The São Paulo state football team () represents
São Paulo
São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...
in
association football
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...
.
History
The first steps of football in Brazil
In order to measure the strength of the two first centers of
association football
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...
in
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
, the need arose to hold fixtures between footballers who played in the states of São Paulo and the
Federal District of Rio de Janeiro. In 1901, the first combined teams were formed, later to later to become the more formalised state teams.
These were the ones responsible for holding the first international football match to take place in Brazilian territory. On 31 July 1906, at the
Velódromo da Consolação, São Paulo (called "Brazilian representatives") against the
South Africa FA took place. The South Africans (at the time, known as the All-White Team),
was touring across South America to play against Argentine teams, much more developed than the incipient Brazilian football. The result was a resounding 6–0 for the Africans.
In 1907, the first interstate competition in Brazil took place, the Taça Brasil de Seleções, putting rivals Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo face to face. São Paulo won both matches and conquered the first trophy in its history.
With the growth of football in the country, the games of the São Paulo team became more frequent in the 1910s, with emphasis on international matches representing Brazil (which had not yet had the
national team
A national sports team (commonly known as a national team or a national side) is a team that represents a nation, rather than a particular club or region, in an international sport.
The term is most commonly associated with team sports, for exa ...
established) against
Argentina
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
in 1912 and
Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes, Andes Mountains and the Paci ...
twice during 1913. The difference in development between Brazilian football and its neighbors at that time was still large, and São Paulo was defeated in all three matches.
"The Tiger" Friedenreich era
The great name of the São Paulo team is undoubtedly
Arthur Friedenreich
Arthur is a masculine given name of uncertain etymology. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur.
A common spelling variant used in many Slavic, Romance, and Germanic languages is Artur. In Spanish and Ital ...
. "The Tiger", as he became famous after
CA Paulistano
Club Athletico Paulistano –generally known as just Paulistano– is a sports club, sports and social club from the Brazilian metropolis São Paulo located in the quarter of Jardins, Jardim América, close to the city. The club was founded on ...
's tour of Europe in 1925, the first great Brazilian footballer recognized internationally, lived his heyday during the 1920s, a time when state selections were consolidated as de facto like teams, and not merely representations of the leagues.
This time, it was the state of São Paulo that was far ahead in development compared to the others, so big wins, some into double digits, were frequent in front of the other competitors. Friedenreich scored exactly 80 goals with the Seleção Paulista team shirt, more than Pelé for
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
(77 goals). Another monster of that period,
Feitiço, scored 69 goals, followed by
Petronilho de Brito
Petronilho de Brito(31 May 1904 – 1983/4), was an association footballer who played forward, and who played for the Brazil national team. He died about 1983 or 1984, in São Paulo.
Club career
Born in São Paulo, Petronilho de Brito spent mo ...
with 54.
Brazilian State Teams Championship
At that time, the state teams from
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais () is one of the 27 federative units of Brazil, being the fourth largest state by area and the second largest in number of inhabitants with a population of 20,539,989 according to the 2022 Brazilian census, 2022 census. Located in ...
,
Paraná Paraná, Paranã or Parana may refer to:
Geology
* Paraná Basin, a sedimentary basin in South America
Places In Argentina
*Paraná, Entre Ríos, a city
* Paraná Department, a part of Entre Ríos Province
In Brazil
*Paraná (state), a state ...
,
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul (, ; ; "Great River of the South") is a Federative units of Brazil, state in the South Region, Brazil, southern region of Brazil. It is the Federative units of Brazil#List, fifth-most populous state and the List of Brazilian s ...
and
Bahia
Bahia () is one of the 26 Federative units of Brazil, states of Brazil, located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast Region of the country. It is the fourth-largest Brazilian state by population (after São Paulo (state), São Paulo, Mina ...
were established, which would accompany Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo in the first major competition of the category, the
Campeonato Brasileiro de Seleções Estaduais
The Campeonato Brasileiro de Seleções Estaduais was a Brazilian football tournament contested by state teams. It was Brazil's most important football competition until the 1950s. Its last edition was played in 1987, when the CBF tried to revive ...
(). Organized from the 1920s to the 1960s almost without interruption, this was the golden age of state teams.
