The Vasco da Gama regatta club, like others contemporaries of its emergence, was founded due to the practice sport of rowing, very in vogue at the end of the 19th century, but its establishment really took place with football, already in the 20th century. Currently, Vasco's impact on Rio culture is so great that, in 2007, the “Vasco Day” was created as a tribute to the club.
Founded in 1898, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, the club was named after the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama. The colors chosen to symbolize the club were black, white and red, stylized on the malta cross, symbol of the team. It was only in 1916 that Vasco became part of Rio's football: he debuted with the team in the third division of the Rio championship and, already in 1923, he was in the main division.
The stadium in Vasco is the famous “São Januário” which, founded on April 21, 1927, has a current capacity of holding 15,150 fans.
The main uniform currently used is a black shirt with a white stripe on the front diagonal, with the symbol of the Maltese cross, accompanied by black shorts and black and white striped socks. The second uniform is the same, but with the colors inverted: white shirt with a diagonal black stripe, with the Maltese cross symbol, accompanied by white shorts and black and white striped socks.
Vasco's titles are many and do justice to its history as a great Brazilian club:
- Copa Libertadores da América: 1998;
- Mercosur Cup: 2000.
- South American Champions Championship: 1948;
- Brazilian Championship: 1974, 1989, 1997 and 2000.
- Brazil Cup: 2011.
- State Championships (Carioca): 1923, 1924, 1929, 1934, 1936, 1945, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1956, 1958, 1970, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2003 and 2015.
- Campeonato Carioca Series B: 1922;
- Guanabara Cup: 1965, 1976, 1977, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2000 and 2003;
- Rio Cup: 1984, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2004;
- Rio de Janeiro Cups: 1992 and 1993;
- Municipal Tournaments: 1944, 1945, 1946 and 1947;
- Tournaments Start: 1926, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1942, 1944, 1945, 1948 and 1958;
- Brazilian Championship Series B: 2009;
- Rio-São Paulo Tournament: 1958, 1966 and 1999;
Vasco's official anthem:
“Let's all sing from the heart
The Maltese Cross is my flag
You have the name of a Portuguese hero
Vasco da Gama, your fame was made that way
Your huge crowd is very happy
North and south, north and south of this country
Your star, on earth to shine
light up the sea
In athletics you are an arm
in the oar you are immortal
In football you are the trait
Brazil-Portugal union”
By Paula Rondinelli
Brazil School Collaborator
Graduated in Physical Education from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
Master in Motricity Sciences from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
Doctoral Student in Integration of Latin America at the University of São Paulo - USP
