América Futebol Clube (RN)

Football club infobox
clubname = América de Natal


fullname = América Futebol Clube
nickname = "Mecão" ("Big America") and "Dragão"("Dragon")
founded = 1915
ground = Machadão, Natal, Brazil
capacity = 35,000| chairman = Dr. José Rocha
manager = Ruy Scarpino
league = Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
season = 2007
position = Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, 20th (relegated)
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leftarm1=FF0000|body1=FF0000|rightarm1=FF0000|shorts1=FFFFFF|socks1=FF0000
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FF0000|socks2=FFFFFF

América Futebol Clube, or América (or América de Natal), as they are usually called, is a traditional Brazilian football team from Natal in Rio Grande do Norte, founded on July 14, 1915.

América is the only Potiguar club that have won an interstate tournament. The team won Campeonato do Nordeste (Brazilian Northeast Championship) in 1998, defeating Esporte Clube Vitória by a 3-1 score in the final match. It is the only Football Team in Rio Grande do Norte to obtain titles outside the state as in 1973, became the undefeated winner of Taça Almir de Albuquerque, which involved teams from North-Northeast of Brazil and is the only club from Rio Grande do Norte to participate in an international championship, the Copa Conmebol in 1998.

América's greatest rival is ABC, also from Natal.

History

The team was founded on July 14, 1915.

The first official match played in the state of Rio Grande do Norte was América 3-0 ABC, on June 22, 1919 valid for the first _pt. Campeonato Potiguar de Futebol, organized at that time by the Liga de Desportos Terrestres. The first title of the club was in 1919. The club won the _pt. Liga de Desportos Terrestres, defeating Centro and ABC, becoming the first champion of the Campeonato Potiguar.

On November 7, 1928, through Law 707 the club was the first to be recognized as a State Public Utility instrument.

América had been licensed of the _pt. Federação Norteriograndense de Futebol (FNF) for 5 years, between 1960 and 1965, thus the team did not participate in official competitions. Instead, the team committed to the construction of its official building at Rodrigues Alves street, bourough of Tirol.

In 1974 América was the undeafeated state champion, playing 20 matches with 12 wins and 8 ties. In 1975, América won the Torneio Norte-Nordeste. Between 1987 and 1992, América won 5 state championships, only losing in 1990.

In 1996, the team from Rio Grande do Norte was runner-up of the Brazilian Championship Second Division and became eligible to participate in the First Division in the following year. In its return to the main division, América ended in 17th place, ahead of powerful teams, such as Corinthians and Fluminense. In 1998, however, the club failed to remain the in the First Division. In 1998, América managed to achieve its greatest glory, becoming champion of Campeonato do Nordeste, defeating in the final match on July 4, Vitória-BA at the score of 3-1, with goals of Biro-Biro, Paulinho Kobayashi and Carioca. América's team at that time had the following players: Gabriel; Gilson, Paulo Roberto (André), Lima and Rogerinho; Montanha, Carioca, Biro-Biro and Moura; Paulinho Kobayashi and Leonardo (Vanderlei).

On October, 2003 the city counselor Hermano Morais published in the _pt. Diário Oficial do Município, the Law n° 5.493, recognizing América Futebol Clube, as an instrument of the City's Public Utility.

In 2005, the club was promoted to the Campeonato Brasileiro Second Division, after finishing in second in the third division. and América had the best forward of the competition, Paulinho Marília, with 10 goals.

On November 25, 2006, América once again managed to qualify for the Brazilian Championship First Division, after a 2-2 tie with champion Atlético-MG, at Mineirão, with a record public of 74,694 (largest public of the year in Brazil), after start losing by the score of 2-0. At the end of the game, América crossed the stadium applauded by Atlético's fans. The club finished in fourth in the Campeonato Brasileiro Second Division.

Achievements

* Campeonato do Nordeste:
** Winners (1): 1998

* Campeonato Potiguar:
** Winners (28): 1919, 1920, 1922, 1926, 1927, 1930, 1931, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1969, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1996, 2002, 2003

* Taça Almir/Norte-Nordeste:
** Winners (1): 1973

* Copa RN:
** Winners (1): 2006

Current squad

"As of 13th April 2008"

tadium

América's home stadium is the Estádio Dr. João Cláudio Vasconcelos Machado (Machadão) stadium, with the maximum capacity of 35,000 fans.

Idols

The forward Nilo, whom played the 1919 championship at the age of 15 also played at Fluminense-RJ, Botafogo-RJ and Brazil national football team. He even played in the 1930 FIFA World Cup.

Derby

On June 10, 2006, América defeated by 3-1, its greatest rival, ABC Futebol Clube, in the first derby match played at ABC's own stadium. The derby is known as O Grande Clássico ("The Great Derby").

National championships participations

In national championships, organized by CBF, América participated on:
**1 Brazil Trophy (1968);
**14 Brazilian Championships Série A (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1997, 1998 and 2007);
**18 Brazilian Championships Série B (1972, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008);
**4 Brazilian Championships Série C (1987, 1988, 1990 and 2005);
**13 Brazilian Cup (1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007).

América only did not participate in a Brazilian Championship in 1971 and 1992 and is the best ranked team of Rio Grande do Norte, according to CBF's Ranking Nacional de Clubes, currently at the 33rd Position with 571 points. The club was the first team to obtain two consecutive accesses in the Brazilian Championship. In 2005, América qualified to Série B and in 2006, América qualified for série A.

ymbols

The team name, logo and colors were inspired in América of Rio de Janeiro.

External links

* [http://www.americadenatal.com.br/ Official Website]
* [http://www.arquivodeclubes.com/rn/america.htm América de Natal at Arquivo de Clubes]
* [http://memorialdodragao.blogspot.com Memorial do Dragão: Resgatando a História do América]