Campeonato Carioca Explained

Campeonato Carioca
Country:Brazil
Confed:FERJ
Teams:16
Relegation:Campeonato Carioca Série A2
Levels:1
Domest Cup:Copa Rio
Champions:Flamengo (38th title)
Season:2024
Most Successful Club:Flamengo (38 titles)
Website:FFERJ Official website
Current: Campeonato Carioca
Tv:Rede Bandeirantes, BandSports, and ESPN (Broadcast)
YouTube, Twitch and Dale (OTT)

The Campeonato Carioca (Carioca Championship), officially known as Campeonato Estadual do Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro State Championship), also commonly known as the Cariocão, is the state football league of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is under the authority of the FERJ or FFERJ (Football Federation of the State of Rio de Janeiro). It is an annual tournament, started in 1906.

The first season of the Campeonato Carioca was played in 1906. It was predated by: the Campeonato Paulista of São Paulo and the Campeonato Baiano of Bahia.

Rivalries amongst four of the most prestigious Brazilian teams (Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense and Vasco da Gama) have marked the history of the competition.

The oldest clubs from Rio de Janeiro (America, Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense, São Cristóvão, Vasco da Gama) had inspired the creation of many clubs from other states.

Flamengo leads the title count with 38 championships, followed by Fluminense (33), Vasco da Gama (24), Botafogo (21), America (7), Bangu (2), São Cristóvão, and Paysandu (1 each).

History

The early years

The 20th century saw in Rio de Janeiro and Niterói a significant popularity in football with the establishment of clubs such as Rio Cricket and Athletic Association in Niterói, Fluminense Football Club in 1902, and Bangu Atlético Club, América Football Club, and Botafogo Football Club in 1904 being founded. Organizing leagues for competition amongst clubs followed by Rio Cricket and Athletic Association, Fluminense Football Club, Football and Athletic Club, America Football Club, Bangu Atlético Club, Sport Club Petrópolis and Payssandu Cricket Club. On June 8, 1905, the Liga Metropolitana de Football (abbreviated LMF, Metropolitan Football League in English) was founded. LMF's first president was Bangu's José Villas Boas, who was replaced by Francis Walter in December of the same year.

In 1906, the first Campeonato Carioca was contested by six clubs: Fluminense, Botafogo, Bangu, Football and Athletic, Payssandu and Rio Cricket. America, despite being one of the league founders, did not contest the league's first edition. Fluminense became the first Rio de Janeiro state champion.

In 1907, the championship ended with a tie between Botafogo and Fluminense. The league rules did not address ties. Botafogo claimed an extra-match advantage; Fluminense claimed that the league should adopt the goal-average criteria. It went unresolved until 1996 when both clubs were declared champions.

On February 29, 1908, Fluminense, Botafogo, America, Paysandu, Rio Cricket, and Riachuelo founded Liga Metropolitana de Sports Athleticos (LMSA, meaning Metropolitan Athletic Sports League), the organizer of the 1908 Campeonato Carioca. Fluminense won.

The splits of the league

AFRJ: the first split

The first league split was in 1911 when Botafogo left LMSA and founded Associação de Football do Rio de Janeiro (AFRJ - Rio de Janeiro Football Association). The league was nicknamed Liga Barbante (String League), because Botafogo was the only significant club to question the full realisation of the sport under LMSA. AFRJ was incorporated by LMSA in 1913.

LMDT: 1917–1932

In 1917, several accusations of bribery caused LMSA to rebrand as Liga Metropolitana de Desportos Terrestres (Terrestrial Sports Metropolitan League) (LMDT). Fluminense won the competition of that year.

AMEA: the second split

On March 1, 1924, a second league split occurred, and Associação Metropolitana de Esportes Athleticos (Athletic Sports Metropolitan Association) was founded. AMEA, founded by the "aristocratic" clubs Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo and America, with restrictions on its blacks and lower class citizens to their members. The Confederação Brasileira de Desportos (CBD - Brazilian Sports Confederation) remained with AMEA recognizing it as the official league of Rio de Janeiro from 1924 on, and disassociating with LMDT. AMEA's competition was won by Fluminense. LMDT's (The league was nicknamed Liga Barbante) (String League) competition was won by Vasco da Gama, the only significant club that remained on the old league. In 1925, AMEA rescinded its racial conditions and Vasco left LMDT, while LMDT continued with its minor clubs. Years later, the LMDT championship of 1924 was considered official - but not the following LMDT championships.

