Botafogo
Full nameBotafogo de Futebol e Regatas
Nickname(s)Fogo (Fire)
Estrela Solitária (The Lone Star)
O Glorioso (The Glorious One)
Alvinegro Carioca (Rio's Black and White) O Mais Tradicional (The Most Traditional)
Founded12 August 1904 (1904-08-12), as a football club
GroundNilton Santos
Capacity46,831[1]
SAF OwnerJohn Textor (90%)
PresidentDurcesio Mello
Head coachTiago Nunes
LeagueCampeonato Brasileiro Série A
Campeonato Carioca
2023
2023		Série A, 5th of 20
Carioca, 5th of 12
WebsiteClub website

Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas (Portuguese pronunciation: [bɔtaˈfoɡu dʒi futʃiˈbɔw i ʁeˈɡatɐs]; Botafogo Football and Rowing), commonly known as Botafogo, is a Brazilian sports club based in the bairro (neighborhood) of Botafogo, in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Although they compete in a number of different sports, Botafogo is mostly known for its association football team. It plays in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the top tier of the Brazilian football league system, and in the state of Rio de Janeiro's premier state league. In 2000, Botafogo finished 12th in a vote by subscribers of FIFA Magazine for the FIFA Club of the Century.[2][3] They have won the Brazilian championship two times, in 1968 and 1995.

In addition, the club has some of Brazilian football's most notable records, like most unbeaten matches: 52 games between 1977 and 1978; the most unbeaten matches in the Brazilian Championship: 42, also between 1977 and 1978; and the most players assigned to the Brazil national team for World Cup. The club holds the record for the greatest victory ever recorded in Brazilian football: 24–0 against Sport Club Mangueira in 1909.

History

Formation and merger

On July 1, 1894, Club de Regatas Botafogo was founded in Rio de Janeiro.[4]

The 1906 football team.

On 12 August 1904, another club was founded in the neighborhood: the Electro Club, the name first given to the Botafogo Football Club. The idea came during an algebra lesson at Alfredo Gomes College, when Flávio Ramos wrote to his friend Emmanuel Sodré: "Itamar has a football club in Martins Ferreira Street. Let's establish another one, in Largo dos Leões, what do you think? We can speak to the Wernecks, to Arthur César, Vicente and Jacques". The Electro Club was founded, but its name did not last. After a suggestion from Dona Chiquitota, Flávio's grandmother, the club finally became the Botafogo Football Club, on September 18 of the same year. The colors were black and white like those of Juventus FC, the team of Itamar Tavares, one of the club's founders. Its badge was drawn by Basílio Vianna Jr., in Swiss style with the BFC monogram. The Botafogo Football Club would soon become one of the strongest football teams in Rio de Janeiro, winning the championships of 1907, 1910, 1912 and more.[5]

With the same name, the same location, the same colours and most important the same supporters, it seemed inevitable that the clubs would merge. They did so on 8 December 1942, after a basketball match between both clubs, when Botafogo Football Club player Armando Albano died suddenly, that the idea of a merger began. On this tragic occasion, the president of Club de Regatas Botafogo, Augusto Frederico Schmidt (also a major Brazilian poet), spoke: "At this time, I declare to Albano that his last match ended with the victory of his team. We won't play the time left on the clock. We all want the young fighter to leave this great night as a winner. This is how we salute him." Eduardo Góis Trindade, Botafogo Football Club's president said: "Between the matches of our clubs, only one can be the winner: Botafogo!." And then Schmidt declared the fusion: "What else do we need for our clubs to become one?." Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas finally came into being. The Football Club's badge became black, and the monogram substituted by Clube de Regatas' lone star.[6]

On the field

The team that won its first Campeonato Carioca in 1907
The team of 1910

The team won the Campeonato Carioca in 1907, 1910 and 1912. In 1909 the team beat Mangueira 24–0, which remains the highest score in Brazilian football.[7] They won further state titles in 1930, 1932, 1933, 1934 and 1935.[8]

In 1930 Botafogo won its 4th Carioca title.

In the 1940s, after the creation of Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas, the team's best player was Heleno de Freitas. However, Heleno did not win a championship for Botafogo. He scored 204 goals in 233 matches, but went to the Boca Juniors in 1948, the year Botafogo won its 9th state championship.

They won the Campeonato Carioca in 1957, 1961 and 1962, and in 1968 they won Serie A, becoming the first carioca club to win the Brazilian league.[9]

1989 ended a period of 21 years without a title when the club won the state championship, retaining the trophy in 1990.[9]

In the 1990s, Botafogo won Copa Conmebol (the precursor of the current Copa Sudamericana).[10] And in 1995 they won the Brazilian League for the second time in club's history, after drawing 1–1 the second leg of the Final against Santos FC at São Paulo.

