Botafogo Futebol Clube, or simply Botafogo-PB, is a Brazilian football club based in the city of João Pessoa. Founded on September 28, 1931, it is one of the most traditional teams in the state of Paraíba.
It is the club with the most titles in the Paraibano Championship, with 30 victories, including five consecutive three-time championships (the record for the competition). It is also the first and only team from Paraíba to have officially won a division of the Brazilian Football Championship,[note 1] having won the Série D of the National in 2013. The Belo,[note 2] as it is affectionately called by its fans, has the largest fan base in the state and the eighth largest in the Northeast. Among the 128 clubs in Series A, B, C, and D of 2016, it was the 21st club with the highest average attendance, ahead of six Serie A clubs and 17 Serie B clubs. In addition, it is part of the select list of Brazilian clubs that have never been relegated from any of the national divisions of the Brasileirão.
It typically plays its matches at the Estádio José Américo de Almeida Filho.
History
The state of Paraíba was still feeling the effects of the Revolution of 1930. The capital had just changed its name and was now called João Pessoa. Affected or not by the tragic political events, a courageous group of Paraíba students had as their favorite pastime participating in informal football matches in the many vacant lots still present around their homes.
It was around this group of talented teenage athletes that the idea of founding a new club began to take shape. Thus, after an "Assembly" filled with suggestions, on September 28, 1931, several boys founded one of the greatest football clubs in Paraíba: the Bota-Fogo Futebol Clube.
They decided on this name and then established their first board of directors:
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President: Beraldo de Oliveira
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Vice-President: Manoel Feitosa (Nezinho)
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1st Secretary: Livonete Pessoa
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2nd Secretary: José de Melo
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Treasurer: Edson de Moura Machado
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Speaker: Enock Lins
The stage for this important event was a modest house, number 45, on Borges da Fonseca street, now Av. D. Pedro II, very close to the corner of 13 de Maio street.
The Name "Botafogo"
The Belo has an interesting story behind the choice of its name. Journalist André Resende wrote a book (still unpublished) in which he talks about the classic Botauto. According to his research, historical records taken from newspapers of the time show that the name emerged amid a context of strike in João Pessoa in the early 1930s.
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In the earliest records available, the club's name appeared written separately: Bota-Fogo, due to some employees of the newspaper A União, who participated in the founding of the club. They were going through a strike at the time and wanted to use the newly founded team as a form of protest.
First Title
Botafogo's journey began in the year following its foundation, in 1932, when the club entered the now-defunct Suburban League. Its first match was against São Bento from Bayeux, which became its most formidable rival. The match ended in a 2-2 draw in the Suburban Championship final. This result granted Botafogo its first title.
First State Title
Botafogo won its first state title in 1936, facing Sol Levante in a match held on December 13 of that year, with a 3-2 victory for Botafogo, which earned it its first state championship. Lucas (2) and Pilota scored for the alvinegro. The champion fielded the following players: Pagé, Euclides, Márcio Teixeira, Pedro Macaco, Lemos, Américo Filho, Tonico, Ronal, Lucas, Hélio, and Evan Holmes.
First International Match
The first challenge against an international rival occurred in 1951, a 3-2 loss to Vélez Sarsfield-ARG, at the Estádio da Graça. The match was organized by then-president José América de Almeida Filho (who died in 1973 in a car accident; son of former governor José Américo de Almeida, who passed away in 1980), who had also been a former player and present in the first Botauto (1-1; stadium of EC Cabo Branco) in 1938, which was named after the main stadium of the capital.
Growth
The title further motivated the club, and months later it submitted a request for affiliation to the now-defunct Paraibana Sports League. After this affiliation, Botafogo began to think about forming a strong team, and its first reinforcement was the goalkeeper Pagé, who became a legend in Paraíba football. In addition to Pagé, Botafogo brought in Miguel, Nilo, Euclides, Juarez, and Humberto Sorrentino from Palmeiras Sport Club. The club also welcomed Tonico (Antônio de Abreu e Lima), who would later become president of the club. Additionally, Botafogo recruited Hélio Falcão, Ireno Abreu de Figueiredo, and José Laurentino from Vasco da Gama. Even with the team already formed with players from Palmeiras and Vasco, Botafogo wanted more and managed to acquire two players from the region: Júlio Milanez and Misael Barbosa from Vencedor, one of Botafogo's rivals at the time. With this squad, Botafogo became a respected club, mainly because its fans began to demand victories, thanks to the quality of each player.
