América Futebol Clube (MG)

América

Full name	América Futebol Clube
Nickname(s)	Coelho (Rabbit)
Founded	April 30, 1912
Stadium	Estádio Independência, Belo Horizonte
Capacity	23,018
Chairman	Marcos Salum
Head coach	Enderson Moreira
League	Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
2015	Série B, 4th (promoted)
Website	Club home page
Home colors Away colors Third colors

América Futebol Clube (also known as América Mineiro or simply América) is a Brazilian multisports club from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Although the club competes (or has competed) in a number of different sports, it is well known for its professional association football team. As of 2015, it plays in the Campeonato Mineiro, Minas Gerais's premier league, as well as in the Brazilian Second Division, and in the Brazilian Cup. América will be playing in the Brazilian First Division in 2016.

Founded in 1912, the club preserves its name and crest since its inception. The original home kit colours are white and green only; the black color was incorporated in the 1970s.^[1] The team switched to a red home kit between 1933 and 1942, as a protest to the introduction of professionalism into football.^[2] It hosts its matches at Independência stadium, being the only professional club in Belo Horizonte to have its own stadium.^[3] The club has the third largest number of supporters among the teams from Minas Gerais.^[4][5]

América is one of the most traditional and successful teams from Minas Gerais. It has won the state championship 15 times, and finished as runners-up in another 15 occasions. The first 10 victories were in a row, between 1916 and 1925, being the national record of successive accomplishments (together with ABC); the most recent was in 2016. Other major accomplishments were the Brazilian Second Division in 1997, South-Minas Cup in 2000, and Brazilian Third Division in 2009.

The club has a long reputation in forming young talents in football.^[6] Among others, it has revealed the world-class players Tostão, Éder Aleixo, Yuji Nakazawa, Gilberto Silva, Fred and Danilo.

History

On 30 April 1912, a group of young men who played football purely for the love of the game decided to turn their team into a football club.^[7] In the first meeting, the founders decided that the name of the club would be América Foot-Ball Club,^[8] and the colors would be green and white.^[7] The first matches were played on the mayor's field.^[7] In 1913, América and Minas Gerais Futebol Clube fused, and the club changed its colors to green, white and black.^[9] Between 1916 and 1925, the team won ten state championships in a row.^[9]

In 1933, as a protest to the professionalization of Brazilian football, the club changed its colors to red and white.^[7] In 1943, the club professionalized its football division, and returned to its previous colors.^[7] In 1948, América won its first state championship as a professional club.^[9]

In 1997, América won the Série B for the first time,^[10] and in 2000, the club won the Copa Sul-Minas first edition, beating Cruzeiro in the final.^[11] In 2004, after a poor performance in the Série B, América was relegated to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C,^[12] and in 2007, the club finished in Campeonato Mineiro's last position, and was relegated to the following year's Campeonato Mineiro Second Division.^[13] América won the Série C in 2009, beating ASA in the final.^[14] The following year, the team was fourth at Série B and returned to the top level of the Brazilian championship after ten years.^[15] On 14 June 2013, América signed a cooperation contract with the Tahitian Football Federation to develop under-20 national players.^[16]

Symbols

The club's official anthem was composed by Vicente Motta. There are also two other anthems: The unofficial anthem, which was composed by Fernando Brant and Tavinho Moura, and the supporters' anthem, whose lyrics were composed by Márcio Vianna Dias and sung by Fernando Ângelo.^[17] América's mascot, was created by the cartoonist Fernando Pierucetti, and is a red-eyed white cartoon rabbit with clearly protruding teeth.^[9]

Derbies

América's greatest rivals are Cruzeiro and Atlético Mineiro.^[18] The derby between América and Atlético Mineiro is known as O Clássico das Multidões (The Derby of the Masses),^[8] and was first played on November 15, 1913, in a friendly game that ended in a 1–1 draw.^[19]

Achievements

Professional competitions

• Série B

Winner (1): 1997

• Série C

Winner (1): 2009

• Copa Sul-Minas

Winner (1): 2000

• Campeonato Mineiro

Winners (16): 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1948, 1957, 1971, 1993, 2001, 2016

Runners-up (15): 1915, 1930, 1931, 1942, 1949, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1992, 1995, 1999, 2012

