Niteroiense FC
 | |||
| Full name | Niteroiense Futebol Clube | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Niterói, Nikity, Arariboia | ||
| Founded | May 11, 1913 | ||
| Ground | CEFAT | ||
| Capacity | 1000 | ||
| President | André Luiz | ||
| Manager | Thiago Thomaz | ||
| League | Campeonato Carioca Série B1 Copa Rio | ||
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Niteroiense Futebol Clube is a brazilian football club based in the city of Niterói, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The club was originally founded on May 11, 1913, as Nictheroyense Football Club, and played an important role in the early development of football in the region.[1] After professional activities ceased in 1980, the club was reactivated in 2024 when the Clube Atlético Carioca transferred its affiliation to Niteroiense, allowing the club to return to professional competitions.[2]
History
[edit]Nictheroyense Football Club (1913-1980)
[edit]
Nictheroyense Football Club was established in 1913 during a period of sporting growth in the city of Niterói, which saw the founding of numerous football clubs. The club's home ground was located on Rua Santa Clara in the neighborhood of Ponta d'Areia, an area linked to the Santa Clara and São Joaquim textile factory (founded in 1893) and the local workers' athletic club. Nictheroyense was one of the founding members of the Liga Sportiva Fluminense in 1915.[1]
The club won the Fluminense State Championship organized by the LSF in 1918, finishing ahead of clubs such as Barreto FC, CA Cubango, Fluminense AC, Guarany FC, Odeon FC, Parnahyba SC, and Ypiranga FC.[3] In 1937, the club won the Niterói City Championship, a title shared with Fonseca AC after both teams ended the round-robin stage tied and the four subsequent playoff matches also resulted in draws.[3]
Between the 1920s and 1950s, Nictheroyense was part of the so-called "Group of Six," which also included Canto do Rio FC, Ypiranga FC, Fluminense AC, Byron FC, and Barreto FC.[4] The club was also a traditional rival of Guarany FC, another now-defunct team from the city.[5]
In 1943, the club’s name was updated to Niteroiense Futebol Clube, accompanied by changes to its crest, in accordance with the 1943 Portuguese Spelling Reform that altered the official spelling of the city’s name from "Nictheroy" to "Niterói".
After decades of relevance in the football scene of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Niteroiense faced financial and structural difficulties that led to its dissolution in 1980.[6] The club’s decline was driven by a lack of investment and inadequate infrastructure, culminating in the end of its professional activities.
Clube Atlético Carioca was founded by Maicon Vilela on December 21, 2012.[9] The club was based at Clube Mauá in São Gonçalo and turned professional in 2018, debuting in that year’s Campeonato Carioca Série B2, where it finished in 13th place.[9][10]
Match-Fixing Scandal
[edit]On January 26, 2020, Esporte Espetacular aired a report on a match-fixing scheme in the 2019 Campeonato Carioca Série B2. According to the report, the presidents of Atlético Carioca, Maicon Vilela, and of São José, Adílson Faria, were involved.[11] Both presidents were suspended by the FERJ at the time.[11] Following the scandal, the club changed its name to Porto da Pedra Futebol Clube through a partnership with the samba school Unidos do Porto da Pedra.[12] The samba school originated from a football team of the same name, which won the 1973 São Gonçalo City Championship.[13][14] The name change was never officially recognized by FERJ, and the club changed its name again to Sporting Club Metropolitano, before quickly reverting to the name Atlético Carioca, under which it competed in the 2023 season.[15][16]
Return of Niteroiense FC
[edit]In 2024, Atlético Carioca transferred its affiliation within the FERJ, allowing Niteroiense to resume activities in professional football.[2][7][8] Atlético Carioca continued operating in youth divisions until 2025.[2][17]
