Campeonato Paulista


The Campeonato Paulista Série A1, commonly known as Campeonato Paulista, nicknamed Paulistão, is the top-flight professional football league in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. Run by the FPF, the league is contested between 16 clubs and typically lasts from January to April. Rivalries amongst four of the most well-known Brazilian teams have marked the history of the competition. The Campeonato Paulista is the oldest established league in Brazil, being held since 1902 and professionally since 1933.

Format

Campeonato Paulista is held annually by the Federação Paulista de Futebol, or FPF, amongst teams residing within the state of São Paulo. 20 clubs compete in the highest level of the championship. In a new format starting in 2007, each team plays the others once in a round-robin format, followed by a four-team playoff with home-and-away series. In addition, teams that finish the regular season in places 5 through 8 will compete in a playoff for the title of "Campeão do Interior". The four lowest placed teams are relegated to the lower competition for the following year.
Série A2 is competed by 20 teams in three separate phases. In Phase One, the teams are split into two groups, playing each other twice in a home-and-home series. The bottom two from each group are relegated to Série A3; the top four advance to Phase Two. Phase two consists of the eight advancing teams organized into groups, repeating the home-and-home series within the group. The top two placed teams from each group are promoted to Série A1; each top team advances to Phase Three, a single championship game to determine the tournament winner.
Série A3 consists of 20 teams competing in a three phase format similar to Série A2. Promotion and relegation rules are the same as in this higher level.
The Second Division matches are held by minor teams during the Brazilian league. The number of teams involved varies, with 45 participants in 2011. Top four teams are promoted to Série A3.

History

Founding

was responsible for the creation of the first São Paulo state tournament. Miller introduced the football association rules to Brazil upon his return from England, where he attended college and discovered the sport. On December 14, 1901, the Liga Paulista de Foot-Ball, or LPF was founded, comprising five initial teams: São Paulo Athletic Club, Internacional, Mackenzie, Germânia, and Paulistano. Between April and October 1902, those teams competed in the first edition of the tournament, with São Paulo AC winning the title and Miller himself as the leading goalscorer. Unlike in Argentina and Uruguay, football was restricted to elitist clubs in its early days in Brazil.
Football popularity grew in following years. Paulistano, a club composed of the children of the richest families of São Paulo, became the strongest team. However, the popularity base of the sport started to change after a brilliant exhibition tour by the Corinthians, a London amateur team, in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. They easily defeated the best Brazilian teams of the time and made a very favorable impression amongst the younger fans. Shortly thereafter, a group of workers were inspired to found the city's first popular team, Sport Club Corinthians Paulista.

1910s–1930s

Growth of football popularity amongst lower classes generated a rift in the LPF. Their directors had defended that football should remain an elitist sport. This difference in opinion led to creation of another competing league, the Associação Paulista de Esportes Atléticos, APEA, which promoted the sport among all social classes. Corinthians and Palestra Itália, and Paulistano helped to comprise the new league.
The LPF ceased operation in 1917. Until 1926, the APEA remained the only league in São Paulo. Stronger teams, larger crowds and players such Neco and Arthur Friedenreich contributed to the footballmania that converted football from "foreigner's fun" to Brazil's most popular sport. Debates surrounded the issue of whether football should professionalize or remain a purely amateur endeavor. Paulistano, the most trophied team at the time, refused to become professional and departed in 1925 to create the Liga de Amadores de Futebol . Competition between the two leagues fueled expansion of the teams, as clubs from upstate began to join.
By 1930, the LAF and Paulistano had folded, and a new era for São Paulo football began. Players became professionals in 1933 when Bandeirante Football League was created. Corinthians and Palestra Itália assumed their positions as the most powerful and popular teams. A new club emerges to compete for the hearts of supporters. Some dissidents from Paulistano, favorable to professionalization, along with the directors of AA Palmeiras united to form São Paulo Futebol Clube, the third force of the city.

