[The_Iron]

Brazils Top League РThe Campeonato Brasileiro S̩rie A

The Serie A which is Brazil’s best league used to be named as Brasileirao. Just like the Premiership the Serie A occupies 20 teams unlike Britain’s top league the Serie A’s bottom 4 are relegated into the Serie B while the top 4 from the Serie B go into the Serie A. The 2006 title was won by one of Brazil’s top clubs Sao Paulo. Since 2003 the league has been played as the Premiership with each team playing each other twice home and away. Before 2003 the title was decided with a play off format tournament where the top 8 teams would play each other in knockout rounds. In 2005 there were 462 games overall 21 home games for each club and 21 away games. The Champions and Runners up qualified automaticly for the Copa Libertadores while the 3rd and 4th placed teams had to qualify by beating foreign teams to be determined by Conmebol in pre-tournment trials. Also the Champions and the clubs place 5th to 11th represented Brazil in the Copa Sudamericana, which is another South American competiton but of lower importance. In 2006 the amount of teams in the Serie A was reduced to 20 and the CBF deemed that clubs were only aloud 3 foreign players in the starting 16 per game. Something that may make other countries follow.

Atletico Paranaense

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Year Founded:.1924
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel: Mario Sergio, Lori Sandri, Evarsto De Macedo, Antonio Lopez, Geninho, Fernandinho, Paulo Rink, Vadao, Ricardo Pinto, Kleberson
Fierce Rivals: Coritiba
Other Rivals: Parana
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: 316.25 Million
Stadium: Kyocera Arena, Curtiba
Stadium Capacity: 25102 All Seater with Under ground heating
Training Facilities: Top Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: Excellent youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 8th
Squad Average Age: 24
Squad Personality: Determined
Captain: Danilo

Atletico Paranaense or Clube Atlético Paranaense in full are also known as Furacao which also means Hurricane. They have boosted talents of players such as Kleberson and Washington in previous years. The last time they won the Serie A was back in 2001. They were also runners up in the 2004 season behind Santos. However in this season their striker Washington broke a record by scoring 34 goals in one season in the Serie A. Paranaense have played in 2 Copa Libertadores. They were eliminated in the Second Round in 2000 and were runners up of the Competition being defeated by Sao Paulo. Paranaense are partnered with many lower league clubs and have links with FC Dallas in America. In real life there current manager is Ney Franco and on FM Paranaense are a team lead by Danilo who like to play fast flowing football. More famous names in the squad include Strikers Ricardinho and Alex Minerio. Paranaense play their home games in front of 25,102 all seater stadium called Kyocera Arena which used to be called Arena de Baxidea.

Botafogo FR

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Year Founded: 1904
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Enjoying Life At The Club.
Favoured Personnel: Sebastien Wagner, Djair, Dodo Sergio Manuel, Tulio, Paulo Autuori, Jarzinhinho, Carlos Reberto, Cuca
Fierce Rivals: Fluminese
Other Rivals: Vasco, Flamengo
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: 38.5 Million (£16.5M Loan Debt)
Stadium: Maracana – Rio De Janeiro
Stadium Capacity: 10000 All Seater with Under ground heating
Training Facilities: Good Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: Average youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 10th
Squad Average Age: 25
Squad Personality: Determined
Captain: Digeo

Botafogo are a club who are based in one of Brazil’s biggest cities, Rio De Janerio. It is one of 4 clubs in Rio, the others are; Flamengo, Fluminese and Vasco de Gama. The last time Botafogo could boost they were Brazilian champions was 12 years ago in the 1995 season. Until 2002 they had played in the Serie A until they finished bottom of the table in the 2002 season relegating them into the Serie B. However there stay in the Second tier of Brazilian football was short lived and the Rio team bounced back almost straight away when they returned to the top tier finishing 2nd in the league behind Palmerias. Botafogo means (he who) set fire and is also the name of the place where the club has it’s origins Botafogo Beach. Botafogo play in front of 10,000 people and there kit is black and white resembling their badge and emblem. They have won many honours and have been winners of the Campeonato Estadual do Rio de Janeiro 3 times.