The team competed in the 2024 Campeonato Carioca Série C and won the Taça Waldir Amaral with a record of eight wins and one loss, scoring 24 goals and conceding only three.[18] In the semifinals, the club secured promotion to the 2024 Campeonato Carioca Série B2 by defeating Campos AA 2-0 away in Cardoso Moreira and drawing 1-1 in the home leg played in São Cristóvão.[19] In the finals of the Série C, against Uni Souza FC, Niteroiense hosted the second leg. The first match, held at Moça Bonita, ended 1-1, with Niteroiense equalizing early in the second half through Jhow Jhow, the competition’s top scorer.[20] In the return leg at the Estádio Ronaldo Nazário, Niteroiense took the lead with a penalty converted by Digregor, but Uni Souza FC equalized through Mamed. With the aggregate score tied 2-2, the championship was decided on penalties, where goalkeeper Marcílio saved one attempt and Niteroiense converted all their kicks to win the title.[21]
Later that year, Niteroiense competed in the 2024 Campeonato Carioca Série B2, finishing third in the Taça Maracanã and qualifying for the semifinals, which also earned them promotion to the 2025 Campeonato Carioca Série B1.[22] In the semifinals, the club defeated Bonsucesso FC 4-3 in the second leg, but was eliminated due to a 2-0 loss in the first match, closing the 2024 season with two promotions and two titles.[23]
In June 2025, the club took part in the 2025 Copa Rio, in which they finally played a match in Niterói, debuting at the Trops Athlete Training Center (CEFAT) with a 0-0 draw against America FC.[24][25] In the second leg, held at the Estádio Giulite Coutinho, they were defeated 2-0 and eliminated in the opening stage of the tournament.[26]
Internal crisis
[edit]In June 2025, Niteroiense began facing an institutional crisis involving internal power struggles, public accusations, and questions about the legality of its management. The dispute gained visibility after Maicon Vilela—who managed Atlético Carioca until being banned by FERJ in 2020 for match-fixing—[11] streamed a live broadcast from a “non-official” club account,[b] claiming to have uncovered internal irregularities and alleging that he had previously received an offer of R$40,000 to fix a match. During the same live, he suggested selling “20% of Niteroiense”.[27] Days later, Vilela issued an election call using the club’s old corporate registration number (CNPJ), proposing a vote for a new board and the possible transformation of the club into a Sociedade Anônima do Futebol (SAF).[28] He then announced that the club’s name would be changed to Clube Atlético Carioca from 2026, citing brand repositioning and the pursuit of tax incentives.[29][30]
The current board, led by president André Luiz Silva, publicly rejected Vilela’s statements, issuing an official note on 9 July declaring that Vilela had never legally assumed the presidency in 2022 due to his FERJ ban since 2020. André stated that the current administration is the sole official representative of the club before FERJ, the CBF, the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service, and other authorities, having settled inherited debts, regularized legal issues, and maintained partnerships with the city government and the Municipal Sports Secretariat.[31] According to the note, the current board is also responsible for the U‑20 and professional squads based in Niterói, as well as the U‑13 to U‑17 divisions based at the Flamengo Park, after the previous youth setup was barred from official competitions. The statement also cited lawsuits from former players, reports of improper charges in football trials (R$2,400 per player), and blocked bank accounts.[31] In response, Vilela issued a statement rejecting the accusations, asserting that his administration had been approved by the club’s Fiscal Council, chaired by Gil de Almeida. He also claimed persecution and an attempted “internal coup,” in addition to declaring himself the “owner” of the Niteroiense brand.[32]
According to the brazilian sports outlet Cobertura Carioca, the announced name change currently applies only to the youth divisions, with André Luiz remaining as president.[33]
Symbols
[edit]Crests
[edit]Until 1932, Niteroiense used black and white as the colors of its crest. In that year, following a merger with a club from the neighborhood of Ponta d’Areia, the colors blue and pink were incorporated into the team’s crest.[6] Later, in 1943, alongside a change in the club’s name, the crest was completely redesigned, abandoning the white and pink and adopting red as the primary color.
