Associação Desportiva São Caetano is a Brazilian football team based on the city of São Caetano, Brazil, in the metropolitan area which includes the city of São Paulo. The team is dubbed Azulão (Big Blue), after the shirt colour. The sponsor is Consul, a well know Brazilian producer of fans, washing machines and similar.

Founded in 1989 and despite having been champion of the Third and Second Divisions of São Paulo regional tournaments, very little had been heard about São Caetano until 2000.

São Caetano greatest rival is Santo André.

In 2000, the Brazilian national championship was disputed in a different than usual way. According to previous credentials, teams would play in the First (best teams), Second or Third Division; São Caetano played in the Second. The difference was that, after all Divisions were finished, a mini tournament would gather representatives from all of them (one team from Third Division, three from Second and twelve from First), and the winner would be the Brazilian Champion of 2000.

São Caetano was runner-up of the Second Division and qualified to the finals. Then, surprisingly, São Caetano beat favourites Fluminense, Palmeiras and Grêmio and went into the final against Vasco da Gama. The first match ended as a draw; in the replay, fans invaded the pitch, and the match was suspended. Despite several claims that São Caetano should be declared champion, Vasco used its influence to force a third match; Vasco won and became champion of 2001, but São Caetano had already made a name for itself.

Many said it had been a fluke, and that São Caetano would sink down back to obscurity, just as has happened with other teams in the past. In 2001, however, the team again reached the final match of Brazilian national championship, this time against Atlético Paranaense (without the benefit of starting in the Second Division); São Caetano lost, but was runner-up two years in a row.

In 2002, São Caetano was finalist of Copa Libertadores de América, the most important tournament in South America. Again, they were runner-up, losing the final on penalties.

São Caetano had already the respect of everyone, but still missed a title. In 2004, it came: São Caetano was the winner of the São Paulo State tournament (Campeonato Paulista), beating the countryside squad Paulista de Jundiaí.

On 27 October 2004, while playing in a match against São Paulo, São Caetano defender Paulo Sérgio de Oliveira Silva (Serginho) suffered a fatal heart attack.

Honours

• Campeonato Paulista 2004
• Campeonato Paulista 2nd div 2000
• Libertadores Cup Runner-Up 2002
• Campeonato Brasileiro Runner-Up 2000 & 2001

Famous Players

• Adhemar
• Serginho Chulapa
• Magrao
• Euller
• Silvio Luis
• Cesar
• Dininho

External links

Official Website