Sport Club Internacional,
known simply as Internacional or
Inter, is a Brazilian football team from
Porto
Alegre
, Rio Grande do
Sul, founded on April 4, 1909. They play in red shirts,
white shorts and socks, the first of which gives the team its
nickname of O Colorado, or The Reds. They enjoy a traditional
rivalry with the city's other club,
Grêmio - with derbies known as a "
Gre-Nal".
The team's home stadium is known as the
"Giant from the River Bank", or Beira-Rio
, on the banks of the Guaíba River, and it holds
56,000.
The club's
most successful season was in 2006, when Internacional won the
FIFA Club World Cup 2006, beating FC Barcelona, in Yokohama, Japan
.
Internacional is the only Brazilian club to have won all the
official international championships and cups a South American team
can win (Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, Recopa Sudamericana
and FIFA Club World Cup).
History
The foundation
The brothers Henrique, José and Luis Poppe were responsible for
founding the Sport Club International.
The greatest difficulty encountered by the Poppes, when transferred
from São Paulo to Porto Alegre in 1901, was to not find a club to
the democratic practice of football. At the time there were only
two clubs in the city (the Fussball and the Grêmio Porto
Alegrense), private for those who had German ancestry. In 1909 the
Poppe convened a group of students and ordinary employees from
Porto Alegre and trading to a meeting, scheduled for the day April
4, 1909, at number 141 in Redenção Avenue (now Avenue João Pessoa,
1025), with the clear objective of founding a new football club.
Thus began the history of Sport Club Internacional.
More than 40 people also voted to select the name of the club,
established in honor of Sport Club Internacional (from São Paulo).
Since then the clubs were usually identified with colonies of
immigrants from certain ethnic or nationality (such as São Paulo
Palestra Italy, for Italians, the Vasco da Gama, for Portuguese
immigrants etc.), The name "International" was scope to identify a
club where "all" could play, regardless of origin, race or social
status. Emerged as a club genuinely democratic and without any kind
of discrimination.
The emblem
The first emblem of Sport Club Internacional was designed with the
initials SCI in red over a white background, without the red
contour that appeared shortly afterwards. In the Fifties, the
colours were inverted, as the initials were written in white over a
red background. After winning the 2006 Libertadores Cup, the emblem
won another star. It's 50% bigger and is placed above the other
four, which represent the three Brazilian championships (1975, 1976
and 1979) and the Brazilian Cup title (1992). However, still in
2006, Inter won the FIFA Club World Cup. The star symbolizing the
Copa Libertadores title was moved down between the four stars
representing the club’s national honours. A new and majestic
diamond star was placed above it to commemorate the world
crown.
The Rolo Compressor (The Steamroller)
The Forties were remarkable for the Colorados. One of the greatest
squads in the club's history was formed in that decade: The Rolo
Compressor (Steamroller). They were an extremely offensive team
that played from 1224 to 1948 and won eight Rio Grande do Sul
championships. The reason for such superiority dated back to 1926,
the year Inter started accepting Black players in their squad –
something that was not adopted by rivals Grêmio until 1952. That
decision ended up strengthening the team, which placed no
restrictions and always had the best players, and also gave birth
to the affectionate nickname of "The People's Club."
That team included some of the greatest football players in the
club's history. Alfeu, Tesourinha, Abigail, Carlitos, Adãozinho,
among others. The term "Rolo Compressor " was coined to represent
Inter's power of "crushing the opposition" in their quest for
victories. It showed the superiority of the team at that
time.
The club's growth
The end of the Forties marked the beginning of an era of growth for
Internacional. The club restored the
Eucaliptos, their old stadium,
to host two matches of the FIFA World Cup in 1950 – Mexico vs
Yugoslavia and Mexico vs Switzerland. On the pitch, Inter kept
developing great players and provided most of the squad for the
national team that won the 1956 Pan-American Games in Mexico.