Corinthians.

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Year Founded:.1910
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel: Wanderley Luemburgo, Carlos Alberto, Ewerthon, Liedson, Neto, Carlos Gamara, Dida, Freddy Rincon, Gill, Kleber, Ze Elias, Ricardinho.
Fierce Rivals: Palmerias, Sao Paulo
Other Rivals: Santos, Portuguesa
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £15 Million
Stadium: Paceambu (Sao Paulo)
Stadium Capacity: 37180 All Seater
Training Facilities: Top Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: State of the Art youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 2nd
Squad Average Age: 24
Squad Personality: Determined
Captain: Betao

Sport Club Corinthians Paulista is a well known Brazillian club. In 2004 it was estimated they had 24 million fans meaning they had the second biggest fan base In the league. In previous years many fampus players have played for the Sao Paulo club. These players include; Milan Keeper Dida, Nilmar, Man Utd striker Tevez and Carlos Alberto. They still boast a very skilful club involving captain Betao commanding the back four and the ever existent Carlos Alberto in midfield. In 2004 Corinthians started to have bad money problems and a bad league campaign in 2003. In the year of 2004 international company MSI who now owns a great deal of the club for the next 10 years in exchange for large investments. This has helped to bring players in such as Carlos Alberto and Javier Mascherano. Corinthians have won the Brazilian Serie A 4 times last winning it in 2005. However last season brought a bad season as Corinthians could only manage to finish 9th out of 20 clubs. A result which did not go down well. Overall Corinthians are a good team on there day and FM shows that. A manager who plays with the right tactics and brings in the right players will do very well with Corinthians as they like to play passing but fast flowing football and this helps by having the fans favourite Nilmar in the team, who certainly helps to score goals within the club.

Cruzerio

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Year Founded:.1910
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel: Fred, Alex, Flepiao, Paulo Cesar, Raul Plassmann, Maxwell, Paulo Autori, Juan Pablo Sorin, Dida, Lusiao, Gomes.
Fierce Rivals: Athletico Minerio
Other Rivals: America (MG)
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £20.5 Million (Loan Debt £5.5 Million)
Stadium: Minierao – Belo Horinzonte
Stadium Capacity: 66000 All Seater
Training Facilities: Top Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: Excellent youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 7th
Squad Average Age: 23
Squad Personality: Determined
Captain: Wagner

Cruzeiro Esporte Clube are from the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte. They are the only team in Brazil to have won the triple crown. This consists of The Brazilian League, Cup and State Championship. They have never been relegated from the Serie A along with 3 other clubs and have the fifth highest attendance in the league. Their nickname is A Raposa which mean (The Fox) in English. They have boasted talent such as Alex Minero, Dida, Cris, Alex and Muller and now boost the talent of young kids Kerlon and Joao Victor. They have won the Serie A twice and Brazils main cup 7 times. On FM people will have a tough task at Cruzerio. One point is that they must hold on to the likes of Kerlon who will attract interest from all other the world. However faliure to keep this kid could mean failure in the league as this lad will bring a hint of excitement to the Brazilian league.

Figueirense

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Year Founded:.1921
Status: Professional
Reputation: National
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel: Felipe, Fernandes, Abimael, Edson Bastos, Dorival Junior
Fierce Rivals: Avai
Other Rivals: Joinville, Criciuma
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £8 Million
Stadium: Orlando Scarpelli, Florianoplois
Stadium Capacity: 19908 All Seater
Training Facilities: Good Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: Good youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 18th
Squad Average Age: 23
Squad Personality: Determined
Captain: Santos

Figueirense a team that are tipped to struggle week in week out. Last season many people around Brazil where shocked when The Fig’s as they are called managed to reach 7th in the Serie A. They won promotion to Serie A in 2001 when when they unexpectedly managed to finish runners up and win promotion. Ever since the 2001 campaign The Figs have struggled along in previous years with no famous players to note. However on FM they tend to be the team no one likes to play against at home. They posses a player named Chico who is a Brazilian Forward and is a very influential player at the make of the Figs. If your looking for a challenge then this could be one.

