Comercial Futebol Clube (Ribeirão Preto)

On October 10, 1911, some business owners from Ribeirão Preto founded Commercial Football Club and the club soon became very wealthy. The field from Estádio da Rua Tibiriçá was one of the first in Brazil to receive grass, because the club's supporters complained of the dust in the air during the games. In 1936, the club has experienced a financial crisis and the Football Department was closed.[2] In 1956, Commercial merged with Paineiras and become Comercial Football Club, entering the second division from Campeonato Paulista that same year.[3]

In 1958, Comercial won its first title, the Campeonato Paulista Second Level, beating Corinthians of Presidente Prudente in the final. The club was promoted to the following year's first level.[4]

In 1978, the club competed in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A for the first time. The club finished in the 42nd position.[5]

In 1979, the club competed in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A for the second time. The club finished in the 14th position, ahead of clubs like Grêmio, Fluminense and Botafogo (RJ).[6]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  BRA João Guilherme — GK  BRA Marcelo Henrique — DF  BRA Léo Carioca — DF  BRA Dourado — DF  BRA Everton Morelli — DF  BRA Willian Luiz Antonio Bernardo da Silva — DF  BRA Bruno Alves — DF  BRA Luiz Eduardo — DF  BRA Luanderson — MF  BRA Gimenez — MF  BRA Léo Japa — MF  BRA Matheus Magagnin — MF  BRA Lucas Sorriso — MF  BRA Zé Artur — MF  BRA Thiago Silva

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  BRA Richard — MF  BRA Marcos Rinaldi — MF  BRA Matheus Rinaldi — MF  BRA Patrick — MF  BRA Vitor — MF  BRA Mirray — MF  POL Roger Guerreiro — FW  BRA Edson — FW  BRA Paulo Henrique — FW  BRA Cassiano Bodini — FW  BRA Igor Carioca — FW  BRA Rodrigo Jesus — FW  BRA Charles — FW  BRA Felipe Napolitano — FW  BRA Marques

• Campeonato Paulista Série A2:
  • Winners (1): 1958
• Campeonato Paulista do Interior:
  • Winners (1): 1966

Comercial's home stadium is Estádio Dr. Francisco de Palma Travassos, nicknamed Jóia (Jewel),[7] inaugurated in 1964, with a maximum capacity of 35,000 people.[8]

The club also owns a training ground, named Centro de Treinamento Francisco de Palma Travassos.[9]

Comercial's rival is Botafogo (SP). The match between the two clubs is nicknamed Come-Fogo (truncation of Comercial and Botafogo). It is one of the oldest Brazilian derbies and some matches have had an attendance of over 30,000 people. Famous footballers, like Sócrates, Raí and Zé Mário played the derby. The derby is disputed not only in football, but also in basketball.[10]

The club's official club colors are black and white. The club's home kit is all white.[11]

Comercial's mascot is a lion, called Leão, which is the Portuguese word for lion.[12]

The club is nicknamed Bafo, meaning Breath,[9] and Leão do Norte, meaning Lion of the North.[3]

• (in Portuguese) Comercial Futebol Clube (SP) at Arquivo de Clubes
• (in Portuguese) Comercial Futebol Clube (SP) at Futebol Interior