Modern era

The APEA had ceased operations in 1938, and after several name changes, the original Bandeirante Football League officially became the Federação Paulista de Futebol, on April 22, 1941. São Paulo signed Leonidas da Silva in the following year and won five of the next eight championships. Palestra Itália change its name to Palmeiras in 1943 due to a World War II period law that banned Axis Powers's references in sport. Football grows within the state and a second division is created in 1948, allowing upstate teams to take part in major league competition. XV de Novembro from Piracicaba was the first team promoted to the top flight.
São Paulo, Palmeiras and Corinthians dominated titles in early 1950s. Santos, although having competed consistently, would need to wait a few more years to gain top status. 1957 saw the debut of one of football's greatest players, Pelé. His goals helped Santos to win nine of the next twelve championships. Pelé was the league top scorer in every year between 1957 and 1965 including a record 58 goals in a single season. Santos won numerous competitions at the state, national, regional and international level. Palmeiras's "Academia" teams were the only ones able to break such dominance in the sixties.
Since the 1960s, Brazil began to develop more mature national competitions which competed with the state and regional tournaments for supporter's attention. In 1977, Corinthians' were able to win a title after a 24-year drought, and the early eighties saw the battle between Corinthians and São Paulo's. The "Corinthians Democracy" won in 1982 and 1983 while introducing a new philosophy in club management, where players participate in all decisions with management. São Paulo became the most successful team of the decade, winning the championship in 1980, 1981, 1985, 1987 and 1989. The last years saw the emergence of players such as Müller and Silas on that team. Internacional from Limeira accomplished a great upset in 1986 by defeating Palmeiras to win the final.
Bragantino vs. Novorizontino was the final in the 1990 championship in the Paulistão's biggest ever upset. Palmeiras' fans saw their club win the 1993, 1994 and 1996 championships with the greatest Brazilian squad of the decade. Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos, Edmundo, César Sampaio are among the members of the "Green Machine" which scored 100 goals in the 1996 tournament. Corinthians conquered the trophy five times in the 1995–2003 period, thus becoming the most successful team in the first 100 years of the Campeonato Paulista, with 25 titles.
Since 2000, Campeonato Paulista has lost popularity with each year. The main São Paulo state teams treat the tournament as tune-ups for the more lucrative Copa Libertadores and Brazilian National Championship. However, the Paulistão, as well as the other state tournaments in Brazil, still hold significance by providing developing talent and sustaining grass-roots soccer within the state.

Teams

The following teams will compete in the Campeonato Paulista in the 2019 season.
ClubHome city2018 result
BotafogoRibeirão Preto
NovorizontinoNovo Horizonte
BragantinoBragança Paulista
CorinthiansSão Paulo
São CaetanoSão Caetano do Sul
ItuanoItu
GuaraniCampinas
MirassolMirassol
OesteBarueri
PalmeirasSão Paulo
Ponte PretaCampinas
FerroviáriaAraraquara
Red Bull BrasilCampinas
SantosSantos
São BentoSorocaba
São PauloSão Paulo