Large attendances were drawn to the grounds, which gradually stopped being simple pitches and became stadiums, a fundamental step for Brazil to develop the fever for football we know today. São Paulo is the second most successful team in the
Campeonato Brasileiro de Seleções Estaduais
The Campeonato Brasileiro de Seleções Estaduais was a Brazilian football tournament contested by state teams. It was Brazil's most important football competition until the 1950s. Its last edition was played in 1987, when the CBF tried to revive ...
, with 13 titles (against 14 by Rio de Janeiro). The
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais () is one of the 27 federative units of Brazil, being the fourth largest state by area and the second largest in number of inhabitants with a population of 20,539,989 according to the 2022 Brazilian census, 2022 census. Located in ...
and Bahia team also achieved the glory once.
Clubs football, schedule and decline
With increasingly professionalized football, international club competitions, transfers of great athletes to Europe, and the Brazil national team being a world phenomenon after the
1970 FIFA World Cup
The 1970 FIFA World Cup was the 9th edition of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international Association football, football championship for List of men's national association football teams, men's senior national teams. Held from 31 May to ...
, the football of state teams began to fade. Just over twenty matches was played from the 1980s to 2010, the date of the last appearance of the São Paulo team; the state model so acclaimed at the beginning of the 20th century seems to no longer please the conventional supporter. No longer featuring the great idols, and especially, with no space in the tight schedule of Brazil's football calendar, state teams ended up practically buried. Officially, the federations do not consider the teams extinct, but in practice, there is no longer any interest in reactivating them.
With the creation of
ConiFA
The Confederation of Independent Football Associations (CONIFA) is the international governing body for association football teams that are non-FIFA international football, not affiliated with FIFA.
Competitions
Men's competitions
* CONIFA Wo ...
, a São Paulo team was considered for the entity's competitions (''São Paulo FAD''), but that has no relationship with the
Federação Paulista de Futebol
Federação Paulista de Futebol (FPF) is the governing body of association football within the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It was founded on 22 April 1941, and currently organises the Campeonato Paulista, the Copa São Paulo de Juniores and ...
, and therefore, with the historical São Paulo state football team.
Players
Following is the information about the players who appeared for the São Paulo state team:
Notable players
*
Ademir da Guia
Ademir da Guia (born 3 April 1942) is a retired professional footballer who played as a midfielder during the 1960s and 1970s for Palmeiras, a leading association football team in Brazil, where he is still regarded as one of the club's all-time ...
*
Araken
*
Cafu
Marcos Evangelista de Morais (born 7 June 1970), known as Cafu (), is a Brazilian former professional Association football, footballer who played as a Defender (association football)#Full-back, right-back. Widely regarded as one of the greates ...
*
Careca
Antônio de Oliveira Filho (born 5 October 1960), better known as Careca (), is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a forward.
During his career, Careca played for several clubs, most notably with Italian side Napoli. He ...
*
Carlos Alberto
*
Charles Miller
*
Coutinho
*
Darío Pereyra
Alfonso Darío Pereyra Bueno (born 19 October 1956) is a Uruguayan former football player. Having played as a midfielder for Club Nacional de Football in his home country, he reached stardom playing for São Paulo FC as a centre-back along with ...
*
Djalma Santos
Djalma Pereira Dias dos Santos, known simply as Djalma Santos (; also spelled Dejalma Santos; 27 February 192923 July 2013) was a Brazilian footballer who starred for the Brazil national team in four World Cups and winning the 1958 and 1962 e ...
*
Feitiço
*
Friedenreich
*
Jair da Rosa Pinto
Jair da Rosa Pinto (21 March 1921 – 28 July 2005), or simply Jair, was an association footballer who played offensive midfielder – one of the leading Brazilian men's footballers of the 1940s and 1950s, who is best remembered for his per ...
*
Jorge Valdivia
Jorge Luis Valdivia Toro (, born 19 October 1983) is a Chilean national and former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.
Product of Colo-Colo youth ranks, Valdivia had an impressing loan spell at Universidad de Concep ...
*
Elano
Elano Blumer (born 14 June 1981), known as Elano, is a Brazilian football coach and former player who played as an attacking midfielder.
Known for his accurate passing and precise set pieces, Elano started his senior career at Santos, and spe ...
*
Freddy Rincón
Freddy Eusebio Rincón Valencia (; 14 August 1966 – 13 April 2022) was a Colombian professional footballer who played 84 games for the Colombia national team between 1990 and 2001. A versatile midfielder, he was capable of playing on the lef ...