• Taça Minas Gerais

Winner (1): 2005

Runners-up (3): 1977, 1980, 1984

Youth competitions

• Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20

Winner (1): 2011

• Copa São Paulo de Juniores

Winner (1): 1996

• Taça Belo Horizonte de Juniores

Winners (2): 2000, 2014

Runner-up (1): 1995

Current squad

As of 19 October 2016

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

No. Position Player GK Fernando Leal GK Glauco GK João Ricardo GK Jory DF Hélder Maurílio DF Jonas DF Alison DF Cardoso DF Éder Lima DF Messias DF Roger Duarte DF Suéliton (on loan from ABC) DF Bruno Teles DF Danilo Barcelos DF Gilson MF Claudinei MF Ernandes

No. Position Player MF Christian MF Juninho MF Leandro Guerreiro (captain) MF Makton MF Pablo de Barros MF Renato Bruno MF Eisner Loboa MF Matheusinho MF Osman MF Tony MF Xavier FW Bruno Sávio FW Danilo Dias FW Michael FW Nilson FW Nixon (on loan from Flamengo) FW Vitinho Ruas

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player MF Douglas Dopô (on loan at Democrata-GV) FW Henrique (on loan at Democrata-GV) FW Maranhão (on loan at Fortaleza)

First-team staff

Position	Name	Nationality
Head coach	Enderson Moreira	Brazil

Notable players

Álvaro Santos Britto Claudinei Éder Aleixo Esio Vieira Euller Fred Gilberto Gilberto Silva

Juca Show Milagres Palhinha Satyro Tabuada Spencer Coelho Toninho Cerezo Tostão William Morais

Notable managers

• Carlos Alberto Silva
• Flávio Lopes
• Givanildo Oliveira
• Paulo Comelli
• Yustrich

References

1. "História Do Uniforme" [Jersey history] (in Portuguese). América Futebol Clube. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
2. Miguel Jabur. "América Vermelho (1930-1942)" [Red America (1930-1942)] (in Portuguese). Acervo do América. Retrieved 2015-05-18.
3. Miguel Jabur. "A história do Estádio Independência" [The history of Independência stadium] (in Portuguese). Acervo do América. Retrieved 2015-04-07.
4. "MG tem torcida de todo o país, e RS é o estado mais fechado a times de fora" [Minas Gerais has supporters from teams from all over the country. Rio Grande do Sul is the state more closed to outsider teams] (in Portuguese). Globoesporte.com. 2014-08-30. Retrieved 2015-01-04.
5. "Flamengo e Corinthians lideram levantamento de torcidas no país" [Flamengo and Corinthians lead the ranking of number of supporters] (in Portuguese). UOL. 2004-10-04. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
6. Vinícius Las Casas (2013-04-29). "América se notabiliza na formação de talentos no futebol" [America becomes renowned in forming talents in football] (in Portuguese). Hoje em Dia. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
7. "América Mineiro" (in Portuguese). Arquivo de Clubes. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
8. "América x Atlético" (in Portuguese). Clássicos do Futebol Brasileiro. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
9. Enciclopédia do Futebol Brasileiro Lance Volume 1. Rio de Janeiro: Aretê Editorial S/A. 2001. p. 118. ISBN 85-88651-01-7.
10. "Brazil 1997 Championship – Second Level (Série B)" (in Portuguese). RSSSF. February 18, 2000. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
11. "Copa Sul-Minas 2000" (in Portuguese). RSSSF. August 25, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
12. "Brazil 2004 Championship – Second Level (Série B)" (in Portuguese). RSSSF. December 5, 2004. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
13. "Minas Gerais State Championship 2007" (in Portuguese). RSSSF. May 30, 2007. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
14. "América-MG vence o ASA e conquista o título da Série C" (in Portuguese). UOL Esporte. September 19, 2009. Retrieved September 19, 2009.
15. "América-MG segura empate, no sufoco, e garante retorno à Série A" [America-MG secure ties with difficulties and returns to the first division] (in Portuguese). UOL. 2010-11-27. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
16. "América e Taiti iniciam parceria Três atletas sub-20 devem fazer período de adaptação no clube" [América and Tahiti start partnership. Three athletes are in adaptation period in the club] (in Portuguese). América Futebol Clube. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
17. "Hinos do América" (in Portuguese). América Futebol Clube (MG) official website. Archived from the original on March 29, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
18. "De férias, Alex Mineiro pode voltar ao futebol brasileiro" (in Portuguese). Último Segundo iG. December 15, 2006. Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
19. "América x Atlético – Resultadoa" (in Portuguese). Clássicos do Futebol Brasileiro. Retrieved October 6, 2008.

External links

• (Portuguese) Official website