In 2024, with the club's return to activity, Niteroiense adopted a new visual identity based on the colors blue and white. The crest and uniforms were aesthetically updated with a modern design, emphasizing the color blue as a tribute to the city of Niterói. According to Maicon Vilela, the rebranding aimed to revitalize the club's image and attract a younger audience, aligned with 21st-century trends.[2]
| Niteroiense Crests | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1913-1932 | 1932-1943 | 1943-1980 | 2024-Present | ||||
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Kits
[edit]
Until 1917, Niteroiense wore predominantly white kits with a blue diagonal sash.[1] Starting in 1918, the club adopted vertically striped black and white shirts, a design that remained in use until 1980, when professional activity ceased.[6]
In 2024, with the club’s return, the uniforms were updated once again, adopting blue and white in line with the new visual identity.[2]
Evolution of kits
[edit]        1913
|
    2025
|
Current kits
[edit]Outfield players
[edit]- Home kit: blue shirt with white stripes, blue shorts and socks;
- Away kit: white shirt and shorts with blue stripes, and white socks.
Home
|
    Away
|
Goalkeepers
[edit]- Home kit: yellow shirt, shorts and socks;
- Away kit: gray shirt, shorts and socks.
    Home
|
   Away
|
Training kits
[edit]- Players: purple shirt with blue sleeves, blue shorts and socks;
- Coaching staff: gray shirt, shorts and socks.
   Players
|
   Staff
|
Mascot
[edit]
The club’s mascot is the indigenous leader Arariboia, a historical and legendary figure closely tied to the identity and memory of the city of Niterói.[2][34]
Arariboia was an important chief of the Temiminó people, part of the Tupi ethnic group that inhabited the coastline of present-day Brazil during the 16th century. He became known for his strategic alliance with the Portuguese, playing a decisive role in the conflict over the Guanabara Bay against the Tamoios and the French, culminating in the expulsion of the latter on January 20, 1567. In recognition of his role in the conflict, Arariboia was granted the title of Knight of the Order of Christ and a plot of land in what is now the neighborhood of São Cristóvão.[35] He was also granted possession of lands at the entrance of the bay by the Portuguese Crown. It was there that the village of São Lourenço was established, considered the founding nucleus of the city of Niterói, of which Arariboia is widely regarded as the founder.[36][37] His legacy remains one of the most significant historical markers of the region and continues to be honored through various cultural representations, including his use as the club’s official symbol.
Stadium
[edit]Historically, the club had its own field on Rua Santa Clara, in the neighborhood of Ponta d'Areia, in Niterói. At the time, the field was considered one of the best in the city and was often described as a “spacious ground” that attracted large crowds for matches. It also hosted games of the Liga Sportiva Fluminense, of which Niteroiense was a founding and active member during the 1910s. The field’s location on Rua Santa Clara—a street with a rich urban history linked to the former Santa Clara and São Joaquim Textile Factory—reinforces the club’s connection to the local community and the region’s industrial context.[1]
Currently, Niteroiense trains at the football pitch within the Concha Acústica Sports Complex, located in the neighborhood of São Domingos, in Niterói.[38] After securing all the required safety and operational certifications during a 2025 inspection, the club confirmed the Trops Athlete Training Center (CEFAT), located in the neighborhood of Várzea das Moças, also in Niterói, as its official home ground for the season.[24] The venue debuted on June 25 with a 0-0 draw against America FC, during the opening round of the 2025 Copa Rio.[25]
Titles
[edit]| STATE TITLES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Competition | Titles | Seasons | |
|
Campeonato Carioca Série C | 1 | 2024 |
|