Professionalization and the union of the league

On January 23, 1933, Bangu, Fluminense, Vasco and America founded the first professional league of Rio de Janeiro, Liga Carioca de Futebol (LCF) (Carioca Football League). The Confederação Brasileira de Desportos was an amateur-only league supported AMEA. For this reason, LCF was nicknamed "pirate league". In 1934 CBD finally accepted professionalism, but LCF and AMEA did not merge for political reasons. On December 11, 1934, Botafogo, Vasco, Bangu, São Cristóvão, Andaraí, Olaria, Carioca and Madureira founded the professional Federação Metropolitana de Desportos (FMD) (Sports Metropolitan Federation), replacing AMEA as the official Rio de Janeiro league affiliated to CBD.

In 1937, the Brazilian football clubs were professionalized. On July 29, 1937, FMD and LCF merged, creating Liga de Football do Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro Football League), also called LFRJ. In 1941, LFRJ rebranded as Federação Metropolitana de Futebol (FMF) (Metropolitan Football Federation). The occasion was celebrated by a friendly match between Vasco da Gama and America that would come to be nicknamed Clássico da Paz (Peace Derby) for any game played between the two teams.

Federação Carioca de Futebol (FCF)

On April 21, 1960, the Brazilian capital city became Brasília, so, Federação Metropolitana de Futebol rebranded as Federação Carioca de Futebol (FCF) (Carioca Football Federation). América won the state championship of that year.

After 1975

On March 15, 1975, Rio de Janeiro and Guanabara states merged under the name of Rio de Janeiro.

On September 29, 1978, Federação de Futebol do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro State Football Federation) (FERJ), was founded, after Guanabara state's FCF and Rio de Janeiro state's FFD (Federação Fluminense de Desportos, or Fluminense Sports Federation) fused.

In 1979, there was an extra Campeonato Carioca which also included the countryside state teams, which, until that year, contested the Campeonato Fluminense. This extra competition, known as Primeiro Campeonato Estadual de Profissionais (First Professionals State Championship) was won by Flamengo, which was also the champion of the regular competition, but did not count in the overall titles.

In 1996, Taça Cidade Maravilhosa was contested only by clubs from Rio de Janeiro city. This competition was contested by eight teams (America, Bangu, Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense, Madureira, Olaria and Vasco da Gama), which played against each other once. Botafogo was the champion, Flamengo being the runner up. In the same year, a state championship was played, won by Flamengo.

Format

The competition is usually divided in three stages: the traditional Taça Guanabara, Taça Rio and the Finals.

Taça Guanabara is the first stage of the competition, with the teams divided into two groups. The traditional "big four", namely, Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense and Vasco da Gama are seeded—two teams of the "big four" put into each group. It is possible other teams also be seeded in some ways, but the seeding criteria are not codified in the regulation and has never been publicly available. The teams play one match with each team in their group. The top team in each group plays the second team in the semi-finals; the winners qualify for the final match.

Taça Rio is the second stage of the competition. Teams are divided into the two same groups of Taça Guanabara, but each team plays once against every team from the other group. The top team from each group compete in the semi-finals with the second team from the opposite group, and winners of the semi-finals compete for the Taça Rio.

The winners of Taça Guanabara and Taça Rio compete in the two-legged finals of Campeonato Carioca, with the winner champion.

Clubs

2023 First Division

TeamCityGround2022 result
AudaxSão João de MeritiArthur Sendas
BanguMoça Bonita
BoavistaSaquaremaElcyr Resende de Mendonça
BotafogoEngenhão
FlamengoMaracanã
FluminenseMaracanã
MadureiraConselheiro Galvão
Nova IguaçuNova IguaçuLaranjão
PortuguesaLuso Brasileiro
Resende FCResendeEstádio do Trabalhador
Vasco da GamaSão Januário
Volta RedondaVolta RedondaRaulino de Oliveira
Note

