History of Sport Club Internacional

This article is about the history of Sport Club Internacional, a football club based in Porto Alegre, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. For an overview of the club, see Sport Club Internacional.

The foundation

The roots of Sport Club Internacional are related to three members of the Poppe family, Henrique, José and Luis. They came from São Paulo to Porto Alegre in 1908 and opened a shop in the city. The Poppes had trouble being accepted in the city clubs. In their twenties, they wanted to play sports, especially football. But Grêmio– the traditional rivals, which had existed for six years – closed their doors to them. The excuse was always the same: newly-arrived, hardly-known people… The Poppes then decided to create their own club. On 4 April 1909, Sport Club Internacional, the Club of the People of Rio Grande do Sul, were officially founded.

Kit evolution

The emblem

The first emblem of Sport Club Internacional was designed with the initials SCI in red over a white background, without the red contour that appeared shortly afterwards. In the Fifties, the colours were inverted, as the initials were written in white over a red background. After winning the 2006 Libertadores Cup, the emblem won another star. It's 50% bigger and is placed above the other four, which represent the three Brazilian championships (1975, 1976 and 1979) and the Brazilian Cup title (1992). However, still in 2006, Inter won the FIFA Club World Cup. The star symbolizing the Copa Libertadores title was moved down between the four stars representing the club’s national honours. A new and majestic diamond star was placed above it to commemorate the world crown.

The Steamroller

The Forties were remarkable for the Colorados. One of the greatest squads in the club's history was formed in that decade: the Steamroller. They were an extremely offensive team that played from 1940 to 1948 and won eight Rio Grande do Sul championships. The reason for such superiority dated back to 1926, the year Inter started accepting black players in their squad – something that was not adopted by rivals Grêmio until 1952. That decision ended up strengthening the team, which placed no restrictions and always had the best players, and also gave birth to the affectionate nickname of "The People's Club."

That team included some of the greatest football players in the club's history. Alfeu, Tesourinha, Abigail, Carlitos, Adãozinho, among others. The term "Steamroller" was coined to represent Inter's power of "crushing the opposition" in their quest for victories. It showed the superiority of the team at that time.

The club's growth

The end of the Forties marked the beginning of an era of growth for Internacional. The club restored the Eucaliptos, their old stadium, to host two matches of the FIFA World Cup in 1950 – Mexico vs Yugoslavia and Mexico vs Switzerland. On the pitch, Inter kept developing great players and provided most of the squad for the national team that won the 1956 Pan-American Games in Mexico.

Rio Grande do Sul sports were now the focus of attention. The green-and-white Inter played their first match on 01 March 1956, when they beat Chile 2-1. In the game against Costa Rica, up to then the greatest surprise of the competition, Inter demolished the opposition by 7-1, with goals scored by Larry (3), Chinesinho (3) and Bodinho.

The final was played against Argentina. A 2-2 draw meant the title of the Pan-American Games Mexico 1956 for Teté's men on an unbeaten run. Back in Brazil, the players were visited in Rio de Janeiro by the Vice President of the Republic, Mr João Goulart, and went to the Catete Palace to receive the trophy from the hands of the President of the Republic, Mr Juscelino Kubitschek. Besides gold medals, the team also won other awards, but the most important was that Brazil saw it could rely on Inter for any challenge.

In the Sixties, the Eucaliptos was becoming small for the large fan base. It was necessary to build a new stadium. Supporters mobilised and help build Beira-Rio by donating bricks, iron bars, and cement. Ten years of work elapsed until the new Colorado home was inaugurated on 06 April 1969. The ground's magnitude was reflected in its name: Gigante da Beira-Rio (literally the "Giant on the River Banks" in Portuguese).

An era of titles

Perhaps no other time is remembered with more affection and longing by the Internacional supporters than the victorious Seventies. In that decade, Inter showed which the biggest club in Rio Grande do Sul and in Brazil were. The new Beira-Rio stadium met the expectations of the fanatic crowd and was the stage for some of the best years in Internacional's history. In 1975, after a thrilling victory against Cruzeiro, at Beira-Rio, the Colorados secured the Brazilian championship title. The only goal of the match was scored by Chilean star defender Elías Figueroa. The first golden star was now on the chest of every Colorado.

In 1976, Internacional kept the victorious squad from the previous year and arrived at the top of Brazil's football for the second time. They won the title over Corinthians by winning the final match 2-0. Valdomiro was the man of the match and scored the decisive goal. The campaign in 1976 was remarkable, as in 23 matches for the Brazilian Championship, Rubens Minelli's men won 19, drew one and lost just three. The end of the decade was crowned with yet another great victory. Inter won their third Brazilian title in 1979 after beating Vasco da Gama 2-1. With 16 wins, the team did not suffer a single defeat during the championship, a deed yet unmatched by any other club in Brazil. The third star was in place, bright and proud, over the club's emblem.

Performances in Brazilian Championship

Inter appears to the world

In the Eighties, the world discovered Internacional. More than a national or regional tournament, Inter won the famous Joan Gamper tournament on 25 August 1982, in Barcelona, something no other Brazilian or Latin American club has ever achieved. The Colorados disqualified powerful Barcelona, then with Maradona, after a penalty shoot-out, and beat England's Manchester City in the final by 2-1. It was one of the greatest achievements in the club's history. In 1984, Inter won the Kirin Cup in Japan. The club started to consolidate their name in the world scenario.

