Vitória

Esporte Clube Vitória

Confederação Brasileira de Futebol - CBF

Data de fundação: 05/13/1899

Apelidos: Rubro-negro, Leão da Barra

Cidade: Salvador, BA

Site oficial: www.ecvitoria.com.br

História:

The Esporte Clube Vitória is the most successful team in the Copa do Nordeste, with five titles (1976, 1997, 1999, 2003, and 2010). It was established on May 13, 1899, under the name Club de Cricket Victoria, the first club in the country founded solely by Brazilians and one of the pioneers in practicing football in Brazil, starting in 1902.

After winning the state championships in 1908 and 1909, Vitória faced a deep crisis, mainly due to the amateurism prevailing in the club, which opposed professionalism in football. Despite winning some Torneio Início titles, until the 1950s, Leão da Barra struggled to become Bahia state champion again. With the professionalism issue resolved, Vitória entered a new phase, winning state championships in 1953, 1955, 1956, and 1957.

Another milestone would change the history of Rubro-Negro once and for all. In 1986, Barradão, a stadium that hosted over 55,000 people in a single match, was inaugurated. It was after the debut of the new home that Vitória experienced its best moments.

The founders of Vitória envisioned their athletes wearing green and yellow uniforms, the colors of the Brazilian flag. However, the difficulty of finding fabric in these colors led the cricket players (the club's first sport) to wear black and white uniforms. Since football has been played, Leão da Barra has been strongly identified by horizontally striped black and red jerseys. The away jersey is predominantly white.

In 2012, Vitória temporarily switched to white for some games. The idea was to replace the white stripes with red as the blood stocks at Hemoba (Bahia Hematology and Hemotherapy Foundation) increased. The "Meu Sangue é Rubro-Negro" (My Blood is Red and Black) campaign exceeded expectations, with blood donations increasing by more than 50%.

Leão da Barra has produced great players for world football, including goalkeeper Dida, defender David Luiz, midfielder Vampeta, and forwards Bebeto and Hulk.

Up to 2023, they have won 29 state titles, five Copa do Nordeste titles, one Campeonato Brasileiro da Série B (their first national title, achieved in 2023). The Bahian club also has a runner-up position in the Campeonato Brasileiro da Série A in 1993 and a runner-up position in the Copa do Brasil in 2010.