Galícia Esporte Clube
Encyclopedia
Galícia Esporte Clube is a Brazilian football club from Salvador, capital of the state of Bahia
, in Brazil
's northeast region.
. Its founder and first president was Mr. Eduardo Castro de la Iglesias.
Galícia was the first club to win the Bahia League Championship (Campeonato Baiano)
three times in a row, quickly becoming one of the strongest teams in the state. In its first decade, the club won the League in 1937, 1941, 1942 and 1943, being runner-up another five times (1935, 1936, 1938, 1939 and 1940).
However, after this superb beginning, the club only managed to return to the top in 1968, with its fifth and last Bahia League title. Besides, it was runner-up in 1967, 1980, 1982 and 1995.
Galícia’s best regional performance was in 1969, when it was runner-up of the Northeast Zone of the North-Northeast Cup (Copa Norte-Nordeste)
. The club only played twice in the Brazilian League (Campeonato Brasileiro) First Division
: 1981 and 1983.
In 1999, the team was relegated to Bahia League’s Second Division
.
In 2001, Galícia occupied 54th place in the Brazilian Football Clubs Ranking of the prestigious "Placar
" magazine.
, and sometimes to Pituaçu Stadium
. Nowadays, the club has its own stadium, the Parque Santiago
, with a seating capacity
of 8,000 fans.
Galícia's logo is white, with a blue diagonal strip featuring the letters "G", "E" and "C", and a Saint James Cross in the center, remembering its galicean heritage. The players wear blue shirts and white shorts and socks. The club anthem was composed by Francisco Icó da Silva.
Champion
Runner-up
Bahia League Championship Second Level (Campeonato Baiano Segunda Divisão)
Champion
Runner-up
Northeast Zone of the North-Northeast Cup (Copa Norte-Nordeste)
Runner-up
and the center-forwards Washington
and Oséas, all of which played in Brazil's National Team
. Another great player who defended Galícia was Marinho Peres
, Brazilian champion in 1976
with Internacional
and defender of the "Seleção"
in Germany World Cup - 1974.
One of Galícia’s most remarkable coaches was Aymoré Moreira
, who led Brazil to its second World Championship in Chile-1962. With Mr. Moreira, Galícia was runner-up in the Bahia League
in 1980.
Bahia
Bahia is one of the 26 states of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast. It is the fourth most populous Brazilian state after São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, and the fifth-largest in size...
, in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
's northeast region.
History
Galícia was founded on January 1, 1933 by immigrants from the autonomous region of Galicia, SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Its founder and first president was Mr. Eduardo Castro de la Iglesias.
Galícia was the first club to win the Bahia League Championship (Campeonato Baiano)
Campeonato Baiano
The Campeonato Baiano is the football league of the state of Bahia, Brazil. The championship has been played since 1905 without interruption.-2008 format:First stage:...
three times in a row, quickly becoming one of the strongest teams in the state. In its first decade, the club won the League in 1937, 1941, 1942 and 1943, being runner-up another five times (1935, 1936, 1938, 1939 and 1940).
However, after this superb beginning, the club only managed to return to the top in 1968, with its fifth and last Bahia League title. Besides, it was runner-up in 1967, 1980, 1982 and 1995.
Galícia’s best regional performance was in 1969, when it was runner-up of the Northeast Zone of the North-Northeast Cup (Copa Norte-Nordeste)
Copa Norte-Nordeste
Copa Norte-Nordeste was a football competition disputed between clubs from the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, and was an evolution of previous similar tournaments. The competition was contested between 1968 and 1970, by the state champions of those Brazilian regions...
. The club only played twice in the Brazilian League (Campeonato Brasileiro) First Division
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
The Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B...
: 1981 and 1983.
In 1999, the team was relegated to Bahia League’s Second Division
Campeonato Baiano (lower levels)
The Campeonato Baiano lower levels are the football tournaments for the Bahia state clubs that do not play in the Campeonato Baiano First Division. The competitions are organized by the Bahia Football Federation...
.
In 2001, Galícia occupied 54th place in the Brazilian Football Clubs Ranking of the prestigious "Placar
Placar
Placar is a monthly Brazilian sports magazine. Its first edition was issued on March 20, 1970, and since then the it has become the most successful sports publication in Brazil, even though it focuses fully on football . It is published by Grupo Abril....
" magazine.