Rio Grande do Sul sports were now the focus of attention. The
green-and-white Inter played their first match on March 1, 1956,
when they beat Chile 2-1. In the game against Costa Rica, up to
then the greatest surprise of the competition, Inter demolished the
opposition by 7-1, with goals scored by Larry (3), Chinesinho (3)
and Bodinho.
The final was played against Argentina. A 2-2 draw meant the title
of the Pan-American Games Mexico 1956 for Teté's men on an unbeaten
run. Back in Brazil, the players were visited in Rio de Janeiro by
the Vice President of the Republic, Mr João Goulart, and went to
the Catete Palace to receive the trophy from the hands of the
President of the Republic, Mr Juscelino Kubitschek. Besides gold
medals, the team also won other awards, but the most important was
that Brazil saw it could rely on Inter for any challenge.
In the Sixties, the Eucaliptos was becoming small for the large fan
base. It was necessary to build a new stadium. Supporters mobilised
and help build Beira-Rio by donating bricks, iron bars, and cement.
Ten years of work elapsed until the new Colorado home was
inaugurated on April 6, 1969. The ground's magnitude was reflected
in its name: Gigante da Beira-Rio (literally the "Giant on the
River Banks" in Portuguese).
An era of titles
Perhaps no other time is remembered with more affection and longing
by the Internacional supporters than the victorious Seventies. In
that decade, Inter showed which the biggest club in Rio Grande do
Sul and in Brazil were. The new Beira-Rio stadium met the
expectations of the fanatic crowd and was the stage for some of the
best years in Internacional's history. In 1975, after a thrilling
victory against Cruzeiro, at Beira-Rio, the Colorados secured the
Brazilian championship title. The only goal of the match was scored
by Chilean star defender Elías Figueroa. The first golden star was
now on the chest of every Colorado.
In 1976, Internacional kept the victorious squad from the previous
year and arrived at the top of Brazil's football for the second
time. They won the title over Corinthians by winning the final
match 2-0. Valdomiro was the man of the match and scored the
decisive goal. The campaign in 1976 was remarkable, as in 23
matches for the Brazilian Championship, Rubens Minelli's men won
19, drew one and lost just three.
The end of the decade was crowned with yet another great victory.
Inter won their third Brazilian title in 1979 after beating Vasco
da Gama 2-1. With 16 wins, the team did not suffer a single defeat
during the championship, a deed yet unmatched by any other club in
Brazil. The third star was in place, bright and proud, over the
club's emblem.
Inter appears to the world
In the Eighties, the world discovered Internacional. More than a
national or regional tournament, Inter won the famous Joan Gamper
tournament on 25 August 1982, in Barcelona, something no other
Brazilian or Latin American club has ever achieved. The Colorados
disqualified powerful Barcelona, then with Maradona, after a
penalty shoot-out, and beat England's Manchester City in the final
by 2-1. It was one of the greatest achievements in the club's
history. In 1984, Inter won the Kirin Cup in Japan. The club
started to consolidate their name in the world scenario.
After 1956 – year in which eight footballers out of the 22-player
squad called up for the national team played for Internacional –
the definitive glory came in 1984. To represent Brazil in that
year's Olympics, in Los Angeles, Internacional had their whole
squad called up. The eleven players, from the goalkeeper to the
number 11, did a great job and won the silver medal. The team
became known as Sele/Inter.After beating traditional sides such as
Italy and Germany, Internacional players brought to Brazil the
unprecedented football silver medal, a deed repeated in 1988, when
Inter players such as goalkeeper Taffarel, full-back Luis Carlos
Wink and centre-back Aloisio defended the Brazilian colours.
At the end of the decade, in 1989, Inter faced a real battle
against archrivals Grêmio. The semi-final of the Brazilian
Championship meant not only a pass for the final match, but also a
place in the Libertadores Cup. The encounter became known as the
"Gre-Nal of the Century." With just ten players on the pitch, Inter
finished the first half losing by 1-0. In the second half, pushed
by a large crowd at Beira-Rio, the Colorados came from behind to
crush Grêmio with two goals scored by striker Nilson and won by
2-1. Party in Porto Alegre, in Rio Grande do Sul, and all over the
world.
