Baffled onlookers, who don’t follow the Brazilian game closely, would be forgiven for wondering what happens in the South American country from January to May. With the domestic league, the Brasileirão, only kicking off late in the fifth month of the year, there is a glaring gap. Or at least there would be were it not filled by the country’s State Championships. While the Copa Libertadores and Copa do Brasil also take place at this time of year, the "Estaduais" hog much of the limelight – and some have already begun.
In the land of football, the country’s State Championships are historically important, even being created before a national league came into existence in 1959 – the Paulista and Carioca championships celebrate their 110th editions in 2011. With Brazil boasting 26 states and one federal district, everyone has their own competition with their own rules. But as in anything, some are more important than others.
Here is a rundown of the most notable State Championships:
Campeonato Paulista
Starting date: 16/01/2011 – Final played: 15/05/2011
Teams involved: Americana, Botafogo-SP, Bragantino, Corinthians, Ituano, Linense, Mirassol, Mogi Mirim, Noroeste, Oeste, Palmeiras, Paulista, Ponte Preta, Portuguesa, Prudente, Santo André, Santos, São Bernardo, São Caetano, São Paulo.
Most times winners: Corinthians (26 times)
2010 champions: Santos
Key players: Bruno César, Jucilei, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo (Corinthians); Pedrão (Linense); Denilson, Rivaldo (Mogi Mirim); Kléber, Lincoln, Marcos, Marcos Assunção, Pierre (Palmeiras); Baiano (Paulista); Héverton, Dodô (Portuguesa); Júnior Xuxa (São Bernardo); Vandinho (São Caetano); Alex Silva, Fernandão, Jean, Lucas, Lucas Gaúcho, Miranda, Rogério Ceni (São Paulo); Arouca, Charles, Diogo, Edu Dracena, Elano, Jonathan, Keirrison, Léo, Neymar, Pará, Paulo Henrique Ganso (Santos).
Competition format: In the Campeonato Paulista 20 teams play each other once. At the end of the 19th round of games, the eight best placed teams advance to the quarter-finals, with first facing eighth, second facing seventh, third playing sixth and fourth meeting fifth. A one-off match takes place, with the side that finished higher enjoying home advantage; this continues for the semi-finals. A change occurs only in the final, where the eventual winner is decided over two legs.
Favourites – Santos: By keeping Neymar and Ganso as part of their squad last season, Santos should be considered amongst the favourites for any competition. But not satisfied with the duo, they have also brought back Elano, five years after the Seleção defensive midfielder made his way overseas. In addition, another three experienced performers have arrived in the shape of Charles, another midfielder, and right back Jonathan, the first on loan from Lokomotiv Moscow and the latter two from Cruzeiro. Also on the horizon is striker Diogo, the former Olympiacos and Flamengo striker, who will most probably join Keirrison to help with the task of replacing Andre – something Santos have never succeeded in doing after their striker left for Dynamo Kyiv. Despite having problems at the back, with such a powerful set of attacking players, Santos are likely to win their second consecutive Paulista trophy.
Interesting fact: 2002 World Cup champion and 1999 Ballon d’Or winner Rivaldo is back in Brazil, and not just as a player. In 2008, Rivaldo bought Mogi Mirim and was voted president. The philosopher of the ball, Neném Prancha, once said: "A penalty is such an important thing that the taker should be the president of the club." In this Paulista championship, Rivaldo has the chance to prove him right.
Campeonato Carioca
Starting date: 19/01/2011 – Final played: 15/05/2011
Teams involved: América-RJ, Americano, Bangu, Boavista, Botafogo, Cabofriense, Duque de Caxias, Flamengo, Fluminense, Macaé, Madureira, Nova Iguaçu, Olaria, Resende, Volta Redonda, Vasco da Gama.
Most times winners: Flamengo (31 times)
2010 champions: Botafogo
Key players: Caio, Herrera, Jefferson, Loco Abreu, Maicosuel (Botafogo); Lenon (Duque de Caxias); Deivid, Diego Maurício, Felipe, Léo Moura, Maldonado, Ronaldinho, Thiago Neves, Willians (Flamengo); Belletti, Diego Conca, Deco, Diego Cavalieri, Emerson, Fred, Mariano, Souza (Fluminense); Marcelo Ramos (Madureira); Carlos Antônio (Olaria); Lopes (Volta Redonda); Dedé, Éder Luís, Fernando Prass, Zé Roberto (Vasco).
