Coritiba
Coritiba Foot Ball Club, commonly known as Coritiba and colloquially referred to as Coxa, is a Brazilian football club from Curitiba, capital city of the Brazilian state of Paraná. Founded in 1909 by German immigrants, it is the oldest football club and the club with most titles in the state. The club plays its home matches at the Estádio Couto Pereira, built in 1932, with a capacity of 40,000 fans. Currently competing in the Brazilian football league system, Coritiba was the first club from Paraná to win the Brazilian Championship in 1985, breaking the hegemony of teams from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul and Minas Gerais. The club has also won two Brazilian Championship Série B titles and holds the record with 39 Paraná State Championship victories.
History
Overview
General information about the club
Coritiba is the first club from southern Brazil to have won a national title, the 1973 Torneio do Povo, and is also the first southern club to have competed in both main continental competitions, the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana. The club was both the first from Paraná to have won the Série A and to reach the semi-finals in the Copa do Brasil multiple times, reaching the finals in 2011 and 2012. Coritiba is the only club to have six consecutive Paranaense titles, between 1971 and 1976, and holds the record for the most consecutive victories, 24, in official competitions among Brazilian teams.
Most recent season and achievements
As of recent years, the club has experienced periods in both the first and second divisions of Brazilian football. In June 2023, Treecorp Investimentos completed the purchase of 90% of the club's SAF in a deal valued at 1.1 billion reais, marking a significant investment in the club's future.
History
Early years
In 1909, a group of young men met in the Clube Ginástico Teuto-Brasileiro Turnverein, where the German immigrant community of Curitiba gathered to play various sports. In July of that year, Frederico "Fritz" Essenfelder arrived with a leather ball and explained the rules of football to his friends. After organizing matches and receiving an invitation to play against a club from Ponta Grossa, Fritz called a meeting on 12 October 1909 to arrange the first match and form a football club called Teuto-Brasileiro.
On 23 October 1909, in Ponta Grossa, the club had its first official match against Clube de Foot Ball de Tiro Pontagrossense, losing 1-0. After this match, the founders decided to dedicate their club exclusively to football. Due to restrictions on non-German members in the original club, they formed a separate organization. On 30 January 1910, the independent Coritibano Foot Ball Club was formed, later changing its name to Coritiba on 21 April 1910 to avoid confusion with another local club.
Successful period
The 1970s marked the beginning of what is known as The Golden Decade for Coritiba. Starting in 1971, the club won six consecutive state championships (1971-1976), a record in Paraná state football history. In 1973, Coritiba won the Torneio do Povo, becoming the first team from southern Brazil to win a national title. The club also embarked on several successful international tours during this period, playing against teams from Europe, Africa, and other South American countries.
The pinnacle of success came in 1985 when Coritiba won their first Brazilian Championship. Under coach Ênio Andrade, the team developed a strong attacking line composed of Toby, Lela, and Indio. In the final against Bangu, the match went to penalties after a 1-1 draw, with Gomes scoring the decisive penalty to make Coritiba league champion for the first time in their history at the iconic Maracana.
Crisis and recovery
Following their 1985 triumph, Coritiba faced several periods of crisis. In 1989, the club was relegated to Série B due to a controversial calendar dispute. The 1990s brought continued struggles, with the club experiencing relegation and promotion between divisions. However, Coritiba showed resilience, winning the Copa do Brasil semi-finals in 1991 and eventually returning to Série A.
The 2000s saw renewed success with good campaigns in various competitions. In 2007 and 2010, Coritiba won the Brazilian Championship Série B, securing promotion back to the top flight. The club also achieved remarkable success in 2011, setting a world record for consecutive victories with 24 wins.
Current period
In recent years, Coritiba has continued to compete at the highest levels of Brazilian football while facing the challenges of modern football economics. The club's transition to a Sociedade Anônima do Futebol in 2023 and the subsequent investment by Treecorp Investimentos represents a new chapter in the club's history, providing financial stability and resources for future development.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
Coritiba's domestic achievements include one Brazilian Championship (1985), two Brazilian Championship Série B titles (2007, 2010), and a record 39 Paraná State Championships. The club has also been runner-up in the Copa do Brasil twice (2011, 2012) and won the Torneio do Povo in 1973, making them the first southern Brazilian club to win a national title.
