Rio Claro Futebol Clube

Rio Claro
Full nameRio Claro Futebol Clube
Nickname(s)Galo Azul
Azulão
Aguinha
Founded9 May 1909; 115 years ago (1909-05-09)
GroundDr. Augusto Schimidt Filho
ChairmanDayvid Medeiros
Head coachAdilson Teodoro
LeagueCampeonato Paulista Série A2
2023 [pt]Paulista Série A2, 10th of 16
Rio Preto and Rio Claro in action in the 2008 Campeonato Paulista

Rio Claro Futebol Clube, commonly referred to as Rio Claro, is a professional association football club based in Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil. The team competes in Campeonato Paulista Série A2, the second tier of the São Paulo state football league.

The club's home colours are blue and white and the team mascot is a rooster.

History

On 9 May 1909,[1] the club was founded as Rio Claro Football Club by the teacher Joaquim Arnold, and by the Companhia Paulista das Estradas de Ferro (São Paulo Railroad Company) railroad employees Bento Estevam Siqueira, Constantino Carrocine and João Lambach. Years later, the club was renamed to Rio Claro Futebol Clube.[2]

On 14 July 1928, Rio Claro played its first international match, against H.M.S. Capton's sailors of England.[2]

In 2002, the club won the Campeonato Paulista Fourth Level (named B1), beating Guaratinguetá Esporte Clube in the final. The club was promoted to the following year's third level.[3]

In 2005, Rio Claro was Copa FPF's runner-up. In the final, the club was defeated by Noroeste.[4]

In 2007, the club disputed the Campeonato Paulista Série A1 for the first time.[5] The team also played in Série A1 in 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Current squad

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 Leandro Alcacis
GK Brazil BRA Richard
DF Brazil BRA Carlinhos Miranda
DF Brazil BRA Gilberto
DF Brazil BRA Johannes
DF Brazil BRA Luiz Eduardo (on loan from São Paulo)
DF Brazil BRA Luís Felipe (on loan from Benfica)
DF Brazil BRA Pitty
DF Brazil BRA Renan Diniz
DF Brazil BRA Renan Luis
DF Brazil BRA Rodrigo Ninja
DF Brazil BRA Vinícius Bovi
MF Brazil BRA Alê
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF Brazil BRA Guarú
MF Brazil BRA Jéferson Paulista (on loan from Botafogo)
MF Brazil BRA Léo Cordeiro
MF Brazil BRA Lucas Madalosso
MF Brazil BRA Matheus Galdezani
MF Brazil BRA Nando Carandina
MF Brazil BRA Nenê Bonilha
MF Brazil BRA Patrik (on loan from Palmeiras)
MF Brazil BRA Valdeci Jr
FW Brazil BRA André Luiz
FW Brazil BRA Paulinho (on loan from Corinthians)
FW Brazil BRA Rafael Tardini

Honours

Stadium

Rio Claro's home stadium is Estádio Augusto Schmidt Filho,[6] usually known as Schimitão or Schimidtão, inaugurated in 1973, with a maximum capacity of 16,000 people.[7]

The club also owns a training ground, named Centro de Treinamento Augusto Schmidt Filho.[8]

Club Colors

Rio Claro's colors are blue and white. The club's home kit is composed of a blue shirt, white short and blue socks.[9]

Mascot

A white rooster wearing the club's blue home kit and with a blue tail, blue crest and blue wattle, named Galo Azul, is the club's mascot. The mascot was chosen after Velo Clube's mascot, which is a red rooster. Velo Clube is Rio Claro's rival.[10]

Nickname

The club was originally nicknamed Aguinha, meaning Little Water, because the club's stadium was located near the Córrego da Servidão's (Servidão's Creek) margin.[11]

Rio Claro's nickname is Azulão, meaning Big Blue.[8]

References