)
  6. ↑ Portugal, Rádio e Televisão de (2 July 2014). "Vasco da Gama foi fundado por portugueses há 116 anos". Vasco da Gama foi fundado por portugueses há 116 anos (in Portuguese). Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "History of CR Vasco da Gama". CR Vasco Da Gama. Archived from the original on 31 January 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  8. 1 2 "C. R. Vasco da Gama: História, 1898-1923". NetVasco. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  9. ↑ "Carta aberta: respeito, igualdade, inclusão" [Open letter: respect, equality, inclusion]. Vasco.com. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  10. ↑ "Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama". Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  11. ↑ "1924 – A resposta histórica". vasco.com.br. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  12. ↑ "VASCO DA GAMA REDREW THE COLOR LINE IN BRAZIL". Washington Post. 13 November 1998. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  13. ↑ "Históry 1924-1943". NetVasco.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2003. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  14. ↑ "Maior goleada do Clássico dos Milhões, Vasco 7 x 0 Urubu completa 88 anos". netvasco (in Brazilian Portuguese). 26 April 2019. Archived from the original on 29 April 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  15. ↑ "Esquadrão Imortal – Vasco 1945-1952". Imortais do Futebol (in Brazilian Portuguese). 30 August 2012. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  16. ↑ "EN PARTIDO AMISTOSO VASCO DA GAMA VENCIO AL MADRID POR 2 - 0". hemeroteca - mundodeportivo.com. 22 July 1956. p. 4. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  17. ↑ "Em 1957, Vasco também humilhou o Barcelona: 7 a 2. Lembre como foi o jogo" [In 1957, Vasco also humiliated Barcelona: 7-2. Remember how the game was]. globo esporte (in Brazilian Portuguese). 14 August 2020. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  18. ↑ "Há 56 anos, Vasco goleava o Benfica em Lisboa por 5 a 2". SuperVasco (in Brazilian Portuguese). 30 June 2013. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  19. ↑ "História, 1953-1970". Netvasco.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2003. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  20. ↑ "Tua fama assim se fez! Há 45 anos, Vasco vencia seu primeiro Brasileiro". Lance! (in Brazilian Portuguese). 1 August 2019. Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  21. ↑ "Vasco é campeão da Mercosul com virada histórica sobre o Palmeiras". netvasco. Archived from the original on 20 February 2002. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  22. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Melhor Jogo da História - Vasco 4x3 Palmeiras. YouTube. 7 October 2006. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  23. ↑ Melhor Jogo da História - Vasco 4x3 Palmeiras. YouTube. 7 October 2006. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  24. ↑ "Jogos Eternos – Palmeiras 3x4 Vasco 2000". Imortais do Futebol (in Brazilian Portuguese). 18 June 2013. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  25. ↑ "Fence collapse hits soccer final". BBC. 30 December 2000. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  26. ↑ "A QUEDA DO ALAMBRADO DE SÃO JANUÁRIO". NetVasco. Archived from the original on 19 July 2001. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  27. ↑ "Dez anos depois, final da Copa João Havelange ainda não terminou". Goal.com. 30 December 2010. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  28. ↑ "Libertadores 2001". Netvasco.com. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  29. ↑ "Vasco não faz sua parte, perde para o Vitória e cai para a Série B". UOL Esporte. 7 December 2008. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  30. ↑ "Vasco põe 81 mil no Maracanã, bate Juventude e confirma volta". Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). 7 November 2009. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  31. ↑ "Coritiba 3-2 Vasco da Gama (3-3 aggregate): Vasco hang on to edge thrilling Copa do Brasil final on away goals". Goal.com. 9 June 2011. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  32. ↑ "Lanús x Vasco - Taça Libertadores 2012". globoesporte.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). 9 May 2012. Archived from the original on 13 May 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  33. ↑ "Corinthians x Vasco Libertadores 2012". globoesporte.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). 23 May 2012. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  34. ↑ "Corinthians 1-0 Vasco da Gama". ESPN. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  35. ↑ "Em jogo da vergonha nas arquibancadas, Atlético-PR goleia, vai à Libertadores, e Vasco cai outra vez após cinco anos". ESPN (in Portuguese). 8 December 2013. Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  36. ↑ "Defesa falha, Vasco cai diante do Atlético-GO e perde invencibilidade". globoesporte.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). 11 June 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  37. ↑ "Vasco: The Brazilian Giant Set for Another Season in the Second Tier". Breaking The Lines. 14 March 2022. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  38. ↑ "777 Partners agrees US$137m takeover of Vasco da Gama". SportsPro. 22 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  39. ↑ "As Maiores Torcidas do Brasil" [The largest fanbases in Brazil]. Rsssf Brasil. 25 September 2021. Archived from the original on 17 January 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  40. ↑ "IBGE divulga lista atualizada dos clubes do Brasil com mais torcedores". Somos Fanáticos (in Brazilian Portuguese). 3 September 2021. Archived from the original on 5 September 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  41. ↑ "As maiores torcidas do Rio de Janeiro". Campeoesdofutebol.com.br. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  42. ↑ "Flamengo lidera ranking de torcidas no DF; Vasco aparece em segundo". globoesporte.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). 12 April 2014.