Campeonato Fluminense | 1 | 1918 |
| Torneio Início | 1 | 1923 | |
| STATE LEAGUE STAGES | |||
| Competition | Titles | Seasons | |
|
Taça Waldir Amaral | 1 | 2024 |
| MUNICIPAL TITLES | |||
| Competition | Titles | Seasons | |
|
Niterói City Championship | 1 | 1937 |
| Torneio Início | 2 | 1931 and 1945 | |
| TOTAL | |||
| Achievements | Titles | Categories | |
|
Official Titles | 7 | 3 State, 1 State Tournament Stage and 3 Municipal |
Statistics
[edit]Participations
[edit]| Competition | Participations | Seasons | |
|---|---|---|---|
| State leagues | |||
 |
Copa Rio | 1 | 2025 |
| Campeonato Carioca Série B1 | 1 | 2025 | |
| Campeonato Carioca Série B2 | 1 | 2024 | |
| Campeonato Carioca Série C | 1 | 2024 | |
|
Campeonato Fluminense (dissolved) | 16 | 1915-1918, 1920-1925, 1927, 1956-1958, 1961-1962 |
| Torneio Início (dissolved) | 5 | 1921-1925 | |
 |
Torneio Aberto (dissolved) | 1 | 1935 |
| State league stages | |||
|
Taça Corcovado | 1 | 2025 |
| Taça Maracanã | 1 | 2024 | |
| Taça Waldir Amaral | 1 | 2024 | |
| Municipal leagues | |||
|
Niterói City Championship (dissolved) | 18 | 1928-1933, 1937-1939, 1945, 1947, 1949, 1953, 1956-1958, 1961-1962 |
Participations, in 2025
Notable Campaigns
[edit]| Niteroiense Futebol Clube | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competition | Champion | Runner-up | Third place | Fourth place |
| State leagues | ||||
| Campeonato Carioca Série B2
|
0 (não possui) | 0 (não possui) | 1 (2024) | 0 (não possui) |
| Campeonato Carioca Série C
|
1 (2024) | 0 (não possui) | 0 (não possui) | 0 (não possui) |
| Campeonato Fluminense
|
1 (1918) | 2 (1922 e 1924)[c] | Unknown | 1 (1919)[d] |
| Torneio Início
|
1 (1923) | 0 (não possui) | Unknown | Unknown |
| State league stages | ||||
| Taça Maracanã
|
0 (não possui) | 0 (não possui) | 1 (2024) | 0 (não possui) |
| Taça Waldir Amaral
|
1 (2024) | 0 (não possui) | 0 (não possui) | 0 (não possui) |
| Municipal leagues | ||||
| Niterói City Championship
|
1 (1937) | 1 (1934)[c] | 2 (1931 e 1962)[e] | 1 (1932)[d] |
| Torneio Início
|
2 (1931 e 1945) | 1 (1929)[c] | 1 (1953)[e] | Unknown |
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Atlético Carioca and Niteroiense are not the same club.[2][7][8]
- ^ The account used by Vilela for live streams was originally the official one, managed by him while linked to the club. After his permanent departure, he retained control of the account without authorization from Niteroiense.
- ^ a b c It is possible that Niteroiense has already been second place on other occasions.
- ^ a b It is possible that Niteroiense has already been fourth place on other occasions.
- ^ a b It is possible that Niteroiense has already been third place on other occasions.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d de Melo, Victor (June 17, 2024). "Breve notas sobre os primórdios do Niteroiense". Historia(s) do Sport (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved March 7, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Reis, Isabela (February 23, 2024). "Niteroiense FC: a volta do time centenário de Niterói ao Campeonato Carioca". ge.globo.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ a b Melo, Sérgio (February 29, 2012). "CAMPEONATO FLUMINENSE - 1913 até 1974". História do Futebol (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ "Futebol". Canto do Rio FC (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ "Guarany vesus Nictheroyense, Guarany derrota seu antagonista pelo score de 3 a 1". O Imparcial (in Brazilian Portuguese). No. 00577. July 31, 1914. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- ^ a b c de Almeida, Auriel (October 1, 2015). Camisas do Futebol Carioca. Rio de Janeiro: Maquinária. ISBN 978-8562063602.
- ^ a b Queiroga, Homero (January 9, 2023). "ATLÉTICO CARIOCA TRANSFERE FILIAÇÃO AO NITEROIENSE FC (RJ)". Escudos do Mundo Inteiro (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved April 25, 2025.
- ^ a b @atleticocarioca; (January 8, 2023). "NOTA" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved April 25, 2025 – via Instagram.