*
Friaça
Albino Friaça Cardoso (October 20, 1924 – January 12, 2009), best known as simply Friaça (), was a Brazilian football striker.
He was born in Porciúncula. During his career (1944 – 1955) he played for Vasco da Gama, São Paulo and ...
*
José Poy
*
Leão
*
Leônidas Leonidas was the king of Sparta who ruled c. 489–480 BC, and who led the allied Greek forces in a last stand at the Battle of Thermopylae.
Leonidas may also refer to:
People
Antiquity
*Leonidas I, Greek king of Sparta, ruled c. 489–4 ...
*
Marcelinho Carioca
Marcelo Pereira Surcin (born 1 February 1971), known as Marcelinho Carioca, is a former Brazilian professional Association football, footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Known as ''Pé de Anjo'' (Angel's Foot) for his Direct free k ...
*
Neymar
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior (; born 5 February 1992), also known as Neymar Júnior or simply Neymar, is a Brazilian professional Association football, footballer who plays as a left winger, attacking midfielder or Forward (association foo ...
*
Pelé
Edson Arantes do Nascimento (; 23 October 1940 – 29 December 2022), better known by his nickname Pelé (), was a Brazilian professional Association football, footballer who played as a Forward (association football), forward. Widely reg ...
*
Pepe
Pepe is a pet form of the Spanish and Portuguese name José (Joseph). It is also a surname.
*
People Mononyms
*Pepe (footballer, born 1935), Brazilian footballer José Macia
*Pepe (footballer, born 1983), Brazilian-born Portuguese footballer ...
*
Oscar
Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to:
People and fictional and mythical characters
* Oscar (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters named Oscar, Óscar or Oskar
* Oscar (footballer, born 1954), Brazilian footballer ...
*
Petronilho de Brito
Petronilho de Brito(31 May 1904 – 1983/4), was an association footballer who played forward, and who played for the Brazil national team. He died about 1983 or 1984, in São Paulo.
Club career
Born in São Paulo, Petronilho de Brito spent mo ...
*
Remo
Remo Inc. is an American musical instruments manufacturing company based in Valencia, California, and founded by Remo Belli in 1957. Products manufactured include drum kits, drumheads, drums, and drum hardware, hardware, and various percussio ...
*
Rivellino
Roberto Rivellino (; born 1 January 1946), known as just Rivellino, is a Brazilian football pundit and former player who was one of the key members of Brazil's 1970 FIFA World Cup-winning team.
The son of Italian immigrants from Macchiagodena, ...
*
Socrates
Socrates (; ; – 399 BC) was a Ancient Greek philosophy, Greek philosopher from Classical Athens, Athens who is credited as the founder of Western philosophy and as among the first moral philosophers of the Ethics, ethical tradition ...
*
Teixeirinha
Teixeirinha (March 3, 1927 - December 4, 1985), given name Vitor Mateus Teixeira, was a Brazilian musician. ''Teixeirinha'' is the diminutive form of the common Portuguese-language surname of ''Teixeira'', is one of the greatest Brazilian art ...
*
Toninho Guerreiro
Antônio Ferreira (10 August 1942 – 26 January 1990), usually known as Toninho Guerreiro, was a Brazilian footballer who played as a forward.
He played for Santos FC with Pelé as a forward in the 1960s, scoring 283 goals in 373 games (.7 ...
*
Viola
The viola ( , () ) is a string instrument of the violin family, and is usually bowed when played. Violas are slightly larger than violins, and have a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of the ...
*
Waldemar de Brito
Waldemar de Brito (, 17 May 1913 – 21 February 1979) was a Brazilian Association football, footballer who played as a Forward (association football), forward for several clubs in Brazil and Argentina, as well as for the Brazil national footbal ...
Top goalscorers
Managers
These are all the managers who as headed São Paulo state team:
*
Sílvio Lagreca
Silvio Lagreca (14 June 1895 – 29 April 1966) was a Brazilian football manager. He was the first manager of Brazilian Football Confederation in 1914 alongside Rubens Sales and after in 1940.
Lagreca was born in Piracicaba, Brazil. Prior to b ...