Past tournaments

Winners and goalscorers

SeasonWinnerRunner-upTop GoalscorerTeamGoals
1902 LPFSão Paulo A.C. PaulistanoCharles MillerSão Paulo A.C.
10
1903 LPFSão Paulo A.C. PaulistanoÁlvaro and BoyesPaulistano and São Paulo A.C.
4
1904 LPFSão Paulo A.C. PaulistanoCharles MillerSão Paulo A.C.
9
1905 LPFPaulistano GermâniaHermann FrieseGermânia
14
1906 LPFGermânia Internacional FullerGermânia
4
1907 LPFInternacional Americano and PaulistanoLéoInternacional
8
1908 LPFPaulistano GermâniaPeresPaulistano
6
1909 LPFA.A. das Palmeiras PaulistanoBibiPaulistano
9
1910 LPFA.A. das Palmeiras AmericanoBoyes, Eurico, Rubens SalesSão Paulo A.C., A.A. das Palmeiras, Paulistano
10
1911 LPFSão Paulo A.C. AmericanoDécioAmericano
7
1912 LPFAmericano PaulistanoArthur FriedenreichMackenzie
1913 APEAPaulistano MackenzieJosé Pedro, Luiz Alves, Renato, Whatley, Luiz, Mesquitafirst 4 from Mackenzie, A.A. das Palmeiras, Paulistano
3
1913 LPFAmericano YpirangaDécioAmericano
7
1914 APEASão Bento PaulistanoArthur FriedenreichPaulistano
12
1914 LPFCorinthians Campos ElísiosNecoCorinthians
12
1915 APEAA.A. das Palmeiras MackenzieNazaréA.A. das Palmeiras
13
1915 LPFGermânia A.A. Campos ElíseosFacchiniA.A. Campos Elíseos
17
1916 LPFCorinthians União LapaAparicioCorinthians
7
1916 APEAPaulistano São BentoMarianoPaulistano
8
1917 APEAPaulistano Palestra ItaliaArthur FriedenreichYpiranga
15
1918 APEAPaulistano CorinthiansArthur FriedenreichPaulistano
25
1919 APEAPaulistano Palestra ItaliaArthur FriedenreichYpiranga
26
1920 APEAPalestra Italia PaulistanoNecoCorinthians
24
1921 APEAPaulistano Corinthians and Palestra ItaliaArthur FriedenreichPaulistano
33
1922 APEACorinthians Palestra ItaliaGambarottaCorinthians
19
1923 APEACorinthians Palestra ItaliaFeitiçoSão Bento
18
1924 APEACorinthians PaulistanoFeitiçoSão Bento
14
1925 APEASão Bento Corinthians and PaulistanoFeitiçoSão Bento
10
1926 LAFPaulistano GermâniaFilóPaulistano
16
1926 APEAPalestra ItaliaAutoHeitorPalestra Italia
18
1927 LAFPaulistano EspanhaArthur FriedenreichPaulistano
13
1927 APEAPalestra Italia SantosArakenSantos
31
1928 LAFInternacional Paulistano//-
1928 APEACorinthians SantosHeitorPalestra Italia
16
1929 LAFPaulistano Internacional Arthur FriedenreichPaulistano
16
1929 APEACorinthians SantosFeitiçoSantos
12
1930 APEACorinthians São Paulo da FlorestaFeitiçoSantos
37
1931 APEASão Paulo Palestra Italia and SantosFeitiçoSantos
39
1932 APEAPalestra Italia São Paulo da FlorestaRomeuPalestra Italia
18
1933 APEAPalestra Italia São Paulo da FlorestaValdemar de BritoSão Paulo da Floresta
21
1934 APEAPalestra Italia São Paulo da FlorestaRomeuPalestra Italia
13
1935 APEAPortuguesa YpirangaFigueiredoYpiranga
19
1935 LPFSantos Palestra ItaliaTelecoCorinthians
9
1936 APEAPortuguesa YpirangaCariocaPortuguesa
18
1936 LPFPalestra Italia CorinthiansTelecoCorinthians
28
1937 LPFCorinthians Palestra ItaliaTelecoCorinthians
15
1938 LFESPCorinthians São PauloEliseuSão Paulo
13
1939 LFESPCorinthians Palestra ItaliaTelecoCorinthians
32
1940 LFESPPalestra Italia PortuguesaPeixeYpiranga
21
1941Corinthians São PauloTelecoCorinthians
26
1942Palmeiras CorinthiansMilaniCorinthians
24
1943São Paulo CorinthiansHérculesCorinthians
19
1944Palmeiras São PauloLuizinhoSão Paulo
22
1945São Paulo CorinthiansPassarinho and ServilioSPR and Corinthians
17
1946São Paulo CorinthiansServilioCorinthians
19
1947Palmeiras CorinthiansServilioCorinthians
19
1948São Paulo SantosCilasYpiranga
19
1949São Paulo PalmeirasFriaçaSão Paulo
24
1950Palmeiras São Paulo and SantosPingaPortuguesa
22
1951Corinthians PalmeirasCarboneCorinthians