Stadiums
In its early years, Galícia played in the old "Campo da Graça" stadium. After its demolition, its home matches moved to Salvador's biggest stadium, Fonte NovaEstádio Fonte Nova
The Estádio Fonte Nova, also known as Estádio Octávio Mangabeira, was a football stadium inaugurated on January 28, 1951 in Salvador, Bahia, with a maximum capacity of 66,080 people. The stadium was owned by the Bahia government, and was the home ground of Esporte Clube Bahia and Esporte Clube...
, and sometimes to Pituaçu Stadium
Estádio de Pituaçu
Estádio Metropolitano Roberto Santos, usually known as Estádio de Pituaçu, is a football stadium located in Salvador, Bahia state, Brazil. The stadium is owned by the Government of Bahia state and it was built in 1979...
. Nowadays, the club has its own stadium, the Parque Santiago
Estádio Parque Santiago
Estádio Santiago de Compostela, commonly known as Estádio Parque Santiago, is a multi-use stadium located in Salvador, Brazil. It is used mostly for football matches and hosts the home matches of Galícia Esporte Clube. The stadium has a maximum capacity of 8,000 people. The stadium was built with...
, with a seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of 8,000 fans.
Symbols
Galícia’s nicknames are "Demolidor de Campeões" ("Champions' Demolisher"), "Azulino" ("The Blue One") and "Granadeiro" ("grenadier").Galícia's logo is white, with a blue diagonal strip featuring the letters "G", "E" and "C", and a Saint James Cross in the center, remembering its galicean heritage. The players wear blue shirts and white shorts and socks. The club anthem was composed by Francisco Icó da Silva.
Honors
Bahia League Championship (Campeonato Baiano)Campeonato Baiano
The Campeonato Baiano is the football league of the state of Bahia, Brazil. The championship has been played since 1905 without interruption.-2008 format:First stage:...
Champion
- 1937
- 1941
- 1942
- 1943
- 1968
Runner-up
- 1935
- 1936
- 1938
- 1939
- 1940
- 1967
- 1980
- 1982
- 1995
Bahia League Championship Second Level (Campeonato Baiano Segunda Divisão)
Campeonato Baiano (lower levels)
The Campeonato Baiano lower levels are the football tournaments for the Bahia state clubs that do not play in the Campeonato Baiano First Division. The competitions are organized by the Bahia Football Federation...
Champion
- 1985
- 1988
Runner-up
- 2007
Northeast Zone of the North-Northeast Cup (Copa Norte-Nordeste)
Copa Norte-Nordeste
Copa Norte-Nordeste was a football competition disputed between clubs from the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, and was an evolution of previous similar tournaments. The competition was contested between 1968 and 1970, by the state champions of those Brazilian regions...
Runner-up
- 1969
Idols
Some well-known Brazilian players started their careers in Galícia, like the defender ToninhoAntônio Dias dos Santos
Antônio Dias dos Santos, best known as Toninho was an association footballer in defender role....
and the center-forwards Washington
Washington César Santos
For another Brazilian football player named Washington , see Washington Stecanela Cerqueira.Washington César Santos is a former association footballer in striker role....
and Oséas, all of which played in Brazil's National Team
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
. Another great player who defended Galícia was Marinho Peres
Marinho Peres
Marinho Peres, real name Mário Peres Ulibarri, was an association footballer. He played centre-back, in particular with Sport Club Internacional and the Brazilian national team...
, Brazilian champion in 1976
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 1976
The 1976 Campeonato Brasiliero was the sixth edition of Brazil's top football tournament for clubs. It was won by the holders Internacional, with Corinthians finishing as runners-up.-Final standings:-External links:*...
with Internacional
Sport Club Internacional
Sport Club Internacional is a Brazilian football team and multi-sport club from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, founded on April 4, 1909, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Cruzeiro. They play in red shirts, white shorts and...
and defender of the "Seleção"
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
in Germany World Cup - 1974.
One of Galícia’s most remarkable coaches was Aymoré Moreira
Aymoré Moreira
Aymoré Moreira was a football player and coach...
, who led Brazil to its second World Championship in Chile-1962. With Mr. Moreira, Galícia was runner-up in the Bahia League
Campeonato Baiano
The Campeonato Baiano is the football league of the state of Bahia, Brazil. The championship has been played since 1905 without interruption.-2008 format:First stage:...
in 1980.