Botafogo would be relegated to the Second Division after ranking last in the Brazilian League of 2002. In 2003, Botafogo ranked second in Brazil's Second division (after Palmeiras) and returned to the First Division.

In 2006, the club won the Rio de Janeiro State Championship for the 18th time, and again in 2010 and 2013 with the iconic players Loco Abreu and Seedorf, respectively.

In the 2020 edition of the Série A, Botafogo performed poorly and ended the championship in the last position, causing the club's relegation to the Série B for their third time in history.[11]

Nowadays, Botafogo is the only club to have won titles in three different centuries, including the state championship for rowing in 1899.

The SAF Era

At the beginning of 2020, Botafogo underwent a series of internal audits to spin off its football division as a for-profit corporate entity, owned by the club, but which could be portioned and sold to investors. This was due to unprecedented legislation allowing for football clubs to be operated as corporations, and would be a solution to the severe financial crisis the club had faced for decades. Relegation to the Série B, however, delayed these plans.

The year 2021 saw Botafogo's debt reach one billion real. They placed 6th in the Rio de Janeiro State Championship, after a penalty decision lost to the also relegated Vasco da Gama. The club was off to a middling start to the Série B season, but bounced back after the hiring of manager Enderson Moreira, who was able to bring Botafogo back to the top tier of Brazilian football, as champions of the 2021 edition of Série B. It was Botafogo's second Série B title.

Meanwhile, the incoming administration had begun internal restructuring, hiring executive Jorge Braga for the brand-new post of CEO and downsizing its workforce considerably. Botafogo entered into a partnership with the investment firm XP Inc. to seek out potential buyers for its football division, which was in the process of becoming its own corporate entity. Congress had recently passed the Sociedade Anônima de Futebol (SAF) law, allowing foreigners to purchase shares in Brazilian football clubs for the first time in history.

Having averted complete financial disaster by returning to Série A, the country's top competitive tier, Botafogo finalized its transition into the SAF legal structure. The social club remained as an entity, owning 100% of Botafogo SAF's shares. In January 2022, it came to light that American investor John Textor, owner of a majority stake in Premier League club Crystal Palace F.C., was in talks to purchase a majority share of Botafogo. In February 2022, the club announced the acquisition of 90% of the shares of Botafogo's football division by Textor's holding company Eagle Holdings, and the start of a new era for the club.

Textor's first major move in charge of the club was the dismissal of Enderson Moreira in favor of Portuguese manager Luís Castro. Castro signed with Botafogo in March 2022, and the team had to hurry to build their squad for the 2022 Cameponato Brasileiro.[12] Botafogo finished that year's league edition in 11th place, guaranteeing a spot in the 2023 Copa Sudamericana.

Since the third round of 2023 Campeonato Brasileiro, Botafogo has remained in first place in the table. In June 2023, coach Luís Castro accepted an offer from Al Nassr (Saudi Pro League),[13] paving the way for the arrival of Portuguese manager Bruno Lage.[14] However, due to poor results and controversies,[15] Lage was dismissed after almost 3 months of work.[16] For the remainder of the 2023 Campeonato Brasileiro, with the coaching position vacant, Botafogo's SAF leadership decided to promote two fan favorites to key positions in the team's management: former coach of Botafogo's U-23 team, Lúcio Flávio, was appointed interim coach, with former Argentine defender Joel Carli as his assistant.[17]

As of June 2023, Botafogo leads the 2023 Campeonato Brasileiro after making a disappointing Campeonato Carioca earlier during the year, not being able to make it to the semi-finals with the other 3 big clubs in Rio de Janeiro. The total debt owned by the club has been reduced and now sits at around 730 million reais.[18]

Stadium

Voluntários da Pátria Street Stadium (1909)
General Severiano entrance

The team's home ground is the Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos, named in honor of Nilton Santos, a former club player and two time world champion with the Brazil National Football Team, and some feel the greatest left back of all time.[19] The stadium is commonly called Engenhão by fans, in reference to the neighbourhood of Engenho de Dentro, where it is located. The stadium was built for the 2007 Pan American Games and it also hosted the 2016 Summer Olympics.[20]

Other stadiums used by the club during its history are:

Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos, home of Botafogo

Rivals

Its biggest rivals are the other most important Rio clubs: Fluminense, Flamengo, and Vasco da Gama.

