Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas is a Brazilian multimodality sportive association from Rio de Janeiro. The club symbol is the lone star, represented on its badge. Botafogo means (he who) sets fire and is also the name of the neighbourhood where the club has its origins (Botafogo Beach).

History

In July 1st, 1894, the Clube de Regatas Botafogo, a rowing club, was founded. The name was meant to evoke neighbourhood where the club was. The colours of the club where the black and the white, and it's symbol the Lone Star, or the "Estrela D'alva", the first star to appear on the sky (not a star really, but Venus). It soon became one of the strongest teams in Rio de Janeiro, winning several competitions, along with sea rivals such as Flamengo, Vasco da Gama, Guanabara , Icaraí and São Cristóvão .

About ten years later, in August 12th, 1904, another club was founded in the neighbourhood: the Electro Club, first name given to the Botafogo Football Club. The idea came during an algebra lesson, in the college Alfredo Gomes, when Flávio Ramos wrote to friend Emmanuel Sodré: "Itamar has a football club in Martins Ferreira Street. Let's stablish another one, in Largo dos Leões, what do you think? We can speak to the Wernecks, to Arthur César, Vicente and Jacques". And so the Electro Club was founded. But this name wouldn't last. After a suggestion from Dona Chiquitota, Flávio's grandmother, the club finally became the Botafogo Football Club, in September 18th of the same year. The colour's? The black and the white. And the badge, drawn by Basílio Vianna Jr., in swiss style with the BFC monogram. The Botafogo Football Club would soon became one of the strongest football teams in Rio de Janeiro, winning the championships of 1907, 1910, 1912 and more.

The same name, the same location, the same colours and the most important thing: the same supporters. It seemed that the destiny of both clubs was to become only one. And so it happened: in December 8th, 1942 they finally merged together. It was after a basketball match between both clubs, when Botafogo Football Club player Albano died suddenly, that the idea began to become truth. At the tragic ocasion, the president of Clube de Regatas Botafogo, Augusto Frederico Schimidt (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 no longer the time left of the interrupted game. We all want that the young fighter leaves to the great night as a winner. This is how we greet 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 Schimidt declared the fusion: "What else do we need to our clubs become one?". And so they did: the Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas finally became true. The Football Club's badge became black, and the monogram substituted by Clube de Regatas' lone star. This badge, according to the club's statute, can never be modified. The water sports maintained the Clube de Regatas's uniform, all black, while the terrestrial sports maintained Football Club's one, vertical-striped black and white jersey with black shorts.

Trivia

Home stadium is the Mestre Ziza (Caio Martins), capacity 15,000 (after reforms), but most games are played in the Maracanã (capacity 103,045). They play in vertical black-and-white stripes with black shorts and grey socks.

Its biggest rivals are from the same city: Fluminense, Flamengo and Vasco da Gama.

The other big teams from Brazil (including the four mentioned) are: Corinthians, Santos, Palmeiras, São Paulo, Atlético Mineiro, Grêmio, Cruzeiro and Internacional.

Titles

• FOOTBALL
  • National
    • Brazilian Champions 1995
    • Brazil Trophy 1968
    • Rio-São Paulo Tournament 1962, 1964, 1966, 1998
  • State
    • 18 state championships: 1907*, 1910, 1912, 1930, 1931-34, 1948, 1957, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1968, 1989, 1990, 1996**, 1997
    • 8 Torneio Início 1934, 1938, 1947, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1967 e 1977
    • 3 Taça Guanabara 1967, 1968 e 1997 (invicto)
    • 1 Taça Rio de Janeiro 1989
  • International
    • 1 South-american Cup 1993***
    • Torneio Internacional da Colômbia 1960
    • Pentagonal do México 1962
    • Torneio de Paris 1963
    • Quadrangular de B. Aires 1964
    • Torneio Carranza 1966
    • Torneio de Caracas 1967, 68 e 70
    • Hexagonal do México 1968
    • Torneio de Genebra 1984
    • Torneio de Berna 1985
    • Torneio de Palma de Mallorca 1988
    • Torneio da Amizade 1990
    • Troféu Tereza Herrera 1996
    • Torneio de Osaka 1996
    • III Torneio Pres. da Rússia 1996

"*" Shared with Fluminense.

"**" Taça Cidade Maravilhosa, an extra tournament disputed that year and gaigned by Botafogo. The first one was gained by Flamengo.

"***" Conmebol Cup

Famous players

• FOOTBALL
  • Garrincha
  • Didi
  • Jairzinho
  • Nilton Santos
  • Zagallo
  • Quarentinha
  • Amarildo
  • Manga
  • Heleno de Freitas
  • Túlio
  • Bebeto
  • Mauro Galvão
  • Donizete
  • Carvalho Leite
  • Gérson
  • Carlos Alberto Torres
  • Marinho Chagas

External links

• Official Website