Flamengo

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Year Founded:.1895
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel: Savio, Zico, Julio Caesar, Renato, Adriano, Ronaldo, Juan, Adilio, Renato, Andrade, Romario, Tita, Jorginho.
Fierce Rivals: Vasco, Fluminese,
Other Rivals: Botafogo
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £41.5 Million (£42.5 Million Loan Debt)
Stadium: Maracana Rio De Janeiro
Stadium Capacity: 100000 All Seater with Under soil heating
Training Facilities: Good Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: State of the art youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 14th
Squad Average Age: 23
Squad Personality: Determined
Captain: Souza

Flamengo are the type of club you’d expect to be achieving a mid-table position year in year out but just recently they’ve been struggling for form and haven’t attracted the players they need to boost there campaign challenge. In January 2008 Man Utd flop Kleberson will be returning to his homeland To play for Flamengo. Hopefully this may spur on the team to win more games and maybe mount a title challenge. On FM Flamengo can finish well in mid-table they have the players to do it and with the right transfers in and the right tactics in games than Flamengo can be a really good team. Notable players from the future include players such as Brazilian legend Zico and AC Milan goalkeeper Dida.

Fluminense

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Year Founded: 1902
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel: Ricardo Gomes, Marcao, Renato, Carlos Alberto Torres, Braco, Roni
Fierce Rivals: Flamengo, Vasco
Other Rivals: Botafogo
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £38 Million (£11.25Million Loan Debt)
Stadium: Maracana Rio De Janeiro
Stadium Capacity: 100000 All Seater with Under soil heating
Training Facilities: Good Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: State of the art youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 5th
Squad Average Age: 24
Squad Personality: Very Determined
Captain: Dias

Fluminense is a club based in the Brazilian city of Rio De Janeiro. They have favored personal at the club such as Carlos Alberto Torres and Ricardo Gomes, and can also boast a good title challenge even though they are only predicted to finish around the 5th mark they could make a title storm and reach 1st if they play right. On the other side of the spectrum they could always be very lazy and could slide down the table idf they aren’t careful. If a manager on FM can play the right game with the Flum’s then they will go far as a Brazilian manager. They are spurred on by their striking captain Alex Dias. He’s a versitile player, who can play up front on the wings and spurs on the team to do well. He’ll be the main man in the title challenge.

Fortaleza (RELEGATED)

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Year Founded: 1918
Status: Professional
Reputation: National
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel: Coldoalado, Helio dos Anjos.
Fierce Rivals: Ceara
Other Rivals: Ferroviario
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £7.5 Million (£1.1Million Loan Debt)
Stadium: Casteleo Fortaleza
Stadium Capacity: 60000 All Seater
Training Facilities: Good Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: Good youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 16th
Squad Average Age: 24
Squad Personality: Determined
Captain: Lima

Fortaleza is a team that is hard to write about really. They are a team that seem to struggle year on year and will continue to do so in the coming years unless a mastermind takes the club over and transforms them. They have a squad which is capable of beating teams however lack of concentration will mean that they struggle to win games. Fortaleza base signings on the loan market and have made many good loan deals during their time. For example they have currently signed a player named Andre Lima Pedro from Flamengo. If you are looking for a challenge then this could be a good stab but remember you’ll only have a limited budget, and you will have to rely on the loan market.

Goias

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Year Founded: 1943
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel: Araujo, Harliel, Helio Dos Anjos, Tulio, Ze Teodoro
Fierce Rivals: Vila Nova
Other Rivals: Atletico Goianiense, Goiaina
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £15 Million (£2.7Million Loan Debt)
Stadium: Serra Dourada, Goiaina
Stadium Capacity: 54049 All Seater
Training Facilities: Good Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: Good youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 9th
Squad Average Age: 26
Squad Personality: Determined
Captain: Felipe

Goias are a team that have never won things. However in 1999 they were promoted to Serie A after winning the Serie B in 1999. People had expected these new dogs to go straight back down into the second tier of Brazilian. However Goias surprised everyone with their strong fast flowing football and have never looked back since. This is because In consecutive seasons they have had the will power to push themselves forward and are always hungry for more success and goals. The main man in the Goias team is defender Diego and veteran striker Rinaldo. Rinaldo is a fans favourite but stuggles to keep fit. However if you were going to take on the Goias challenge you shouldn’t really have much to do as the foundations have already been laid down.

