Associação Desportiva São Caetano

Football club infobox
clubname = São Caetano


fullname = Associação Desportiva São Caetano
nickname = "Azulão (Blue Bird or Big Blue)"
founded = 1989
ground = Anacleto Campanella,
São Caetano, Brazil
capacity = 22,738
chairman = Nairo Ferreira de Souza
manager =Pintado
league = Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
season = 2007
position = Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, 10th
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leftarm1=0000FF|body1=0000FF|rightarm1=0000FF|shorts1=0000FF|socks1=0000FF
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF

Associação Desportiva São Caetano is a Brazilian football team based on the city of São Caetano, Brazil, part of the São Paulo greater metropolitan area. The team is dubbed "Azulão" (Big Blue), after the shirt colour. The sponsor is Consul, a well known Brazilian producer of household appliances. São Caetano's greatest rival is EC Santo André.

History

Founded in 1989, the club found success early, winning the Third and Second Divisions of São Paulo regional tournaments. São Caetano rose to national prominence in 2000.

In 2000, the Brazilian national championship was disputed in a rather unusual way. According to previous credentials, teams would play in the First (best teams), Second or Third Division; São Caetano played in the Second. The difference was that, after all Divisions were finished, a mini tournament would gather representatives from all of them (one team from Third Division, three from Second and twelve from First), and the winner would be the Brazilian Champion of 2000.

São Caetano was runner-up of the Second Division and qualified to the finals. Beating favourites Fluminense, Palmeiras and Grêmio, they entered the final against Vasco da Gama. The first match ended as a draw. During the second, fans invaded the pitch and the match was suspended. Despite several claims that São Caetano should be declared champion, Vasco petitioned the league for a third match, which Vasco went on to win.

Unlike many teams that rise prominently then quickly fall back to obscurity, São Caetano had another strong campaign in 2001. Playing a full season in the top division, they reached the final against Atlético Paranaense. Once again they finished as the runner-up, but consecutive seasons placing well secured their reputation on a national level.

In 2002, São Caetano was finalist of Copa Libertadores, the most important tournament in South America. Again, they were runner-up, losing the final to Olimpia of Paraguay on penalties.

São Caetano had earned respect, but no titles. In 2004, São Caetano won the São Paulo State Championship, beating the upstate squad Paulista, from Jundiaí.

On 27 October 2004, while playing in a match against São Paulo, São Caetano defender Serginho suffered a fatal heart attack.cite web | title =Após Serginho, pronto socorro vira regra no futebol | url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/esporte/ult92u83810.shtml | accessdate = 2008-07-17 | date = 2004-12-05 | language=Portuguese | publisher=Folha Online ] As São Caetano's staff let Serginho play even knowing that he had heart problems, the club was penalized heavily by the CBF,cite web | title =São Caetano sabia que Serginho não podia jogar futebol | url=http://revistaepoca.globo.com/Revista/Epoca/0,,EDG67217-6014,00.html | accessdate = 2008-07-17 | date = 2004-10-29 | language=Portuguese | publisher=Época ] cite web | title =Nairo e Forte ainda aguardam o julgamento | url=http://noticias.uol.com.br/pelenet/revista/ult1334u730.jhtm | accessdate = 2008-07-17 | date = 2005-10-27 | language=Portuguese | publisher=Pelé.net ] which has since marked a decline in their performance.cite web | title =São Caetano vê declínio um ano após a morte de Serginho | url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/esporte/ult92u94810.shtml | accessdate = 2008-07-17 | date = 2005-10-27 | language=Portuguese | publisher=Folha Online ]

At the end of the 2006, they finished within the zone of relegation, and played in the 2007 in the Série B.

Titles

International competitions

Continental championships

*Copa Libertadores de América: 1 Runner-Up - 2002

National competitions

*Brazilian Championship: 2 Runner-Up - 2000, 2001
*São Paulo State Championship: 1 time - 2004
*Campeonato Paulista Série A2: 1 time - 2000

Current squad

Transfers for 2008 season

In

* Zé Luís "from" flagicon|Brazil São Paulo Loan return
* Galvão "from" flagicon|Brazil Atlético-MG

Out

Famous players

* Adhemar
* Brandão
* Serginho Chulapa
* Magrão
* Euller
* Sílvio Luís
* César
* Dininho
* Gilberto
* Mineiro

Famous matches

* São Caetano 4-1 São Paulo 2007 Campeonato Paulista Second Semi-Final Match
* São Caetano 2-0 Club América 2002 Libertadores Cup First Semi-Final Match

tadium

São Caetano's stadium is Estádio Anacleto Campanella, built in 1955, with a maximum capacity of 22,738 people.

References

External links

* [http://www.adsaocaetano.com.br Official Website]