Tricampeão Slayer
Botafogo Futebol Clube was nicknamed by the magazine Placar as the "Tricampeão Slayer." This nickname arose due to victories over Flamengo-RJ at Maracanã by 2-1 and Internacional-RS also by 2-1 at Almeidão stadium in the Brazilian Serie A in 1980. These two clubs became state three-time champions in the same year and were defeated by one of the best teams in the history of the Paraíba club.
Rise of the Nickname "Belo"
The term "Belo," the affectionate nickname by which the club is called by its fans, arose from the excitement of a goal. Upon witnessing a brilliant goal by Botafogo, Antônio de Abreu e Lima (known as Tonico), then a club advisor, shouted with such intensity and fervor the adjective, that it led the fans to join in and shout together.
Champion of the Copa Paraíba 2010
Botafogo was crowned champion of the Copa Paraíba 2010, having played four matches, winning three, and losing only one. In the second round, Botafogo had two victories, one draw, and one loss. Botafogo won the first round, while CSP won the second round; Botafogo was crowned champion for being the best team in the overall classification, with eight matches, five victories, one draw, and two losses.
Paraíba Champion 2013
Botafogo became Paraíba champion in 2013, breaking a nine-year title drought. After losing the first match of the final to Treze at Almeidão by 1-0, the capital team needed to win at Amigão by a score of 2-0 to be crowned champion. The club achieved a 3-0 scoreline at the Estádio Amigão in Campina Grande, silencing almost 18,000 Treze fans. All three goals were scored in the second half by Wanderley at the 22nd minute, Hércules at the 26th minute, and Ferreira (penalty) at the 48th minute of the second half. The club reached its 26th Paraíba title, increasing the gap in titles over the second-placed Campinense Clube. The top scorer of the championship was Botafogo's Warley, who achieved his third consecutive title with the three largest clubs in the state. Botafogo had a total of eighteen victories, seven draws, and seven losses in the championship.
Brazilian Série D Champion 2013
Botafogo secured a spot in Série C of 2014 after defeating Tiradentes - CE in the quarter-finals. They won the first match at home, at Almeidão, coming from behind to win 2-1, and the return match in Fortaleza by 1-0.
In the first phase, Belo was in group A4 with traditional Northeast teams, such as Sergipe and CSA. The group also included Juazeirense and Vitória da Conquista from Bahia. The Paraíba team finished the first phase in the lead, with 17 points, followed by Sergipe with 16.
In the round of 16, the opponent was Central-PE. They lost in Pernambuco in the first game by 3-1. In the return match, in an epic game, the Paraíba champion reversed the score to 3-1 and qualified on penalties, winning 5-3.
In the quarter-finals, the opponent was Tiradentes - CE, the team with the best campaign in the first phase and a sensation of the championship. They won both matches against this opponent and secured a spot in the Série C for the following year.
It is worth mentioning in this victorious campaign the consecration of Warley as an idol of the fans. The alvinegro da estrela vermelha also gained another idol, Lenílson. Goalkeeper Remerson also came out on top, and coach Marcelo Vilar wrote his name in the history of the Paraíba club once again.
The opponent in the semi-finals was Salgueiro - PE, with the first match in Salgueiro, where Belo won by 2-1, and in the return match at Almeidão, they secured a 2-0 victory. The opponent for the unprecedented final of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série D was Juventude/RS, who had defeated Tupi/MG. After losing the first leg of the final 2-1 at the Arena do Grêmio, the second leg of the grand final took place in João Pessoa, where over 20,000 fans witnessed Botafogo claim its most significant title by winning 2-0 at Almeidão, becoming the Brazilian Série D champions in 2013. Botafogo made history as the first Paraíba club to win a national title.