The fourth star
In 1992, Internacional won its fourth national title, the Brazilian
Cup. The decision was against Fluminense. In the first leg, in Rio
de Janeiro, a 2-1 defeat. The return leg saw a completely packed
Beira-Rio, and the team coached by Antônio Lopes made a fantastic
comeback to win by 1-0. The club secured the title in the away
goals rule.
Towards the greatest title ever
Inter entered the new millennium seeking the essence of their
football in the youth teams. The hegemony in Rio Grande do Sul came
naturally with four state titles in a row, from 2002 to 2005. The
club modernised all its departments and prepared for a new football
era. The South American Cup meant a return to the world stage and
prepared the team for contesting the Libertadores Cup title.
South American Champions
On August 16, 2006,
Inter managed to secure a draw against
São Paulo in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final match
and were crowned South American champions for the first time
ever.
The campaign included eight wins, six draws, and just one defeat,
to Ecuador's
Liga Deportiva
Universitaria in the quarter-finals. To win the title,
Internacional had to move past two clubs that had won the
tournament three times - Uruguay's
Club Nacional de Fútbol and
Brazil's
São Paulo, who
were the current champions.
Against São Paulo, Internacional arguably won the title away in the
first leg.
Stunning the 80,000 são-paulinos
attending the match at the Morumbi
stadium,
Rafael Sóbis scored twice in the
second half before defender Edcarlos scored for São
Paulo. Internacional needed just a draw in the
second leg at home, and they enjoyed the home advantage to the
fullest and left the pitch qualified for the FIFA Club World Championship,
which they played in December in Japan
.
Striker
Fernandão, who, along with
Tinga, scored in the final
match at the Beira-Rio stadium, was one of the 14 players finishing
as top scorer of the Libertadores, with five goals. He was voted
Man of the Match against São Paulo and won a
Toyota Corolla as the prize. Fernandão put
the car up for auction and gave the money to charity
organizations.
World Champions
After
winning the Libertadores, Internacional won a place in the FIFA Club World Cup 2006, along
with continental champions FC Barcelona
(Spain), Club América (Mexico),
Al Ahly (Egypt), Jeonbuk Motors (South Korea) and
Auckland
City
(New Zealand). After a preliminary round
between the champions of Asia, Africa, Oceania and
CONCACAF, Inter were seeded to play the Egyptians
for the semifinals. The match was not nearly as easy as expected,
Inter having scored the opener with
Alexandre Pato but conceded an equaliser in
the second half. Luckily, late substitute
Luiz Adriano managed to score the winner and
booked the team a place in the final against Spanish club FC
Barcelona. The Spaniards advanced after a lavish 4-0 win over Club
América and went to the final match regarded as favourites by the
world media.
Playing the underdog, coach
Abel Braga
adopted a defensive formation and applied tight marking against the
Catalan team, especially against superstars
Ronaldinho and
Deco. Even though FC Barcelona dominated possession,
the game remained goalless until late in the second half. When it
seemed the affair might be decided on a penalty shoot-out, Inter
skipper
Fernandão became injured and
was replaced by
Adriano
Gabiru. It took the substitute just a few minutes for him to
write his name in the history of football. Assisted by forward
Iarley, Adriano scored the winner nine
minutes from time, much to the dismay of the Spaniards. FC
Barcelona kept pushing for an equaliser, but Inter held firmly
until the final whistle.
South American Triple Crown
In 2007, by winning the
Recopa
Sudamericana 2007 Internacional secured the
"South
American Triple Crown", holding simultaneously the three
greatest titles a South American team can compete for: the
Recopa Sudamericana,
FIFA Club World Cup and
Libertadores Cup.
2008
In this year, Internacional won the
Dubai
Cup 2008, beating
Italian
league champions 2007-08 Internazionale and
German league champions
2006-07 Stuttgart. In the same
year, won the
Copa Sudamericana
2008, beating Argentinian
Estudiantes de La Plata, becoming
the first Brazilian winners of the trophy and also the only
Brazilian club to be champion of all disputed tournaments available
and the second South American to achieve that end, together with
the Argentine club
Boca Juniors.