- ^ a b REBELLO, Rennan (November 14, 2016). "A saga para jogar a Série C do Campeonato Carioca". O São Gonçalo. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
- ^ SOARES, Sérgio; SOARES, Renê (August 30, 2017). "André Horta takes over as CAC vice-president and promises a competitive team". O São Gonçalo. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
- ^ a b c "Match fixing: elimination, suspension, and fine". TJD/RJ. February 7, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ "After match-fixing scandal, Atlético Carioca changes media to Porto da Pedra FC" (in Brazilian Portuguese). O Curioso do Futebol. February 28, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
- ^ "UNIDOS DO PORTO DA PEDRA". SAMBARIO. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ COLOMBARI, Emanuel (February 5, 2020). "Porto da Pedra: the samba school that was born on the football pitch". Última Divisão. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
- ^ "Atlético Carioca is now called Metropolitano". Expresso Carioca. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ "Fifth (and final) division of Rio will have 22 clubs and be under-23; see the format". ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). March 7, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ @niteroiensefc; (December 26, 2024). "Comunicado Oficial" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved March 6, 2024 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Niteroiense vence EC Resende e conquista Taça Waldir Amaral". Acesso Carioca (in Brazilian Portuguese). July 7, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ Click, Marcos (July 22, 2024). "NITEROIENSE CONQUISTA ACESSO PARA A SÉRIE B2". O Gonçalense (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ "Niteroiense empata primeiro jogo da final da Série C". A Tribuna (in Brazilian Portuguese). July 29, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ "Niteroiense é o Campeão da Série C Estadual". FERJ. August 4, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ "Niteroiense goleia o Uni Souza e consegue o acesso à Série B1 do Carioca". A Tribuna. November 10, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ "Niteroiense vira sobre o Bonsucesso, mas está eliminado da B2". A Tribuna (in Brazilian Portuguese). November 25, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Dutra, João Eduardo (June 20, 2025). "Confirmado: Niteroiense vai jogar em Niterói". A Tribuna (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ a b Dutra, João Eduardo (June 25, 2025). "Niteroiense empata com o America na estreia da Copa Rio". A Tribuna (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ "America-RJ vence, e Romário desabafa: "Até que enfim uma p... de uma vitória"". ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). July 2, 2025. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ @futebolperiferico; (June 18, 2025). "O Niteroiense Futebol Clube vive uma crise interna que veio a público na noite desta terça-feira (17)..." Retrieved July 28, 2025 – via Instagram.
- ^ @niteroiensefc; (July 3, 2025). "O Niteroiense FC...convoca todos os membros do Conselho Deliberativo e Fiscal para uma reunião eleitoral..." Retrieved July 28, 2025 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Niteroiense Futebol e confusão: time de Niterói está em disputa judicial". A Seguir: Niterói (in Brazilian Portuguese). July 11, 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ @niteroiensefc; (July 7, 2025). "Temos o prazer de anunciar que nosso time, NITEROIENSE FC, passará a se chamar CLUBE ATLÉTICO CARIOCA a partir de 2026". Retrieved July 7, 2025 – via Instagram.
- ^ a b @niteroienseoficial; (July 9, 2025). "Eu, André Luiz Silva, Presidente eleito do NITEROIENSE FUTEBOL CLUBE em 2022, venho a público esclarecer os fatos e informar à torcida, associados e demais interessados sobre a atual situação do nosso clube". Retrieved July 28, 2025 – via Instagram.
- ^ @niteroiensefc; (July 10, 2025). "O NITEROIENSE FC vem a público repudiar as declarações infundadas do Senhor André Luiz Silva..." Retrieved July 28, 2025 – via Instagram.
- ^ Cobertura Carioca [@cobertura.rj]; (July 26, 2025). "O QUE ESTÁ ACONTECENDO COM O NITEROIENSE?". Retrieved July 28, 2025 – via Instagram.
- ^ @niteroiensefc; (February 23, 2024). "Arariboia, mascot of Niteroiense" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Instagram.
- ^ da SILVA, Rafael (September 20, 2022). Arariboia: The Indigenous Leader Who Changed the History of Brazil - A Biography. Rio de Janeiro: Bazar do Tempo. ISBN 978-6584515000.
- ^ ALMEIDA, Maria (August 20, 2013). Indigenous Metamorphoses: Identity and Culture in the Colonial Villages of Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro: FGV. ISBN 978-8522512607.
- ^ ALMEIDA, Maria (December 20, 2000). The Missionized Indigenous in Colonial Rio de Janeiro: New Christian Subjects of the Portuguese Empire. Campinas: UNICAMP.
- ^ FERREIRA, Gabriel (August 3, 2024). "Concha Acústica Sports Complex: Works Progressing". A Tribuna (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved June 21, 2025.