Paraíba Champion 2014
Botafogo was the state champion for the second time, winning the championship once again at the opponent's home. The first match took place at Almeidão stadium in João Pessoa, and the second match occurred at Amigão stadium in Campina Grande; this time, Botafogo won the championship against Campinense Clube. The first match took place in João Pessoa, with a score of 3-0 for Botafogo, with goals from Doda at the 18th minute of the first half, the second goal came from a penalty taken by defender Edson Veneno, who handled the ball; Pio stepped up to take the penalty and made it 2-0 for Botafogo at the 24th minute of the first half, and the third goal came at the 22nd minute of the second half from right-back Ferreira, closing the score for Botafogo. The second match took place in Campina Grande with a score of 0-0, which gave the two-time championship to the team that has won the most Paraíba championships. The 2014 Paraíba Championship Selection, elected by 15 journalists from the Rede Paraíba de Comunicação, had five Botafogo players: defender Magno Alves, midfielder Zaquel, midfielders Lenílson and Doda, and forward Frontini.
Campeonato Brasileiro Série C 2014
After winning the 2014 state championship, Botafogo started well in Série C, winning the "Clássico Tradição" in the first round against Treze FC by 3-2 at Almeidão stadium, and away from home, they won Treze 1-0 at Presidente Vargas stadium in the tenth round. Botafogo had a good performance in Série C 2014, being in the G4 since the first round; in round 18, the team dropped out of the G4 after losing to Águia de Marabá by 2-1 at Zinho Oliveira stadium. This defeat not only cost Botafogo a spot in the knockout stage but also contributed to Treze FC's relegation to Série D in 2015. Despite off-field factors, such as the possibility of being excluded from Série C, influencing the situation, the Botafogo team fought as hard as they could to achieve the dream of being the first club from João Pessoa to play in Série B in the points-corridor era.
Preparation for the 2015 Season
On December 8, 2014, Botafogo presented its squad at a dinner at the Cabo Branco Club. The squad will compete in the Paraibano Championship, Copa do Nordeste, Copa do Brasil, and Série C. The presentation was attended by the mayor of João Pessoa, Luciano Cartaxo, and the governor of the state of Paraíba, Ricardo Coutinho. Botafogo has players in every position: Goalkeeper: Genivaldo, Remerson, Edson; Left Back: Alex Cazumba and Glaybson; Right Back: Lucas Mendes, Toty, Toninho, and Gustavo Amaral; Defender: Walter, Roberto Dias, Mauro, Carlinho Rech, Wesley; Midfielder: Zaquel, Guto, Nata, Hercules; Midfielder: Doda, Bismarck, Chapinha, Fábio Gama, Maurício Curiel; Forward: Rafael Oliveira, Jonathan Belusso, Jeorge, Romarinho, and Juninho. Before the presentation, Botafogo announced two surprise signings, which were defender Roberto Dias and forward Jonathan Belusso. Botafogo began physical training on December 9, 2014.
2015 Season
Botafogo secured its spot in the 2016 Copa do Nordeste and Copa do Brasil, finishing second in the 2015 Paraibano Championship.
In the 2015 Copa do Nordeste, Botafogo underperformed, earning only 1 point in Group D, which included: Ceará, Fortaleza, River-PI, and Botafogo-PB. They finished with a goal differential of -5, and thus the Paraíba team did not advance.
Botafogo remained in Série C due to its 2015 performance; however, the team missed the chance to reach the Série C knockout stage after a 2-2 draw with Fortaleza at Almeidão stadium. The goals for Botafogo were scored by Gustavo (penalty) and Jó with a header.
Preparation for the 2016 Season
On December 18, 2015, Botafogo presented some players for the 2016 season to its fans at a dinner held in the Cultural Space; some players could not attend the event.
The announced squad included many well-known players and some bets for 2016.
The players arrived in João Pessoa and already trained at Maravilha.