2009
On April 2, 2009, Inter launched its third uniform celebrating the
centenary, with golden shirt, red shorts and red socks. The golden
shirt mean the glories won in their history.
On August 5, 2009, Inter won their sixth international championship
in a period of time corresponding to four years. Inter won the
Suruga Bank 2009,
which they played as reigning champions of the
Copa Sudamericana 2008 against
J. League Cup 2008 champions
Oita Trinita in Japan. Furthermore, was
champions of the
Campeonato
Gaúcho 2009, runner-up the
Copa
do Brasil 2009 and
Recopa
Sudamericana 2009.
On August 28, 2009, English club
Tottenham announced that a partnership
was completed between the two clubs. Tottenham's chairman Daniel
Levy said "As we look to take the Club forward it will be
increasingly important that we are able to track and develop
emerging talented players. This co-operation between our two clubs,
which will see an exchange of coaching methodologies as well as
exchange visits, means that we shall be able to effect the
placement and development of players from Brazil and South America
with both ourselves or other European Leagues. It is an exciting
partnership and opportunity for us and we look forward to working
with Inter."
Internacional's chairman, Vittorio Piffero,
said: "This strategic partnership between two globally renowned
clubs is an innovation in Brazilian football and will result not
only in the exchange of youth players, but also in a comprehensive
development of the Porto
Alegre
-based club by sharing expertise in areas such as
marketing, promotions, trade opportunities, media and public
relations."
Supporters
Ultras
- Guarda Popular do Inter
- Torcida Organizada Camisa 12
- Torcida Organizada Super FICO (Força Independente
Colorada)
- Torcida Organizada Nação Independente Comando Vermelho
Anthem
Internacional's anthem was composed by Nélson Silva, in 1957, and
is called
Celeiro de Ases (meaning
"Factory of Aces").
Current squad
Senior squad
Coaching staff
Inter B Squad
Inter B coaching staff
Under-20 squad
Under 20 coaching staff
Noted players
Argentina
Chile
Colombia
Mexico
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Top scorers
Noted coaches
- Teté (1951-57, 1960)
- Daltro Menezes (1968-1971)
- Dino Sani (1971-1974, 1983)
- Rubens Minelli (1974-1977)
- Cláudio Duarte (1978-1979,
1981, 1989, 1994-1995, 2001, 2002)
- Ênio Andrade (1979-1980,
1990-1991, 1993)
- Abel Braga (1988-1989, 1991, 1995,
2006-2007, 2007-2008)
- Antônio Lopes (1992)
- Carlos Alberto Parreira
(2001)
- Paulo Autuori (1999)
- Émerson Leão (1999)
- Muricy Ramalho (2003,
2004-2005)
- Tite (2008, 2009)
|
Achievements
International titles
FIFA Club World
Cup
Copa Libertadores
Copa Sudamericana
Recopa
Sudamericana
Suruga Bank
Championship
National titles
Campeonato
Brasileiro Série A
Copa do Brasil
Campeonato
Gaúcho
- Winner (39-record): 1927, 1934, 1940, 1941,
1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955,
1961, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1981,
1982, 1983, 1984, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005,
2008, 2009
Friendly titles
Youth titles
- Once
champions of Eurovoetbal (Netherlands
) in 2006.
- Once champions of Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20 in
2006.
- Once champions of Nike Cup (Under-15 World Championship) in
2000.
- Once champions of Porto Seguro Cup: 2008
- Twice champions of Copa 2 de Julho: 2007 and 2008.
- Three-times champion of Copa Macaé de Juvenis: 2000, 2001
and 2005.
- Four-times Brazilian Under-20 champions at Copa São Paulo de Juniores,
in 1974, 1978, 1980 and 1998.
- Eight-times champion of Copa Santiago de Futebol
Juvenil: 1990, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 and
2009.
References
External links