(1931–1939)
* Ângelo Mastrandrea (1941)
*
Flávio Costa
Flávio Rodrigues da Costa (14 September 1906 – 22 November 1999) was a Brazilian football player and manager. He managed the Rio de Janeiro clubs Vasco da Gama and Flamengo, as well as Colo Colo of Chile, and FC Porto of Portugal.
Costa coac ...
(1941–1942)
*
Armando Del Debbio (1942–1943)
*
Vicente Feola
Vicente Ítalo Feola (; 20 November 1909 – 6 November 1975) was a Brazilian football manager and coach from São Paulo. He is best known for leading the Brazil national team to its first FIFA World Cup title in 1958.
Biography
Feola was ...
(1944)
*
Joreca (1946–1947)
*
Vicente Feola
Vicente Ítalo Feola (; 20 November 1909 – 6 November 1975) was a Brazilian football manager and coach from São Paulo. He is best known for leading the Brazil national team to its first FIFA World Cup title in 1958.
Biography
Feola was ...
(1949–1950)
*
Aymoré Moreira
Aymoré Moreira (24 April 1912 – 26 July 1998) was a Brazilian football player and coach, who played as a goalkeeper. He was a brother of Zezé Moreira and Ayrton Moreira, both of whom were also successful coaches in Brazilian football.
...
(1950–1955)
*
Osvaldo Brandão
Osvaldo Augusto Brandão (18 September 1916 – 29 July 1989) was a Brazilian association football, football player and coach who managed Brazil national football team, Brazil in 1955, 1956, and 1957, and from 1975 to 1977 and the Sociedade E ...
(1955)
*
Zezé Procópio (1956)
*
Aymoré Moreira
Aymoré Moreira (24 April 1912 – 26 July 1998) was a Brazilian football player and coach, who played as a goalkeeper. He was a brother of Zezé Moreira and Ayrton Moreira, both of whom were also successful coaches in Brazilian football.
...
(1957)
*
Lula (1958–1959)
*
Aymoré Moreira
Aymoré Moreira (24 April 1912 – 26 July 1998) was a Brazilian football player and coach, who played as a goalkeeper. He was a brother of Zezé Moreira and Ayrton Moreira, both of whom were also successful coaches in Brazilian football.
...
(1960)
*
Lula (1961–1962)
*
Osvaldo Brandão
Osvaldo Augusto Brandão (18 September 1916 – 29 July 1989) was a Brazilian association football, football player and coach who managed Brazil national football team, Brazil in 1955, 1956, and 1957, and from 1975 to 1977 and the Sociedade E ...
(1963)
*
Aymoré Moreira
Aymoré Moreira (24 April 1912 – 26 July 1998) was a Brazilian football player and coach, who played as a goalkeeper. He was a brother of Zezé Moreira and Ayrton Moreira, both of whom were also successful coaches in Brazilian football.
...
(1964–1967)
*
Antoninho (1968–1969)
*
Alfredo Ramos (1973)
*
Otto Glória
Otto Martins Glória (9 January 1917 – 4 September 1986) was a Brazilian football coach.
Career
Glória was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but had his greatest successes with Benfica in Portugal, guiding the club to nine national trophies. ...
(1974)
*
José Poy (1974–1975)
*
Rubens Minelli
Rubens Francisco Minelli (19 December 1928 – 23 November 2023) was a Brazilian football player and manager.
As a player, he played as a winger for Ypiranga, Nacional (SP), Palmeiras, Taubaté and São Bento, where he ended his career aft ...
(1977)
*
Carlos Alberto Silva
Carlos Alberto Silva (14 August 1939 – 20 January 2017) was a Brazilian football manager.
Graduate in physical education by Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Silva became famous managing Guarani in its 1978 Brazilian Championship title.
...
(1980)
*
Jorge Vieira (1981)
*
Mário Travaglini (1982–1984)
*
Candinho
José Cândido Sotto Maior, usually known as Candinho (born January 18, 1945), is a Brazilian football manager.
Honours
;Al-Hilal
* Saudi Crown Prince Cup: 1984
* Saudi Professional League: 1984–85
;Grêmio
* Campeonato Gaúcho: 1986
;B ...
(1986)
*
Rubens Minelli
Rubens Francisco Minelli (19 December 1928 – 23 November 2023) was a Brazilian football player and manager.
As a player, he played as a winger for Ypiranga, Nacional (SP), Palmeiras, Taubaté and São Bento, where he ended his career aft ...
