Campeonato Paulista

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Lore & Background

The roots of Corinthians' rivalry with the state's elite stretch back to the 1910s when a rift formed between elitist clubs and the working class. While directors of the Liga Paulista de Foot-Ball (LPF) insisted football remain an exclusive pastime, the popularity shift following a London team's exhibition tour inspired workers to found Corinthians as the city's first popular team. This new identity clashed with established powers like Paulistano and Palestra Itália. The competition intensified in the 1920s when the APEA league formed to promote football across all social classes, welcoming Corinthians alongside Italian immigrant clubs like Palestra Itália (later Palmeiras). By 1933, professionalism arrived via the Bandeirante Football League, solidifying Corinthians and Palestra Itália as the city's most powerful teams. The narrative of 'Corinthians Democracy' in the early 1980s further distinguished the club, introducing a philosophy where players like Sócrates participated in all management decisions while winning titles in 1982 and 1983.

In Their Own Story

The journey to Corinthians' first state title began with the founding of the LPF on December 14, 1901, by Charles Miller, who introduced the Laws of the Game from England. The inaugural tournament ran between April and October 1902, won by São Paulo AC, but Corinthians would eventually claim their own history. After decades of competing against dominant forces like Santos, whose star Pelé scored a record 58 goals in a single season between 1957 and 1965, Corinthians broke through. In the first century of the competition's existence, they secured 25 titles, becoming the most successful team during that span. The 1990s saw them conquer the trophy five times between 1995 and 2003. A significant moment occurred on September 23, 2021, when the FPF officially recognized historical titles from 1933 and 1934, awarded to Albion and Juventus respectively, adding depth to the league's complex record-keeping. Despite a title drought ending in 1977 after 24 years, the club has remained central to the state's football mania.

Reader's Guide

Competitors in the Campeonato Paulista Série A1 face a unique format established in 2015. The 16 teams are divided into four groups of four, but teams within the same group do not play each other, resulting in 12 initial rounds. Following this phase, the top two from each group advance to an eight-team playoff featuring single-legged ties for the Quarterfinals and Semifinals; only the Final is contested over two legs. The bottom two teams in the overall table are relegated to Série A2. Beyond the title race, performance determines continental qualification: the six best clubs reaching the latter stages qualify for the Copa do Brasil, while the top three earn spots in the Série D. For fans, understanding that the tournament runs from January to April is crucial, as it often serves as a tune-up for the more lucrative national and international competitions.

Did You Know?

• The Campeonato Paulista is the oldest established league in Brazil, having been held since 1902.
• Pelé scored a record 58 goals in a single season between 1957 and 1965 while playing for Santos.
• In 1943, Palestra Itália was forced to change its name to Palmeiras due to World War II laws banning Axis power references in sport.
• The 'Corinthians Democracy' philosophy of the early 1980s allowed players like Sócrates to participate in all club management decisions.
• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the championship was suspended from March 15, 2021, until March 30, 2021.