After 1956 – year in which eight footballers out of the 22-player squad called up for the national team played for Internacional – the definitive glory came in 1984. To represent Brazil in that year's Olympics, in Los Angeles, Internacional had their whole squad called up. The eleven players, from the goalkeeper to the number 11, did a great job and won the silver medal. The team became known as Sele/Inter.After beating traditional sides such as Italy and Germany, Internacional players brought to Brazil the unprecedented football silver medal, a deed repeated in 1988, when Inter players such as goalkeeper Taffarel, full-back Luis Carlos Wink and centre-back Aloisio defended the Brazilian colours.

At the end of the decade, in 1989, Inter faced a real battle against archrivals Grêmio. The semi-final of the Brazilian Championship meant not only a pass for the final match, but also a place in the Libertadores Cup. The encounter became known as the "Gre-Nal of the Century." With just ten players on the pitch, Inter finished the first half losing by 1-0. In the second half, pushed by a large crowd at Beira-Rio, the Colorados came from behind to crush Grêmio with two goals scored by striker Nilson and won by 2-1. Party in Porto Alegre, in Rio Grande do Sul, and all over the world.

The fourth star

In 1992, Internacional won its fourth national title, the Brazilian Cup. The decision was against Fluminense. In the first leg, in Rio de Janeiro, a 2-1 defeat. The return leg saw a completely packed Beira-Rio, and the team coached by Antônio Lopes made a fantastic comeback to win by 1-0. The club secured the title in the away goals rule.

Towards the greatest title ever

Inter entered the new millennium seeking the essence of their football in the youth teams. The hegemony in Rio Grande do Sul came naturally with four state titles in a row, from 2002 to 2005. The club modernised all its departments and prepared for a new football era. The South American Cup meant a return to the world stage and prepared the team for contesting the Libertadores Cup title.

outh American Champions

On August 16, 2006, "Inter" managed to secure a draw against São Paulo in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final match and were crowned South American champions for the first time ever.

The campaign included eight wins, six draws, and just one defeat, to Ecuador's Liga Deportiva Universitaria in the quarter-finals. To win the title, Internacional had to move past two clubs that had won the tournament three times - Uruguay's Club Nacional de Fútbol and Brazil's São Paulo, who were the current champions.

Against São Paulo, Internacional arguably won the title away in the first leg. Stunning the 80,000 são-paulinos attending the match at the Morumbi stadium, Rafael Sóbis scored twice in the second half before defender Edcarlos scored for São Paulo. Internacional needed just a draw in the second leg at home, and they enjoyed the home advantage to the fullest and left the pitch qualified for the FIFA Club World Championship, which they played in December in Japan.

Striker Fernandão, who, along with Tinga, scored in the final match at the Beira-Rio stadium, was one of the 14 players finishing as top scorer of the Libertadores, with five goals. He was voted Man of the Match against São Paulo and won a Toyota Corolla as the prize. Fernandão put the car up for auction and gave the money to charity organizations.

Libertadores Campaign

Group Stage

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date=8 March 2006
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Fernandão goal|80
stadium= Universitário Stadium -Ciudad de México
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Fernandão goal|53
Adriano goal|85
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Botero goal|34
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Round of 16

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Quarter-Finals

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Graziani goal|83
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emi-Finals

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Fernandão goal|67
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Finals

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Sóbis goal|16
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Tinga goal|65
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Lenílson goal|84
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World Champions

After winning the Libertadores, Internacional won a place in the FIFA Club World Cup 2006, along with continental champions FC Barcelona (Spain), Club América (Mexico), Al Ahly (Egypt), Jeonbuk Motors (South Korea) and Auckland City (New Zealand). After a preliminary round between the champions of Asia, Africa, Oceania and CONCACAF, Inter were seeded to play the Egyptians for the semifinals. The match was not nearly as easy as expected, Inter having scored the opener with Alexandre Pato but conceded an equaliser in the second half. Luckily, late substitute Luiz Adriano managed to score the winner and booked the team a place in the final against giants FC Barcelona. The Spaniards advanced after a lavish 4-0 win over Club América and went to the final match regarded as favourites by the world media.

Playing the underdog, coach Abel Braga adopted a defensive formation and applied tight marking against the Catalan team, especially against superstars Ronaldinho and Deco. Even though FC Barcelona dominated possession, the game remained goalless until late in the second half. When it seemed the affair might be decided on a penalty shoot-out, Inter skipper Fernandão became injured and was replaced by Adriano Gabiru. It took the substitute just a few minutes for him to write his name in the history of football. Assisted by forward Iarley, Adriano scored the winner nine minutes from time, much to the dismay of the Spaniards. FC Barcelona kept pushing for an equaliser, but Inter held firmly until the final whistle.

emi-Finals

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date=13 December 2006
time=
team1=Al-Ahly
score= 1 – 2
team2=Internacional
goals1= Flávio goal|53
goals2= Pato goal|22
Luiz Adriano goal|71
stadium= Olympic Stadium -Tokyo
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Finals

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date=17 December 2006
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Recopa Sudamericana Champions

By winning the Recopa Sudamericana in the following year, Internacional secured the "South American triple crown", holding simultaneously the three greatest titles a South American team can compete for: the Recopa, FIFA Club World Cup and Libertadores Cup.

Finals

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date=31 May 2007
time=
team1=Pachuca
score= 2 – 1
team2=Internacional
goals1= Landín goal|16
Giménez goal|89
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stadium= Miguel Hidalgo Stadium -Pachuca Del Soto
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-----

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date=7 June 2007
time=
team1=Internacional
score= 4 – 0
team2=Pachuca
goals1= Alex goal|29
Pinga goal|49
Pato goal|63
Mosquera goal|76|o.g.
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