The derby with Fluminense is known as the "Clássico Vovô" (Grandfather Derby) because it is the oldest derby in the whole country. Both teams faced each other for the first time in 1905.

The match with Vasco is known as the "Friendship Derby" because the supporters of both club have been friends historically. It is the only derby in the city that tends to be nonviolent.

The derby against Flamengo, "The Rivalry Derby", is the biggest one for the club, and one of the more important in Brazil. The clubs strongly dislike each other and the rivalry goes from the players on the pitch, to the fans, to both clubs' boardrooms. Players who participate in these matches usually become club idols. Some examples include: Garrincha, Manga, Jairzinho, Túlio Maravilha, and more recently Loco Abreu and Jefferson. Manga is known for a remarkable quote about this derby when he used to say that the player's prize money was already guaranteed because it was easy to beat Flamengo. Flamengo's biggest star Zico once said that at his childhood, Botafogo was the club he hated more because the Glorioso used to win all the derbies.

From outside the city, the club has had a historic rivalry with Santos FC since the 1960s.

Symbols

Historical badges

Lone Star

The Lone Star (Estrela Solitária) is currently present in Botafogo's flag and crest. This star was the principal symbol of Club de Regatas Botafogo. After the two Botafogos merged, the Lone Star became one of the most important symbols of Botafogo's football team. It was originally meant to represent the planet Venus, also known as the Morning Star, which was often seen at sunrise by the rowing squad as they practiced very early in the morning.

Flag

The old flag of Club de Regatas Botafogo was white with a small black square which contained the Lone Star. The Football Club had a flag with nine black and white stripes with the club's crest localized in the center. Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas then based its flag on that of the two old clubs. The flag has five black and four white stripes, with a black square at the upper left side with the Lone Star.

Uniform

Their primary uniform consists of a black jersey with vertical white stripes, black shorts and grey socks. Their secondary uniform is all white. An all black uniform may also be used. The socks, although traditionally grey, may also be black or even white on rare occasions.

Mascots

Manequinho, the mascot of the club

Botafogo's mascot is Manequinho, an urinating boy originating from a replica of Brussels' Manneken Pis statue that stands near Botafogo's headquarters, which on occasion had a Botafogo jersey put onto by supporters of the team.[21] In 1948 a stray dog named Biriba, known for urinating on the players, was the mascot that led them to the Campeonato Carioca.[22] The first mascot was Donald Duck, who cartoonist Lorenzo Mollas drew in the early 1940s wearing Botafogo's jersey, but was never officially adopted due to rights issues.[23]

Honours

The Brazilian Championship trophy won by Botafogo in 1995.

The club has some of Brazilian football's top records, including most unbeaten matches: 52 games between 1977 and 1978,[24] most unbeaten games in the Brazilian Championship: 42, also between 1977 and 1978,[25] most player participations in total matches of the Brazil national team (considering official and unofficial games): 1,094 participations,[26] and the most players assigned to the Brazil national team for the World Cup.[27]

Continental
Competitions Titles Seasons
Copa CONMEBOL 1 1993
National
Competitions Titles Seasons
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2 1968, 1995
Campeonato Brasileiro Série B 2s 2015, 2021
Inter-state
Competitions Titles Seasons
Torneio Rio – São Paulo[28] 4 1962, 1964, 1966, 1998
State
Competitions Titles Seasons
Campeonato Carioca 21 1907, 1910, 1912, 1930, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935*, 1948, 1957, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1968, 1989, 1990, 1997, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2018
Taça Guanabara 8 1967, 1968, 1997, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2015
Taça Rio 8 1989, 1997, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2023

International tournaments

Players

Current squad

As of 13 January 2024[29]

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 Paraguay PAR Gatito Fernández (vice-captain)
2 DF Brazil BRA Rafael
4 DF Uruguay URU Mateo Ponte
5 MF Brazil BRA Danilo Barbosa
6 MF Brazil BRA Tchê Tchê
7 FW Brazil BRA Victor Sá
8 MF Brazil BRA Patrick de Paula
9 FW Brazil BRA Tiquinho Soares
10 FW Paraguay PAR Matías Segovia
11 MF Venezuela VEN Jefferson Savarino
15 DF Argentina ARG Víctor Cuesta
16 DF Brazil BRA Hugo
17 MF Brazil BRA Marlon Freitas
21 DF Brazil BRA Marçal
23 DF Angola ANG Bastos
32 MF Nicaragua NCA Jacob Montes
No. Pos. Nation Player
33 MF Brazil BRA Carlos Eduardo
37 FW Brazil BRA Júnior Santos
38 DF Argentina ARG Alexander Barboza
39 FW Brazil BRA Janderson
43 DF Brazil BRA David Sousa
47 FW Brazil BRA Jeffinho (on loan from Lyon)
52 GK Brazil BRA Igo Gabriel
71 FW Uruguay URU Valentín Adamo
75 MF Brazil BRA Raí
77 FW Uruguay URU Diego Hernández
90 FW Brazil BRA Matheus Nascimento
94 DF Brazil BRA Philipe Sampaio
— GK Brazil BRA John
— DF Brazil BRA Lucas Halter
— MF Brazil BRA Breno