(1987–1988)
*
Jair Pereira (1988–1990)
*
Alfredo Mostarda (1990)
*
Vanderlei Luxemburgo
Vanderlei Luxemburgo da Silva (born 10 May 1952) is a retired former Brazilian professional football coach and player.
A left wingback, Luxemburgo represented Flamengo, Internacional and Botafogo before retiring in 1980. He subsequently be ...
(1996)
*
Oswaldo de Oliveira
Oswaldo de Oliveira Filho (born 5 December 1950), known as Oswaldo de Oliveira, is a Brazilian football manager.
Manager career
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Oswaldo de Oliveira became the first team coach for Corinthians in 1999 when Vanderlei Luxem ...
(1999)
*
Tite (2004)
*
Caio Júnior
Luiz Carlos Sarolli (8 March 1965 – 28 November 2016), known as Caio Júnior or Caio Jr., was a Brazilian football forward and coach.
He spent his 14-year professional career in Brazil and Portugal, notably amassing Primeira Liga totals of 1 ...
(2007)
*
Vagner Mancini
Vagner do Carmo Mancini (born 24 October 1966) is a Brazilian professional football coach and former player who played as a midfielder. He is the current head coach of Goiás.
Playing career
Born in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Mancini started ...
(2010)
Honours
*
Campeonato Brasileiro de Seleções Estaduais
The Campeonato Brasileiro de Seleções Estaduais was a Brazilian football tournament contested by state teams. It was Brazil's most important football competition until the 1950s. Its last edition was played in 1987, when the CBF tried to revive ...
:
**Winners (13): 1922, 1923, 1926, 1929, 1933 (FBF), 1934 (FBF), 1936, 1941, 1942, 1952, 1954, 1956, 1959
*Taça Brasil de Seleções: (vs. Rio de Janeiro)
**Winners: 1907
*Taça Rio-São Paulo de Seleções: (vs.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...
)
**Winners: 1916
*Taça Füchs: (vs.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...
)
**Winners: 1918
*Taça Rodrigues Alves: (vs.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...
)
**Winners (2): 1919, 1920
*Taça Afonso de Camargo: (vs. Paraná)
**Winners (3): 1920, 1921, 1922
*Taça Washington Luís: (vs. Paraná)
**Winners: 1923
*Taça Raul Pontual: (vs.
Palestra Itália-PR)
**Winners: 1926
*Taça Castellões: (vs.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...
)
**Winners: 1928
*Taça Broadway Melody: (vs.
Bologna
Bologna ( , , ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. It is the List of cities in Italy, seventh most populous city in Italy, with about 400,000 inhabitants and 150 different nationalities. Its M ...
)
**Winners: 1929
*Taça Júlio Prestes: (vs.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...
)
**Winners: 1929
*Taça General Artigas: (vs.
Nacional
Nacional, the Portuguese and Spanish word for "national", may refer to:
Airlines
* Nacional Transportes Aéreos, a Brazilian airline defunct in 2002
* Transportes Aéreos Nacional, a Brazilian airline defunct in 1961
Bank
* Banco Nacional, a ...
/
Peñarol
Club Atlético Peñarol (), more commonly referred to as Peñarol, is a Uruguayan professional football club based in Montevideo. The club currently competes in the Uruguayan Primera División, the highest tier in Uruguayan football.
The nam ...
)
**Winners: 1955
*Torneio Garrastazu Médici:
**Winners: 1969
*Taça ACERJ: (vs.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...
)
**Winners: 1981
*Troféu Miguel Arraes: (vs. Pernambuco)
**Winners: 2007
*Copa Inovação: (vs.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...
)
**Winners: 2010
Fixtures and results
21st century
The São Paulo team played only three matches in the XXI century:
Last squad
The following players were called up for the Copa Inovação against Rio de Janeiro, on 9 December 2010.
Head-to-head record
Below is a result summary of all matches São Paulo have played against another Brazilian state teams,
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (), more commonly known by its acronym FIFA ( ), is the international self-regulatory governing body of association football, beach soccer, and futsal. It was founded on 21 May 1904 to o ...
national teams and clubs.
State teams (non-FIFA)
National teams (FIFA)
External links
Gazeta Press – Historical photos of the São Paulo state teamHistória do Futebol - 1934 São Paulo state team rare photos
References
{{Non-FIFA teams