Champions and top scorers

Source: RSSSF Brasil

Amateur era

SeasonWinnerRunner-upCommentsTop ScorerClubGoals
1906Fluminense (1)PaissanduHorácio da CostaFluminense18
1907Botafogo (1)
Fluminense (2)
Paissanduboth clubs were declared champions in 1996.[1] Flávio RamosBotafogo6
1908Fluminense (3)Botafogo
América
Edwin CoxFluminense12
1909Fluminense (4)BotafogoFlávio RamosBotafogo18
1910Botafogo (2)FluminenseAbelardo de LamareBotafogo22
1911Fluminense (5)AmericaJames CalvertFluminense7
1912Paissandu (1)Flamengoby LMSA, Liga Metropolitana de Sports AthleticosHarry RobinsonPaissandu - LMSA24
1912Botafogo (3)SC Americanoby AFRJ, Associação de Football do Rio de Janeiro - recognized later as an official championshipMimi SodréBotafogo - AFRJ12
1913America (1)FlamengoMimi SodréBotafogo13
1914Flamengo (1)BotafogoBarthôFluminense10
1915Flamengo (2)FluminenseHenry WelfareFluminense19
1916America (2)BotafogoAluízioBotafogo12
1917Fluminense (6)AmericaLuís MenezesBotafogo16
1918Fluminense (7)BotafogoLuís MenezesBotafogo21
1919Fluminense (8)FlamengoBraz de OliveiraSão Cristóvão24
1920Flamengo (3)FluminenseArlindo
Claudionor
Botafogo
Bangu
18
1921Flamengo (4)AmericaCecy15
1922America (3)FlamengoBraz de Oliveira15
1923Vasco da Gama (1)FlamengoNonôFlamengo17
1924Fluminense (9)Flamengoby AMEA, Associação Metropolitana de Esportes AthleticosNiloFluminense28
1924Vasco da Gama (2)Bonsucessoby LMDT, Liga Metropolitana de Desportos Terrestres - recognized later as an official championshipTelê - LMDT17
1925Flamengo (5)FluminenseNonôFlamengo27
1926São Cristóvão (1)Vasco da GamaVicenteSão Cristóvão25
1927Flamengo (6)FluminenseNiloBotafogo30
1928América (4)Vasco da GamaVicenteSão Cristóvão21
1929Vasco da Gama (3)AmericaRussinho
Telê
Vasco
América
23
1930Botafogo (4)Vasco da GamaPreguinho
Ladislau
Fluminense
Bangu
20
1931America (5)Vasco da GamaRussinhoVasco17
1932Botafogo (5)FlamengoPreguinhoFluminense21
1933Botafogo (6)Olariaby AMEA, Associação Metropolitana de Esportes AthleticosNiloBotafogo19
1934Botafogo (7)Andarahyby AMEA, Associação Metropolitana de Esportes AthleticosBianco - AMEA13

