Happy Birthday Corinthians – 100 years old!

Today Sport Club Corinthians, one of the most popular teams in Brazil (falling short only behind Flamengo), turns 100 years old.

It is great to celebrate a century of a team so important and so proud to so many hearts (mine included). The team we love so much was born September 1st, 1910 by a group of workers from Bom Retiro (a São Paulo neighborhood). The name Corinthians came as a reference to London’s Corinthian FC which, at the time, was touring in Brazil. Sport Club Corinthians was from start a club of the people (poor or rich). It was the first team to open its doors and give playing opportunity to poor athletes and it was the second club in Brazil to accept black players.

And somehow, Corinthians is also a team which deeply bugs every other football fan in Brazil. It could be because of our passion, because in good or bad times the Fiel always sticks together, pushing the team up. Or maybe it is because we haven’t lifted the Libertadores Cup… yet, and that gives the people who absolutely love to hate Corinthians one more reason to keep on going.

Yes, people love to hate the team from Bom Retiro. But then again I understand, because their team is simply not Timão.

Corinthians is a giant in Brazilian football and that is pure fact: with 26 Paulista Championships, 4 Brazilian Championship titles, 5 torneios Rio-São Paulo, 3 Copas do Brasil, 1 Supercopa do Brasil and winner of the only FIFA World Club Championship, no one can deny the greatness and influence Timão has had in World Football. Some of the greatest footballers ever where Corinthians players: Gilmar, Dida, Rivellino, Socrates, Biro-Biro, Ricardinho, Casagrande, Basílio, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo – to name a few.

So today I tell you, I am very proud to be Corinthians. To love this football team goes beyond winning or losing.

“Corinthians minha vida, Corinthians minha história, Corinthians meu amor”