Botafogo B and 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
28 MF Brazil BRA Newton
30 MF Brazil BRA Bernardo Valim
31 GK Brazil BRA João Fernando
53 MF Brazil BRA Kauê
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW Brazil BRA Emerson Urso
— FW Brazil BRA Iago André
— FW Brazil BRA Sapata

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
— DF Brazil BRA Daniel Borges (to América Mineiro until 31 December 2024)
— DF Brazil BRA Henrique Vermudt (to Ferroviário until 30 November 2024)
— DF Ecuador ECU Luis Segovia (to RWD Molenbeek until 30 June 2024)
— DF Brazil BRA Vitor Marinho (to ABC until 30 November 2024)
— MF Brazil BRA JP Galvão (to Inter de Limeira until 8 April 2024)
— MF Brazil BRA Kayque (to RWD Molenbeek until 30 June 2024)
— MF Brazil BRA Luís Oyama (to Juventude until 31 December 2024)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW Brazil BRA Carlos Alberto (to RWD Molenbeek until 30 June 2024)
— FW Brazil BRA Chay (to Guarani until 30 November 2024)
— FW Brazil BRA Gabriel (to Boavista until 30 April 2024)
— FW Brazil BRA Gustavo Sauer (to Çaykur Rizespor until 30 June 2024)
— FW Brazil BRA Rikelmi (to RWD Molenbeek until 30 June 2024)
— FW Brazil BRA Vinícius Lopes (to Santa Clara until 30 June 2024)

Club staff

As of 21 October 2023[30]
Position Staff
Head CoachBrazil Lúcio Flávio (interim)
Assistant Head CoachArgentina Joel Carli (interim)
Fitness CoachBrazil Diogo Missena
First-Team Goalkeeper CoachBrazil Marcelo Grimaldi
Brazil Ricardo Herrera
Analysis and observationBrazil Alfie Assis
Brazil Rodrigo Mira
Brazil Vinícius Bispo

Records

World Best Players
# Name Year
1. Brazil Didi 1958
2. Brazil Garrincha 1962
World Cup Champions
# Name Year
1. Brazil Nílton Santos 1958, 1962
2. Brazil Didi 1958, 1962
3. Brazil Garrincha 1958, 1962
4. Brazil Amarildo 1962
5. Brazil Zagallo 1962
6. Brazil Jairzinho 1970
7. Brazil Paulo Cezar Caju 1970
8. Brazil Roberto Miranda 1970
Carvalho Leite, one of the greatest players of the 1930s and the 2nd. topscorer in club history with 261 goals.
Most appearances
# Name Matches Goals Year
1. Brazil Nílton Santos 723 11 1948–64
2. Brazil Garrincha 612 243 1953–65
3. Brazil Jefferson 459 * 2003–2005 and 2009–2018
4. Brazil Waltencir 453 6 1967–76
5. Brazil Quarentinha 444 306 1954–64
6. Brazil Manga 442 * 1959–68
7. Brazil Carlos Roberto 442 15 1967–76
8. Brazil Geninho 422 115 1940–54
9. Brazil Jairzinho 413 186 1962–74, 1981
10. Brazil Wágner 412 * 1993–02
11. Brazil Osmar 387 4 1970–79
12. Brazil Juvenal 384 12 1946–57
13. Brazil Gérson dos Santos 371 2 1945–56
14. Brazil Wilson Gottardo 354 13 1987–90, 1994–96
15. Brazil Roberto Miranda 352 154 1962–73
16. Brazil Pampolini 347 27 1955–62
17. Brazil Mendonça 340 116 1975–82
* goalkeeper.
Garrincha playing for Botafogo in a 2–0 win against Barcelona in the 1964 Copa Iberoamericana at Buenos Aires.
Most goals
# Name Goals Matches G/M
1. Brazil Quarentinha 306 444 0,68
2. Brazil Carvalho Leite 261 303 0,86
3. Brazil Garrincha 243 612 0,39
4. Brazil Heleno de Freitas 209 235 0,88
5. Brazil Nilo 190 201 0,94
6. Brazil Jairzinho 186 413 0,45
7. Brazil Octávio Moraes 171 200 0,85
8. Brazil Túlio Maravilha 159 223 0,71
9. Brazil Roberto Miranda 154 352 0,43
10. Brazil Italy Dino da Costa 144 176 0,81
11. Brazil Amarildo 136 231 0,58
12. Brazil Paulinho Valentim 135 206 0,65
13. Brazil Nílson Dias 127 301 0,42
14. Brazil Mendonça 116 340 0,34
15. Brazil Geninho 115 422 0,27
16. Brazil Didi 114 313 0,36
17. Brazil Zezinho 110 174 0,63
18. Brazil Pascoal 105 158 0,66
19. Brazil Patesko 102 242 0,42
20. Brazil Gérson 96 248 0,39
  • Note: numbers do not count matches played in Torneio Início.
  • Source: RSSSF Brasil – Botafogo