Professional era

SeasonWinnerRunner-upCommentsTop ScorerClubGoals
1933Bangu (1)Fluminenseby LCF, Liga Carioca de Futebol - recognized later as an official championshipTiãoBangu13
1934Vasco da Gama (4)São Cristóvãoby LCF, Liga Carioca de Futebol - recognized later as an official championshipAlfredinhoFlamengo10
1935Botafogo (8)Vasco da Gamaby FMD, Federação Metropolitana de DesportosLadislauBangu18
1935America (6)Fluminenseby LCF, Liga Carioca de Futebol - recognized later as an official championshipChinaBonsucesso16
1936Vasco da Gama (5)Madureiraby FMD, Federação Metropolitana de DesportosCarvalho LeiteBotafogo15
1936Fluminense (10)Flamengoby LCF, Liga Carioca de Futebol - recognized later as an official championshipHérculesFluminense23
1937Fluminense (11)Flamengoby LFRJ, Liga de Futebol do Rio de JaneiroNiginhoVasco25
1937São Cristóvão (2)Madureiraby FMD, Federação Metropolitana de Desportos, recognized officially in 2023.[2] Carreiro
Caxambu
Roberto
São Cristóvão7
1938Fluminense (12)FlamengoCarvalho LeiteBotafogo16
1939Flamengo (7)Vasco da GamaCarvalho LeiteBotafogo22
1940Fluminense (13)FlamengoLeônidasFlamengo30
1941Fluminense (14)FlamengoPiriloFlamengo39
1942Flamengo (8)BotafogoHelenoBotafogo28
1943Flamengo (9)FluminenseJoão PintoSão Cristóvão26
1944Flamengo (10)Vasco da GamaGeraldinoCanto do Rio19
1945Vasco da Gama (6)BotafogoLeléVasco13
1946Fluminense (15)BotafogoRodriguesFluminense28
1947Vasco da Gama (7)BotafogoDimasVasco18
1948Botafogo (9)Vasco da GamaOrlando
Octávio
Fluminense
Botafogo
21
1949Vasco da Gama (8)FluminenseAdemirVasco31
1950Vasco da Gama (9)AmericaAdemirVasco25
1951Fluminense (16)BanguCarlyleFluminense23
1952Vasco da Gama (10)FlamengoMenezes
Zizinho
Bangu19
1953Flamengo (11)FluminenseBenítezFlamengo22
1954Flamengo (12)AmericaDino da CostaBotafogo24
1955Flamengo (13)AmericaPaulinhoFlamengo23
1956Vasco da Gama (11)FluminenseValdoFluminense22
1957Botafogo (10)FluminensePaulo ValentimBotafogo22
1958Vasco da Gama (12)FlamengoQuarentinhaBotafogo20
1959Fluminense (17)BotafogoQuarentinhaBotafogo25
1960America (7)FluminenseQuarentinhaBotafogo25
1961Botafogo (11)FlamengoAmarildoBotafogo18
1962Botafogo (12)FlamengoSaulzinhoVasco18
1963Flamengo (14)FluminenseBianchiniBangu18
1964Fluminense (18)BanguAmorosoFluminense19
1965Flamengo (15)BanguAmorosoFluminense10
1966Bangu (2)FlamengoPaulo BorgesBangu16
1967Botafogo (13)BanguPaulo BorgesBangu13
1968Botafogo (14)Vasco da GamaRobertoBotafogo13
1969Fluminense (19)BotafogoFlávioFluminense15
1970Vasco da Gama (13)FluminenseFlávioFluminense18
1971Fluminense (20)BotafogoPaulo César CajuBotafogo11
1972Flamengo (16)FluminenseDovalFlamengo16
1973Fluminense (21)Vasco da GamaDarioFlamengo15
1974Flamengo (17)Vasco da GamaLuisinho TomboAmerica20
1975Fluminense (22)Botafogo
Vasco da Gama
ZicoFlamengo30
1976Fluminense (23)Vasco da GamaDovalFluminense20
1977Vasco da Gama (14)FlamengoZicoFlamengo27
1978Flamengo (18)Vasco da GamaZico
Cláudio Adão
Roberto Dinamite
Flamengo
Flamengo
Vasco
19
1979Flamengo (19)FluminenseZicoFlamengo26
1979Flamengo (20)Vasco da Gamaextra tournamentZicoFlamengo34
1980Fluminense (24)Vasco da GamaCláudio AdãoFluminense20
1981Flamengo (21)Vasco da GamaRoberto DinamiteVasco31
1982Vasco da Gama (15)FlamengoZicoFlamengo21
1983Fluminense (25)FlamengoLuisinho TomboAmerica22
1984Fluminense (26)FlamengoBaltazar
Cláudio Adão
Botafogo
Bangu
12
1985Fluminense (27)BanguRoberto DinamiteVasco12
1986Flamengo (22)Vasco da GamaRomárioVasco20
1987Vasco da Gama (16)FlamengoRomárioVasco16
1988Vasco da Gama (17)FlamengoBebetoFlamengo17
1989Botafogo (15)FlamengoBebetoFlamengo18
1990Botafogo (16)Vasco da GamaGaúchoFlamengo14
1991Flamengo (23)FluminenseGaúchoFlamengo17
1992Vasco da Gama (18)FlamengoÉzioFluminense15
1993Vasco da Gama (19)FluminenseValdirVasco19
1994Vasco da Gama (20)FlamengoCharles
Túlio
Flamengo
Botafogo
14
1995Fluminense (28)FlamengoTúlioBotafogo27
1996Flamengo (24)Vasco da GamaRomárioFlamengo26
1997Botafogo (17)Vasco da GamaRomárioFlamengo18
1998Vasco da Gama (21)FlamengoRomárioFlamengo10
1999Flamengo (25)Vasco da GamaRomárioFlamengo16
2000Flamengo (26)Vasco da GamaRomárioVasco19
2001Flamengo (27)Vasco da GamaEdílsonFlamengo16
2002Fluminense (29)AmericanoIt was sub judice until April 14, 2009, when Fluminense were officially confirmed as the champions.[3] FábioVolta Redonda16
2003Vasco da Gama (22)FluminenseFábio BalaFluminense10
2004Flamengo (28)Vasco da GamaValdirVasco14
2005Fluminense (30)Volta RedondaTúlioVolta Redonda12
2006Botafogo (18)MadureiraDodôBotafogo9
2007Flamengo (29)BotafogoDodô
Marcelo
Botafogo
Madureira
13
2008Flamengo (30)BotafogoWellington PaulistaBotafogo14
2009Flamengo (31)BotafogoMaicosuelBotafogo12
2010Botafogo (19)FlamengoVágner LoveFlamengo15
2011Flamengo (32)FluminenseFredFluminense10
2012Fluminense (31)BotafogoAlecsandroVasco12
2013Botafogo (20)FlamengoHernaneFlamengo12
2014Flamengo (33)VascoEdmilsonVasco11
2015Vasco da Gama (23)BotafogoFredFluminense11
2016Vasco da Gama (24)BotafogoTiago AmaralVolta Redonda10
2017Flamengo (34)FluminensePaolo GuerreroFlamengo10
2018Botafogo (21)Vasco da GamaPedroFluminense7
2019Flamengo (35)Vasco da GamaBruno HenriqueFlamengo8
2020Flamengo (36)FluminenseGabriel Barbosa
João Carlos
Flamengo
Volta Redonda
8
2021Flamengo (37)FluminenseAlef MangaVolta Redonda9
2022Fluminense (32)FlamengoGabriel BarbosaFlamengo9
2023Fluminense (33)FlamengoGerman CanoFluminense16
2024Flamengo (38)Nova IguaçuPedroFlamengo11