Competition format: 16 clubs are divided between two groups containing two of the four big Rio clubs (Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense, Vasco da Gama). The competition is composed of two stages: Taça Guanabara and Taça Rio. During Taça Guanabara, clubs play against those from the same group, with the top two from each group qualifying for the semi-finals, and the winners of these games advancing to the final. The Taça Guanabara champions are considered as already qualified for the Campeonato Carioca final. The Taça Rio has almost exactly the same format, with the difference being that now, clubs play against sides from the opposite group. If the same side wins both the Taça Guanabara and Taça Rio, there will be no final.
Favourites – Fluminense: Even though Flamengo signed Ronaldinho and Thiago Neves, forming a powerful attacking midfield, Fluminense are the 2010 Brasileirão champions and have managed to keep their squad together, counting on the experienced coach Muricy Ramalho to work his magic once more. The Rio side have also brought in some quality players, such as former Liverpool goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri and the 2005 Club World Cup champion midfielder Souza. With a balanced team in the hands of a more than capable coach, and with outstanding performers such as Fred, Deco and Diego Conca, Fluminense are ready to win their 31st state title.
Interesting fact: After coming close to signing for Botafogo-SP and Boavista in 2010, it looks like Christian Vieri, who announced his retirement in 2009 to become a professional poker player, has agreed a five-month deal with the latter. Vieri should turn out in the Carioca, if Boavista can arrange a work permit. The Italian has been training in Saquarema, the club’s hometown.
Campeonato Mineiro
Starting date: 29/01/2011 – Final played: 15/05/2011
Teams involved: América-MG, América-TO, Atlético-MG, Caldense, Cruzeiro, Democrata, Funorte, Guarani, Ipatinga, Tupi, Uberaba, Villa Nova.
Most times winners: Atlético-MG (40 times)
2010 champions: Atlético-MG
Key players: Euller, Fábio Júnior (América-MG); Diego Souza, Diego Tardelli, Mancini, Renan Oliveira, Réver (Atlético-MG); Diego Renan, Fábio, Henrique, Montillo, Roger, Thiago Ribeiro (Cruzeiro).
Competition format: The Campeonato Mineiro is run along similar lines to the Paulista. 12 clubs facing each other in the first stage, and at the end of the 11th round, four clubs advance to the semi-finals. In the second stage, differently from the São Paulo Championship, the semi-finals and the final are decided over two legs.
Favourites – Atlético-MG: Having not lost any key players during the transfer window and bringing in almost an entire team of reinforcements, Atlético-MG have the strongest squad in the Mineiro. And with one of the very best Brazilian coaches, Dorival Junior, and former Internazionale man Mancini back, "Galo" should win their 41st Estadual.
Interesting fact: América-MG have won the Campeonate Mineiro 15 times, but only five came in the professional era. In the first eleven editions of the tournament, América-MG won ten times, losing only the first, against Atlético-MG.
Campeonato Gaúcho
Starting date: 16/01/2011 – Final played: 01/05/2011
Teams involved: Canoas, Caxias, Cruzeiro-RS, Grêmio, Internacional-SM, Internacional, Juventude, Lajeadense, Novo Hamburgo, Pelotas, Porto Alegre, Santa Cruz-RS, São José, São Luiz, Veranópolis, Ypiranga.
Most times winners: Internacional (39 times)
2010 champions: Grêmio
Key players: Douglas, Gabriel, Jonas, Victor (Grêmio); Alecsandro, Andres D’Alessandro, Giuliano, Guiñazú, Kléber, Rafael Sóbis (Internacional); Michel, Rodrigo Mendes (Novo Hamburgo).
Competition format: The format follows the lines of the Rio de Janeiro State Championship, the differences being in the names of the stages: In Rio known as the Taça Guanabara and Taça Rio, but in Rio Grande do Sul, these are named the Taça Piratini and Taça Farroupilha.
Favourites – Gre-Nal: As the Gre-Nal duo have won 75 of the Campeonato Gaúcho’s 90 editions and their dominance over the smaller sides involved has grown in recent years – even though Novo Hamburgo matched Grêmio in the 2010 final – the title will surely end up in the hands of one of the Porto Alegre giants. Grêmio have the better chance, as their recent form is somewhat better than Inter’s, who could still suffer a hangover from their Club World Cup semi-final defeat to TP Mazembe in December.
Interesting fact: From 2009 to 2010, the stages of the championship were called Taça Fernando Carvalho and Taça Fábio Koff respectively, as a tribute to former presidents (both still alive) of the giants Internacional and Grêmio. After protest from the smaller sides the FGF (Rio Grande do Sul Football Association) changed the names of both trophies, taking the opportunity to remember the state’s history, with both new names related to the Revolução Farroupilha – a Republican uprising against the Brazilian emperor in 1835.