Managers

Notes

    Other Sports

    Basketball

    References

    1. ↑ "Informações Técnicas do Estádio Nilton Santos – Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas". Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
    2. ↑ "The FIFA Club of the Century" (PDF). FIFA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 April 2007. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
    3. ↑ "FIFA World Player 2000 award information". FIFA.com. 6 December 2000. Archived from the original on 19 December 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
    4. ↑ "History". Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas. Archived from the original on 19 November 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
    5. ↑ "De como o Eletro Club tornou-se Botafogo". Gazeta Esportiva. Archived from the original on 16 August 2004. Retrieved 7 October 2007.
    6. ↑ "História – A união dos dois clubes fez nascer um dos times de maior tradição no Brasil". Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas official website. Archived from the original on 6 August 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2007.
    7. ↑ "Maior goleada da história do futebol brasileiro completa um século". GloboEsporte.com. 25 May 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
    8. ↑ "Botafogo: Fogão flames burn eternal". Clubs. FIFA. Archived from the original on 26 March 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
    9. 1 2 "Botafogo FR: Trophies". Soccerway. Perform. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
    10. ↑ Rsssf.com Archived 1 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine
    11. ↑ "Botafogo 0 x 1 Sport – Campeonato Brasileiro rodada 34 – Tempo Real – Globo Esporte".
    12. ↑ "Botafogo anuncia contratação do técnico Luís Castro". 25 March 2022.
    13. ↑ "Castro leaves Botafogo to coach Ronaldo at Al Nassr". ESPN UK. 29 June 2023.
    14. ↑ "Botafogo acerta contratação do técnico Bruno Lage". GE (in Portuguese). 7 July 2023.
    15. ↑ "Os cinco erros capitais de Bruno Lage no Botafogo". GE (in Portuguese). 4 October 2023.
    16. ↑ "Oficial: Bruno Lage despedido do Botafogo". Record (in Portuguese). 4 October 2023.
    17. ↑ "Veja como fica a comissão técnica do Botafogo após saída de Bruno Lage". GE (in Portuguese). 5 October 2023.
    18. ↑ "As dívidas dos clubes brasileiros de futebol em novo ranking". 21 May 2023.
    19. ↑ "Botafogo FR". Soccerway. Perform. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
    20. ↑ gazetaesportiva. "Prefeito permite, e Engenhão "vira" Estádio Nilton Santos". Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 22 October 2023.
    21. ↑ Paixão de torcedor faz surgir o mascote do Botafogo, o Manequinho
    22. ↑ "Maybe Brazil Needs a Pitch Invading Dog". The Guardian. 4 July 2014. Archived from the original on 4 July 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
    23. ↑ "Os mascotes dos clubes Brasileiros". Canelada. 2 August 2010. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
    24. ↑ "Botafogo 1x0 Flamengo – Jogo da invencibilidade (1979)". Rádio Botafogo. 18 July 2011. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
    25. ↑ "Botafogo é recordista de invencibilidade no futebol brasileiro". Fala Glorioso. 17 September 2014. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
    26. ↑ "Jogadores cedidos por clube na história da Seleção Brasileira". RSSSF Brasil. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
    27. ↑ "Copa: Botafogo segue líder entre clubes que mais cederam jogadores à Seleção". GloboEsporte.com. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
    28. ↑ "Torneio Rio-São Paulo – List of Champions". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 6 March 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
    29. ↑ "Elenco" [Squad] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Botafogo FR. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
    30. ↑ "Veja como fica a comissão técnica do Botafogo após saída de Bruno Lage". GE (in Portuguese). 5 October 2023.
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