Continental and global competitions
The club was the first from Paraná to participate in the Copa Libertadores (1986) and has competed in the Copa Sudamericana. Coritiba holds the Guinness World Record for consecutive wins with 24 victories achieved between February and May 2011, demonstrating their capability at the highest competitive levels.
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
The club's logo features a green globe with the initials CFC in white across the center, along with twelve white stylized pine seeds. The logo's colors, green and white, are the same as the Paraná state flag. Coritiba's first logo was simpler: a white background inside a green circle, with the initials CFC in green.
Traditional home and away kits colors
The club colors are green and white, reflecting the colors of the Paraná state flag. Founded on 12 October 1909, Coritiba is the oldest "green and white" team in Brazilian football. The current home kit consists of a white shirt with two green parallel horizontal stripes, black shorts, and white socks. The away kit features green and white vertical stripes, black shorts, and green socks. These kits were adopted in 1976, replacing earlier designs that included vertical stripes (1909-1916) and all-white uniforms (1916-1976).
Traditional club anthem
The official club anthem lyrics were composed by Cláudio Ribeiro, with music by Homero Rébuli. An unofficial anthem exists, titled "Coritiba Eterno Campeão" (Coritiba the Eternal Champion), composed by Francis Night. A third anthem, with lyrics by Vinicius Coelho and music by Sebastião Lima, is also called "Eterno Campeão."
Traditional Rivals
Atlético Paranaense
The Atletiba classic is the name given to the clash between Coritiba and Atlético Paranaense, both clubs from Curitiba, which have been taking place since June 8, 1924, when Coritiba won 6-3. This rivalry has grown over the years and is currently considered one of the biggest rivalries in the southern region of Brazil. The clubs have the largest fan bases in Paraná state, and their matches often decide important competitions. The biggest victory in this rivalry occurred on November 14, 1959, when Coritiba defeated their rivals 6-0.
Paraná Clube
The Paratiba is the classic between Coritiba and Paraná Clube. The first classic, won by Coritiba 1-0, took place on February 4, 1990. While this rivalry is newer than the Atletiba, it has developed into an important regional competition. The biggest victories in this rivalry include a 6-1 win for Paraná in 2002 and a 5-0 victory for Coritiba in 2021.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Sponsors
The club has had various sponsorship arrangements throughout its history, with current partnerships reflecting modern football commercial relationships. The transition to SAF status in 2023 has opened new opportunities for commercial partnerships and sponsorship deals.
Nicknames
Coritiba is commonly known as "Coxa" and "Coxa Branca." The club's mascot is an old man nicknamed Vovô Coxa (Grandpa Coxa), representing the club's tradition as the oldest football club in Curitiba. Players and fans are often referred to as "coxa-brancas."
Ownership and finances
In May 2023, after transitioning to a Sociedade Anônima do Futebol, Coritiba announced an agreement to sell 90% of its stocks to Treecorp, a private equity firm based on Faria Lima Avenue, in a deal valued at R$1.1 billion. According to a 2014 ranking by BDO RCS Auditores Independentes, Coritiba had the 13th highest market value in Brazilian football, valued at approximately R$118.5 million.
Traditions and culture
The club's main organized fan group is Império Alviverde, founded in 1977, known as one of the largest organized fan groups in Southern Brazil. The fanbase is famous for creating the "Green Hell" atmosphere at Couto Pereira, featuring innovative pyrotechnics, smoke, and lighting displays. A survey conducted by IBOPE in 2010 identified Coritiba as having the third largest fan base in the Southern Region of Brazil.
Stadium
The Estádio Major Antônio Couto Pereira, commonly known as Couto Pereira or Alto da Glória, has been Coritiba's home since 1932. With a current capacity of 40,502, the stadium was originally called Estádio Belfort Duarte before being renamed in 1977 as a tribute to one of the people most responsible for making the stadium a reality. The land was donated by Nicolau Scheffer, and despite initial concerns about its remote location, it has become an iconic venue in Brazilian football. The stadium underwent significant renovations in 2005, including enlarged pitch dimensions, removal of protective fences, and modernization of facilities.