Ituano Futebol Clube, commonly referred to as simply Ituano, is a Brazilian association football club in Itu, São Paulo. They currently play in the Série B, the second tier of Brazilian football, as well as in the Campeonato Paulista Série A1, the top flight of the São Paulo state football league.

Ituano
Full nameItuano Futebol Clube[1]
Nickname(s)Galo de Itu (The Rooster of Itu)
Galo Rubro-Negro (The Red & Black Rooster)
Gigante Guerreiro (Giant Warrior)
Ferroviário (The Railroad)
Marechal de Ferro (Marshall of the Rails)
Founded24 May 1947; 76 years ago (1947-05-24)
GroundNovelli Júnior
Capacity18,560
PresidentVinicius Guitti Moraes
Head coachAlberto Valentim
LeagueCampeonato Brasileiro Série B
Campeonato Paulista
2023
2023
Série B, 14th of 20
Paulista, 4th of 16
WebsiteClub website

Founded on May 24, 1947, Ituano won the São Paulo State League twice.

The club's home colours are red and black and the team mascot is a rooster.

History edit

The club was founded on May 24, 1947, by employees of Estrada de Ferro Sorocabana (Sorocabana Railroad), based in Itu. When founded the club was originally known as Associação Atlética Sorocabana. In the 1960s, the club changed its name to Ferroviário Atlético Ituano and in the 1990s the club again changed its name, this time to Ituano Futebol Clube.

In 1977 a group of sportsmen of Itu unified the football of the city around Ferroviário Atlético Ituano (FAI) and reactivated the Liga Ituana de Futebol (Ituano Football League). In 1978 the club played in Série A3 the third level of the São Paulo state professional football championship. They were promoted to the Campeonato Paulista, the top-flight professional football league in São Paulo in 1989 after clinching the Série A2 championship.

In 2002, Ituano became one of the few teams from outside the São Paulo metroplex area to win the Campeonato Paulista.

In 2003, Ituano became the champion of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C after surpassing teams like Santo Andre who won the Copa Do Brasil one year later.

In 2007, Ituano were relegated back to the Brasileiro Serie C after finishing in last place and one year later were not playing in the Brazilian top 4 divisions.

In 2014, Ituano became one of the few teams outside of the São Paulo metroplex area to win the Campeonato Paulista twice beating Santos in the final.


Juninho Paulista, a former player from the club's academy and former Brazilian international, became the club's president in 2010. Juninho joined in a player-president capacity helping the team avoid relegation on the final day of the 2010 season with the decisive goal in a 3–2 victory.[2]

In 2014, Ituano won the Campeonato Paulista, defeating the storied Santos Futebol Clube on penalty kicks.

In 2019, Arsenal signed young winger Gabriel Martinelli from the club and he quickly became a first-team regular.

Stadium edit

Ituano's stadium is Estádio Novelli Júnior, inaugurated in 1947. The stadium has a capacity of 18,000 people.

Mascot edit

The club mascot is a cock wearing the team kit. The nickname was received in 1957 when Sorocabana played against Club Atlético Ituano (Third Division champions in 1954–55, who have no connection with the current Ituano FC). On this occasion Sorocabana lost the match but the supporters said that the team had fought like a cock and from there the club received its nickname.

Rivalries edit

Ituano's biggest rival is Paulista Futebol Clube and they contest the Briga de Galo. Other major rivals are Ponte Preta and São Bento, representing the cities of Campinas and Sorocaba, respectively.

Players edit

Current squad edit

As of 24 April 2024

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 Jefferson Paulino
GK   BRA Saulo
GK   BRA Wesley
DF   BRA Claudinho
DF   BRA João Vialle
DF   BRA Marcel
DF   BRA Vitão (on loan from Cuiabá)
DF   BRA Vinicius Poz
DF   BRA Walber
DF   BRA Eduardo Diniz
DF   BRA Jonathan Silva
DF   BRA Kauan Richard
DF   BRA Léo Duarte
DF   BRA Léo Oliveira
MF   BRA Gabriel Falcão (on loan from São Paulo)
MF   BRA Eduardo Person
MF   BRA Jean Pyerre
MF   BRA José Aldo (on loan from Guarani de Palhoça)
MF   BRA Matheus Aluísio
MF   BRA Lipe (on loan from Internacional)
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF   BRA Miqueias (on loan from Bahia)
MF   BRA Rodrigo
MF   BRA Thonny Anderson (on loan from Red Bull Bragantino)
MF   BRA Yann Rolim
FW   BRA Bruno Alves
FW   BRA Bruno Xavier (on loan from Água Santa)
FW   BRA Davi Araújo (on loan from Real Brasília)
FW   BRA Matheus Cadorini (on loan from Internacional)
FW   BRA Leozinho
FW   BRA Marcelo Mineiro
FW   BRA Marlon
FW   BRA Matheus Maia
FW   BRA Matteo Amoroso
FW   BRA Pablo Diogo
FW   BRA Ruan Carlos
FW   BRA Salatiel
FW   BRA Vinícius Paiva (on loan from Vasco da Gama)
FW   BRA Zé Carlos
FW   BRA Zé Eduardo

Youth team edit

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 Vitor Henrique
DF   BRA Léo Izidoro
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF   BRA Kaíque Clemente

Out on loan edit

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
DF   BRA Madison (at Capivariano until 30 April 2024)
FW   BRA Felipe Fonseca (at Inter de Limeira until 31 October 2024)

Honours edit

National edit

State edit

References edit

  1. ^ Team profile: Ituano Futebol Clube Soccerway. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Que Fim Levou? - Juninho Paulista". Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2013.

External links edit