  43. ↑ "Sócio Gigante" (in Brazilian Portuguese). 9 April 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  44. ↑ Simões, Alexandre. "Pesquisa CNN/Itatiaia/Quaest: Torcidas nordestinas são mais fanáticas; gaúchas, mais fiéis". CNN Brasil. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  45. ↑ "Pesquisa aponta torcida do Sport como mais fanática do Brasil; Vasco lidera entre clubes do Sudeste". ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). 11 April 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  46. ↑ "Torcida Força Jovem Vasco". Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2006.
  47. ↑ "Governador Sérgio Cabral Filho relembra título vascaíno de 74". SuperVasco (in Brazilian Portuguese). 23 December 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  48. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Murilo Rosa, Fátima Bernardes e Whindersson: 12 personalidades que torcem para o Vasco". Torcedores.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). 21 August 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  49. ↑ "Vascaíno, prefeito do Rio compara o torcedor com povo carioca: 'Tem dias de alegria e outros de sofrimento'". Lance! (in Brazilian Portuguese). 26 February 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  50. ↑ "Pelé revela time do coração em entrevista: 'Sou vascaíno'". TNT Sports (in Brazilian Portuguese). 30 March 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  51. ↑ "Futebol – Elenco – Vasco da Gama". vasco.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  52. ↑ "Reconhecido pela Conmebol como antecedente da Copa Libertadores da América". Conmebol.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  53. ↑ "Torneio João Havelange 1993". rsssfbrasil.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  54. ↑ Segundo O Estado de S. Paulo de 18 de agosto de 1993, página 23, o Torneio João Havelange de 1993 foi organizado pela Archived 27 October 2016 at the Wayback MachineCBF, como comprovado pelo Vasco ter chegado à final após a CBF ter mudado o regulamento do torneio.
  55. ↑ "Torneio Extra (campeões)". rsssfbrasil.com. 20 July 2005. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013.
  56. ↑ "Vasco e Flamengo iniciam a decisão no Rio". Gazeta Esportiva. Archived from the original on 5 November 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  57. ↑ "Flamengo x Vasco tem maior média de público da história do Brasileirão". TNT Sports (in Portuguese). 19 May 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  58. ↑ "Botafogo goleia o Vasco em São Januário, assume a ponta da Série B e encaminha acesso". Lance! (in Brazilian Portuguese). 7 November 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  59. ↑ "Vasco goleia o América por 9 a 0 e Felipe 'vence duelo com a estátua'". globoesporte.com. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  60. 1 2 3 4 5 "Símbolos" (in Portuguese). Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama official website. Archived from the original on 19 April 2008. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  61. ↑ "Vasco rescinde contrato com a Champs" (in Portuguese). GloboEsporte.com. Archived from the original on 23 May 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
  62. ↑ "Clube acerta com a Penalty e vai receber R$ 64 milhões em cinco anos" (in Portuguese). GloboEsporte.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
  63. ↑ "Uniforme". crvascodagama.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2008. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
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