Preparation for the 2017 Season
On the afternoon of December 1, 2016, Botafogo presented 21 of the 30 players for the 2017 season at Maravilha do Contorno, with the stands nearly full. The confirmed players under Itamar Schülle will be:
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15 remaining players from the 2016 season (goalkeepers Michel Alves, João Manoel, Edson, and Andrezon; defenders Plínio and Nildo; right-back Gustavo; midfielders Djavan, Marcelo Henrique, and Sapé; midfielders Marcinho, Raphael Luz, and Lukinhas; forwards Warley and Rafael Oliveira),
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3 promoted from the youth team (defender Walber, midfielder João Pedro, and midfielder Marquinhos);
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1 approved in a selection (forward Biro-Biro); and
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11 signings (right-back Gabriel Modesto; left-back Carlos Renato; defenders Bruno Maia, Gustavo Henrique, and Charles; midfielders Amarildo, Robston, and Higor Militão; midfielder Tarcísio; and forwards Wanderson and Diogo Campos).
Days later, on December 7, two new signings were confirmed: right-back Maranhão and Colombian Sebastián Viáfara to play left-back.
On December 20, forward Danilo Galvão, after recovering from an injury and loans to ASA and Águia de Marabá in the 2016 season, returned to Botafogo-PB for the 2017 season.
On the 20th, midfielder Djavan, one of Botafogo-PB's highlights in the 2016 season, was negotiated with Avaí. However, on January 3, the Botafogo-PB board stated that, despite the ongoing negotiation, the deal had not yet been finalized, and the player was still training at the club, potentially able to play in the first match of the Paraibano Championship. A week later, Avaí's management withdrew from the signing.
Still in December, newly signed right-back Gabriel Modesto was released by the board after a few days in the squad, while also newly signed right-back Maranhão withdrew for unknown reasons from signing a contract with Botafogo-PB. To fill the gap in the position, which only had Gustavo, the "Belo" signed right-back Diogo Rangel. On the same day, the club announced the signing of Luiz Paulo for left-back. On January 9, the board announced the signing of left-back Fernandes.
Paraíba Champion 2017
Botafogo had an impeccable campaign in the 2017 Paraibano Championship, finishing first in the overall standings of the first phase, winning all matches held in Campina Grande. They defeated the following teams while playing in the Rainha da Borborema: Serrano 1 X 2 Botafogo, Treze 0 X 1 Botafogo (First Phase), Campinense 1 X 2 Botafogo, Treze 2 X 3 Botafogo (Final). The sheriff finished the first phase with 74.1% of the points earned. In the second phase, they remained undefeated. In total, Belo suffered only four defeats. Highlight for Rafael Oliveira, the top scorer in Brazil; the forward was named the tournament's star by a vote among various journalists, scoring 17 goals in 17 matches, averaging 1 goal per game. Michel Alves, with great saves, was also considered one of the main reasons for Belo's 29th title.
Colors and Symbols
The club's mascot is the sheriff, and its colors are black and white. In the 1970s, it incorporated the color red into its badge in homage to the Flag of Paraíba and to differentiate itself from the emblem of Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas from Rio de Janeiro.
The Saga of Its Colors
Botafogo played in striped shirts until April 1937 when the LDP (Paraibana Sports League) required the club to play the championship in another shirt to avoid confusion with Palmeiras, a club from the same city that already wore a black and white striped shirt and was older in the LDP. Its president then brought a coral shirt with black, white, and red stripes from Santa Cruz, which Botafogo wore until 1941, when the club was punished by the LDP and abandoned football until 1943. In 1944, Botafogo returned, wearing the traditional Alvi Negro uniform. They typically played with black shorts and a white shirt with a black star on the chest.
The Change to Tricolor
From 1945 until 1974, Botafogo had the same uniform as Botafogo from Rio de Janeiro, when radio host Ivan Tomaz proposed, and the club's Deliberative Council approved, that the star became red, and the badge began to have the colors of the Flag of Paraíba, characterizing Botafogo. Ivan Tomaz adopted the expression ALVINEGRO DA ESTRELA VERMELHA for Botafogo. In 1976, industrialist José Flavio Pinheiro Lima, who was a São Paulo advisor, took over the presidency and added a red trim to the collar and sleeves of Botafogo's black and white shirt and began using the term tricolor for Botafogo, with the badge reflecting the colors of the Flag of Paraíba. As a result, the sports press referred to Botafogo as tricolor since the club played in black and white striped shirts with red collars and cuffs. This sparked a reaction from the club's Deliberative Council and Zé Flavio's administration, who disliked the term TRICOLOR.