30
1952Corinthians São PauloBaltazarCorinthians
27
1953São Paulo PalmeirasHumbertoPalmeiras
22
1954Corinthians PalmeirasHumbertoPalmeiras
36
1955Santos CorinthiansDel VecchioSantos
23
1956Santos São PauloZezinhoSão Paulo
16
1957São Paulo SantosPeléSantos
17
1958Santos São PauloPeléSantos
58
1959Palmeiras SantosPeléSantos
44
1960Santos PortuguesaPeléSantos
34
1961Santos PalmeirasPeléSantos
47
1962Santos São Paulo and CorinthiansPeléSantos
37
1963Palmeiras São PauloPeléSantos
22
1964Santos PalmeirasPeléSantos
34
1965Santos PalmeirasPeléSantos
49
1966Palmeiras CorinthiansToninho GuerreiroSantos
27
1967Santos São PauloFlávioCorinthians
21
1968Santos CorinthiansTéiaFerroviária
20
1969Santos PalmeirasPeléSantos
26
1970São Paulo Palmeiras and Ponte PretaToninho GuerreiroSão Paulo
13
1971São Paulo PalmeirasCésar MalucoPalmeiras18
1972Palmeiras São PauloToninho GuerreiroSão Paulo17
1973Santos and Portuguesa PalmeirasPeléSantos11
1974Palmeiras CorinthiansGeraldãoBotafogo 23
1975São Paulo PortugesaSerginho ChulapaSão Paulo22
1976Palmeiras XV de PiracicabaSócratesBotafogo 15
1977Corinthians Ponte PretaSerginho ChulapaSão Paulo32
1978Santos São PauloJuariSantos29
1979Corinthians Ponte PretaLuis FernandoAmérica 27
1980São Paulo SantosEdmarTaubaté17
1981São Paulo Ponte PretaJorge MendonçaGuarani38
1982Corinthians São PauloWalter CasagrandeCorinthians28
1983Corinthians São PauloSerginho ChulapaSantos22
1984Santos CorinthiansChiquinho and Serginho ChulapaBotafogo and Santos16
1985São Paulo PortuguesaCarecaSão Paulo23
1986Internacional de Limeira PalmeirasKitaInternacional de Limeira23
1987São Paulo CorinthiansEdmarCorinthians19
1988Corinthians GuaraniEvairGuarani19
1989São Paulo São JoséToni and ToquinhoSão José and Portuguesa13
1990Bragantino NovorizontinoAlberto, Rubem, VolneiItuano, Guarani, Ferroviária12
1991São Paulo CorinthiansRaíSão Paulo20
1992São Paulo PalmeirasVálberMogi Mirim17
1993Palmeiras CorinthiansViolaCorinthians20
1994Palmeiras São PauloEvairPalmeiras23
1995Corinthians PalmeirasBentinho and PaulinhoSão Paulo and Portuguesa20
1996Palmeiras São PauloGiovanniSantos24
1997Corinthians São PauloDodôSão Paulo19
1998São Paulo CorinthiansFrançaSão Paulo12
1999Corinthians PalmeirasAlexMogi Mirim12
2000São Paulo SantosFrançaSão Paulo18
2001Corinthians Botafogo WashingtonPonte Preta16
2002Ituano União São JoãoAlex AlvesJuventus17
2003Corinthians São PauloLuís FabianoSão Paulo8
2004São Caetano PaulistaVágner LovePalmeiras12
2005São Paulo CorinthiansFinazziAmérica 17
2006Santos São PauloNilmarCorinthians18
2007Santos São CaetanoSomáliaSão Caetano13
2008Palmeiras Ponte PretaAlex MineiroPalmeiras15
2009Corinthians SantosPedrãoGrêmio Barueri15
2010Santos Santo AndréRicardo BuenoOeste16
2011Santos CorinthiansElano and LiédsonSantos and Corinthians11
2012Santos GuaraniNeymarSantos20
2013Corinthians SantosWilliamPonte Preta13
2014Ituano SantosAlan KardecPalmeiras9
2015Santos PalmeirasRicardo OliveiraSantos11
2016Santos AudaxRogerRed Bull11
2017Corinthians Ponte PretaGilberto and William PottkerSão Paulo and Ponte Preta9
2018Corinthians PalmeirasMiguel BorjaPalmeiras7
2019Corinthians São PauloRafael CostaBotafogo SP7

Format

The competition, held since 2007, is played in two-legged semifinals and final by the four best placed countryside São Paulo state clubs that did not reach the semifinal stage of the Campeonato Paulista in the season. Which in turn, is the 5th to 8th place of the first stage of Campeonato Paulista, except the teams from the city of São Paulo and also including Santos.

Past tournaments

Winners

Titles by club