Titles by team

ClubWinnersRunners-upWinning years
Flamengo1914, 1915, 1920, 1921, 1925, 1927, 1939, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1963, 1965, 1972, 1974, 1978, 1979 (Especial), 1979, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024
Fluminense33231906, 1907 (shared), 1908, 1909, 1911, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1924 (AMEA), 1936 (LCF), 1937 (LFRJ), 1938, 1940, 1941, 1946, 1951, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1995, 2002, 2005, 2012, 2022, 2023
Vasco da Gama1923, 1924 (LMDT), 1929, 1934 (LCF), 1936 (FMD), 1945, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1956, 1958, 1970, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2003, 2015, 2016
Botafogo1907 (shared), 1910, 1912 (AFRJ), 1930, 1932, 1933 (AMEA), 1934 (AMEA), 1935 (FMD), 1948, 1957, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1968, 1989, 1990, 1997, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2018
America1913, 1916, 1922, 1928, 1931, 1935 (LCF), 1960
Bangu1933 (LCF), 1966
São Cristóvão1926, 1937 (FMD)
Paissandu1912 (LMSA)

Participation

Most appearances

Below is the list of clubs that have more appearances in the Campeonato Carioca.

width=150px Clubwidth=50px Appwidth=70px Firstwidth=70px Last
Botafogoalign=center 121align=center 1906align=center 2024
Fluminensealign=center 120align=center 1906align=center 2024
Flamengoalign=center 114align=center 1912align=center 2024
Bangualign=center 110align=center 1906align=center 2024
Americaalign=center 109align=center 1908align=center 2021
Vasco da Gamaalign=center 106align=center 1921align=center 2024
Madureiraalign=center 82align=center 1924align=center 2024
São Cristóvãoalign=center 74align=center 1912align=center 1995
Olariaalign=center 66align=center 1924align=center 2013
Bonsucessoalign=center 65align=center 1924align=center 2018
Portuguesaalign=center 51align=center 1933align=center 2024
Volta Redondaalign=center 45align=center 1976align=center 2024
Americanoalign=center 40align=center 1976align=center 2021
Campo Grandealign=center 31align=center 1924align=center 1995

Topscorers

The 25 top score for team of the history of the Campeonato Carioca, all Brazilian, except the English Henry Welfare:

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Botafogo x Fluminense: O polêmico campeonato de 1907 . Goal.com . 11 March 2016 . 14 April 2024 . pt.
  2. Web site: História reescrita! Ferj reconhece São Cristóvão como campeão carioca de 1937 . Terra . 21 December 2023 . 7 April 2024 . pt.
  3. Web site: Fluminense é confirmado como campeão carioca de 2002 . April 15, 2009 . April 14, 2009 . Terra. pt.