The Cruzeiro emblem is one of the most representative symbols of Brazilian football, and its history is closely linked to the club's foundation. The club was founded in 1921, initially named Palestra Itália, and its name and emblem were strongly inspired by the culture and symbols of Italy. The original emblem used the colors of the Italian flag and featured the club's initials.
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The Origin of the Cruzeiro Emblem
The Palestra Itália was founded in early 1921 by a group of Italian immigrant athletes in the city of Belo Horizonte, state of Minas Gerais. At the time, the club's identity was deeply tied to Italian culture, and it was initially named “Società Sportiva Palestra Itália”. Its emblem also followed this identity, with colors and symbols that directly referenced Italy.
In 1928, the club won its first title in the Campeonato Mineiro, with a record of 12 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss, and it was in this year that the emblem began to incorporate the colors of the Italian flag.
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The First Emblem
In 1928, upon winning the Campeonato Mineiro, the Palestra Itália officially adopted the colors of the Italian flag in its emblem. The design of the first emblem was geometric, with a rhombus shape split between green and red, and in the center, a white circle with the golden letters “P” and “I”, representing the initials of the club's name.
Six years later, the emblem underwent its first modification. The border was adorned with a golden outline, and two letters "S" were added, referring to the abbreviation for “Società Sportiva.”
Name Change
On January 30, 1942, President Getúlio Vargas decreed the prohibition of the use of names and symbols related to Axis countries, such as Italy, during the Second World War. As a consequence of this measure, the Palestra Itália had to change its name and colors.
Thus, on October 7, 1942, the club was officially renamed Cruzeiro Esporte Clube. Additionally, the emblem was redesigned to incorporate the image of the Southern Cross, a constellation visible in the Southern Hemisphere, as its new symbol. This change took considerable time to implement, but it eventually became the club's new emblem.
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Updates to the Emblem
Since the creation of the first emblem, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube has undergone six significant changes to its emblem over the years.
One of the most significant changes occurred in 1959, when the pattern of the Southern Cross constellation was adjusted to reflect its true position in the sky, as seen from Earth.
In 1996, the emblem featured a new configuration of stars, with the addition of five stars symbolizing important achievements of the club. In 2003, after the historic achievement of the “Triplete” (titles of the Campeonato Mineiro, Copa do Brasil, and Copa Libertadores), the emblem received a crown, representing the grandeur of the accomplishment.
Current Cruzeiro Emblem
In 2021, the Cruzeiro emblem underwent its most recent update, celebrating the club's centenary. The emblem was redesigned to remove the crown and adopt a deeper shade of blue, in accordance with established standards. The new blue color of the emblem follows the Pantone 286 CV.
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