The Alvinegro da Estrela Vermelha
In 1978, after Zé Flavio left Botafogo, president Luis Carlos Rangel Soares, in his first act, reinstated the traditional black and white uniform with the red star, which is still adopted by Botafogo today. The club's first anthem was composed in 1977, with lyrics and music by Jader Pordeus, and emerged exactly during Zé Flavio Pinheiro Lima's tenure at Botafogo. The controversy over the colors began there. The anthem, although not recognized in the club's statute, stated that Botafogo was tricolor, as it was composed between 1977 and 1978, when the club was referred to as tricolor due to the São Paulo influence of its president. However, Jader Pordeus's anthem became popular, leading to identity issues for Botafogo. The song, which can be called the Botafogo anthem, refers to it as tricolor, while the club's statute defines it as Alvinegro da Estrela Vermelha.
Structure
Maravilha do Contorno
Botafogo owns an area of 10 hectares, located in the Cristo Redentor neighborhood in João Pessoa. Maravilha do Contorno is the administrative headquarters of the club, and it has a complete structure for training, meetings, lodging, among other facilities. At Maravilha do Contorno, there are two football fields (Pinheirão and Joaquim Almeida Sobrinho) with official measurements, in addition to extensive facilities for athlete concentration, such as accommodation, dining room, locker rooms, gym, covered pool for player recovery, lecture room, and trophy room.
Belomania Store
Botafogo also has a store in the city called "Belomania," located at Rua Empresário João Rodrigues Alves, 125 - Sala 104 A do Empresarial Delta Center, in the Bancários neighborhood of João Pessoa - PB. The Official Store of Botafogo sells not only game kits and casual wear but also souvenirs and home objects, all featuring the Botafogo brand. The store also offers a special section for signing up for fan membership plans.
Rivalries
The major rivals of Botafogo are Treze Futebol Clube, with whom they contest the Clássico Tradição, Campinense Clube, in the so-called Clássico Emoção, teams from Campina Grande, and Auto Esporte Clube, a team from the capital, in the Clássico Botauto.
Fans
The most recent survey, conducted in 2018 by Ibope REPUCOM, indicates that Botafogo Futebol Clube has the largest fan base in Paraíba, as well as holding the eighth-largest fan base in the Northeast.
In João Pessoa, according to a 2019 survey conducted by Instituto Método, Belo stands out as having the largest fan base among all Paraíba clubs.
Organized Fans
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TOB - Organized Fans of Botafogo - founded in 1975 - located in the shaded stands.
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Young Botafogo Fans - founded on March 23, 1997. Positioned in the sunny stands (left side).
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Organized Fans Império Alvi-Negro - founded on June 18, 2004. Positioned in the shaded stands (center).
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Organized Fans Fogomania - positioned in the shaded stands (left side).
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Independent Fury of Botafogo - founded on August 15, 2008. Positioned in the sunny stands (right side).
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Sector 31 - founded on April 27, 2019. Positioned in the shaded stands (right side).
Women’s Football
In 2009, Botafogo inaugurated its women's football department. It participated in the 2009 Brazilian Women’s Football Cup but was unsuccessful due to inadequate preparation; however, it invested in the work for a year to compete in the championship the following year. It was in 2010 that the club gained national attention by competing and winning its first three matches, one of which was against the formidable São Francisco da Bahia, who narrowly avoided a rout by the girls of Belo. In the return match, they were defeated by the same São Francisco away, but left the competition drawing attention for their style of play and technical quality. ([)(needs sources)(])
Base Team: Élida, Fafá, Rincon, Vivi, and Jamayra; Janaína, Ronaldinha, Jaciara, and Ledjane; Kelly and Joana, in addition to Monique Somose (ex-Brazilian national team), Carol Frisanco (ex-Brazilian national team), and Jennifer Teles (2011 São Paulo champion).
Botafogo is the greatest champion of Paraíba women's football with six titles.