Ituano FC

Ituano Futebol Clube, commonly referred to as simply Ituano, is a Brazilian association football club in Itu, São Paulo. They currently play in the Série B, the second tier of Brazilian football, as well as in the Campeonato Paulista Série A1, the top flight of the São Paulo state football league.

Ituano
Full nameItuano Futebol Clube[1]
Nickname(s)Galo de Itu (The Rooster of Itu)
Galo Rubro-Negro (The Red & Black Rooster)
Gigante Guerreiro (Giant Warrior)
Ferroviário (The Railroad)
Marechal de Ferro (Marshall of the Rails)
Founded24 May 1947 (1947-05-24)
GroundNovelli Júnior
Capacity18,560
PresidentVinicius Guitti Moraes
Head coachGilmar Dal Pozzo
LeagueCampeonato Brasileiro Série B
Campeonato Paulista
2022
2023		Série B, 6th of 20
Paulista, 4th of 16
WebsiteClub website

Founded on May 24, 1947, Ituano won the São Paulo State League twice.

The club's home colours are red and black and the team mascot is a rooster.

History

The club was founded on May 24, 1947, by employees of Estrada de Ferro Sorocabana (Sorocabana Railroad), based in Itu. When founded the club was originally known as Associação Atlética Sorocabana. In the 1960s, the club changed its name to Ferroviário Atlético Ituano and in the 1990s the club again changed its name, this time to Ituano Futebol Clube.

In 1977 a group of sportsmen of Itu unified the football of the city around Ferroviário Atlético Ituano (FAI) and reactivated the Liga Ituana de Futebol (Ituano Football League). In 1978 the club played in Série A3 the third level of the São Paulo state professional football championship. They were promoted to the Campeonato Paulista, the top-flight professional football league in São Paulo in 1989 after clinching the Série A2 championship.

In 2002, Ituano became one of the few teams from outside the São Paulo metroplex area to win the Campeonato Paulista.

In 2003, Ituano became the champion of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C after surpassing teams like Santo Andre who won the Copa Do Brasil one year later.

In 2007, Ituano were relegated back to the Brasileiro Serie C after finishing in last place and one year later were not playing in the Brazilian top 4 divisions.

In 2014, Ituano became one of the few teams outside of the São Paulo metroplex area to win the Campeonato Paulista twice beating Santos in the final.


Juninho Paulista, a former player from the club's academy and former Brazilian international, became the club's president in 2010. Juninho joined in a player-president capacity helping the team avoid relegation on the final day of the 2010 season with the decisive goal in a 3–2 victory.[2]

In 2014, Ituano won the Campeonato Paulista, defeating the storied Santos Futebol Clube on penalty kicks.

In 2019, Arsenal signed young winger Gabriel Martinelli from the club and he quickly became a first-team regular.

Stadium
Main article: Estádio Novelli Júnior

Ituano's stadium is Estádio Novelli Júnior, inaugurated in 1947. The stadium has a capacity of 18,000 people.

Mascot

The club mascot is a cock wearing the team kit. The nickname was received in 1957 when Sorocabana played against Club Atlético Ituano (Third Division champions in 1954–55, who have no connection with the current Ituano FC). On this occasion Sorocabana lost the match but the supporters said that the team had fought like a cock and from there the club received its nickname.

Rivalries

Ituano's biggest rival is Paulista Futebol Clube and they contest the Briga de Galo. Other major rivals are Ponte Preta and São Bento, representing the cities of Campinas and Sorocaba, respectively.

Players

Current squad
As of 14 April 2023

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK Brazil BRA Deivity
— GK Brazil BRA Jefferson Paulino
— GK Brazil BRA Leonardo (on loan from Red Bull Bragantino)
— DF Brazil BRA Alessandro
— DF Brazil BRA Carlão
— DF Brazil BRA Claudinho
— DF Brazil BRA Frazan
— DF Brazil BRA Marcel Scalese
— DF Brazil BRA Rafael Pereira
— DF Brazil BRA Iury
— DF Brazil BRA Madison
— DF Brazil BRA Jonathan
— DF Brazil BRA Mário Sérgio
— DF Brazil BRA Pacheco
— MF Brazil BRA André Luiz
— MF Brazil BRA Lucas Siqueira
— MF Brazil BRA Marcelo Freitas
— MF Brazil BRA Marthã
— MF Brazil BRA Matheus Aluísio
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF Brazil BRA Thiaguinho (on loan from Água Santa)
— MF Mexico MEX Alejandro Viniegra (on loan from Red Bull Brasil)
— MF Brazil BRA Bruno Xavier (on loan from Água Santa)
— MF Brazil BRA Eduardo Person
— MF Brazil BRA José Aldo (on loan from Guarani de Palhoça)
— MF Brazil BRA Nascimento (on loan from Fluminense)
— MF Brazil BRA Rafael Carvalheira
— MF Brazil BRA Yann Rolim (on loan from Tombense)
— FW Brazil BRA Andrey Quintino (on loan from Santos)
— FW Brazil BRA Bryan (on loan from Guarani de Palhoça)
— FW Brazil BRA Felipe Fonseca
— FW Brazil BRA Felipe Saraiva (on loan from Maringá)
— FW Brazil BRA Hélio Borges (on loan from Azuriz)
— FW Brazil BRA Quirino (on loan from Avaí)
— FW Brazil BRA Matheus Maia
— FW Brazil BRA Neto Berola
— FW Brazil BRA Paulo Victor
— FW Brazil BRA Rafael Silva
— FW Brazil BRA Vinícius (on loan from Cianorte)

Honours

National

State

References
  1. Team profile: Ituano Futebol Clube Soccerway. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  2. "Que Fim Levou? - Juninho Paulista". Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
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