Sport Club Corinthians Paulista

Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, commonly known as Corinthians, are a Brazilian football team from São Paulo in Brazil.

The Club in 2004-2005

Corinthians has gone through many crises during its almost one hundred years of history. In the 1960's, a dearth of winning campaigns and an eleven-year winless streak against Pelé's Santos earned the team the nickname "Makes-Me-Laugh".

Related Topics:
Pelé - Santos

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However, the club's situation in 2004 was one the most difficult in its history. Bad administration, lack of money and ridiculous campaigns both in the 2003 Brazilian Championship and in the 2004 São Paulo State Championship were worrying its millions of supporters. Fortunately some young players like forward Jô (17 years old) and defenders Betão and Wendel (both 20) and a new manager Tite helped the team to improve from their terrible start. At the end of the championship, Corinthians finished in the 5th place and won entry to the Copa Sudamericana (a minor continental championship).

Related Topics:
Jô - Betão - Wendel - Tite - Copa Sudamericana

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More recently, Corinthians have signed a controversial deal with an international fund of investors (MSI) that grants the company pretty much control of the club for 10 years, in exchange for large invesments for the club in hiring new players. This has brought many new players, such as striker Carlitos Tevez, midfielders Marcelo Mattos, Gustavo Nery, Roger, Javier Mascherano and Carlos Alberto, defender Seba Dominguez and Marinho as well as a new coach, Passarella.

Related Topics:
Carlitos Tevez - Marcelo Mattos - Gustavo Nery - Javier Mascherano - Passarella

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Whilst off to a slow start, the team improved it's position in the state championship considerably, managing to finish in 2nd. However, despite an early favoritism to the national championship, the team now (May of 2005) is in crisis after a string of terrible results, culminating with a 5-1 loss to São Paulo, Corinthians biggest rival after Palmeiras. Because of this, and seemingly personal problems with some players (most notably goalkeeper Fabio Costa and midfielder Roger) Passarella was fired. In his place, Márcio Bittencourt, an ex-player for Corinthians who was part of the team that won the 1990 national championship, was hired (in what seems to have become a permanent move) and Corinthians's fortune once again are looking up, with 5 consecutive wins in a row with the new coach, as of June. Indeed, by August, Corinthians has won the "first round" (a symbolic title) of Brazilian championship and is tipped among the favorites teams to win the championship season 2005.

Related Topics:
São Paulo - Fabio Costa - Passarella - Márcio Bittencourt

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In last September Mércio Bittencourt demited and the coach Antonio Lopes became Corinthians' coach. He has a good started elimanate River Plate in South American chanpionship.

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