Gremio

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Year Founded: 1903
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel: Renato Gaucho, Felipao, Tite, Jardel, Mazarpoi, Emerson, Anderson, Lucas, Celso roth, Galleto
Fierce Rivals: Internacional
Other Rivals: Caxias
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £14 Million (£8.25Million Loan Debt)
Stadium: Olimpico Monumental
Stadium Capacity: 51081 (17081 Seated)
Training Facilities: Top Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: Excellent youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 13th
Squad Average Age: 25
Squad Personality: Determined
Captain: Tcheco

Gremio are one of Brazils favourite sides but have struggled to find form in previous years after only being tipped to finish 13th in the league. They have won many trophies however they’ve only ever won the title twice, the most recent time being 1996. Since then they have never really contended for the title. The team is driven by their influential captain Tcheco who likes to tuck in behind the strikers or lone striker. At 31 he’s one of the wiser players in the team and is a big part of the team as well as striker Marcel.

Internacional

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Year Founded: 1909
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel: Carlos Gammara, Dunga, Lucio, Clemer, Tinga, Rafeal Sobis
Fierce Rivals: Gremio
Other Rivals: Juventunde
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £25 Million (£5 Million Loan Debt)
Stadium: Biera Rio
Stadium Capacity: 56306 (15000 Seated)
Training Facilities: Top Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: State of the art youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 1st
Squad Average Age: 26
Squad Personality: Very Determined
Captain: Fernandao

This is Brazils answer to England’s Chelsea and Italy’s Inter. Quite convenient as well as they are called Inter or Internacional in full. There main rivals are just over the way and when they play Gremio the derbies are called “Gre-Nal”. Unlike there counterparts Gremio, Inter have won many honours in there 98 year footballing history and will win many more in the near future. Last season they finished a close 2nd to Sao Paulo. However despite their roll of honours they have only won the Serie A 3 times and the latest one being back in 1979 when the went undefeated for a whole season. Inter have boasted talent in previous years with household names such as Dunga and Lucio. However these names have been rather outshadowed by their current big names. These include Strikers Nilmar and Fernandao (captain), Midfielder Roger and Defender Mineiro. If your looking for quite an easy challenge in the Serie A then really Inter would be a good choice as they are always tipped to finish high and will continue to do so with their current team.

Juventunde

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Year Founded: 1913
Status: Professional
Reputation: National
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel: Ivo Worrtmann, Lori Sandri
Fierce Rivals: Caxias
Other Rivals: Internacional
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £9 Million (£4.5Million Loan Debt)
Stadium: Alfredo Jaconi
Stadium Capacity: 30519 All Seater
Training Facilities: Good Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: Average youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 15th
Squad Average Age: 24
Squad Personality: Determined
Captain: Fabinho

Juventude are a team that have the potential to play nice fast flowing and attractive football. However they only seem to perform when they are in the right frame of mind. Juve were first started by 35 youths who had immigrated from Italy and formed the team Juventude. Since 1994 they have been playing Serie A after their promotion from the Serie B in 1994. And since 1994 Juve have never set the Serie A alive and have struggled for results at points of the season. On the other hand they have always had the ability to bail themselves out of sticky situations. Led by inspirational midfield captain Fabinho Juve would be quite confident of securing Mid-Table even though the media predict them to be with in a chance of being sent into the second tier. So if you want a mid table battle with the possibility of being sent down then this would be one the teams to transform.

Palmeiras

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Year Founded: 1914
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel: Marcos, Leao, Flipao, Velloso, Alex, Zinho, Edmundo, Luxemburgo, Junior, Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos, Vagner Love.
Fierce Rivals: Corinthians, Sao Paulo
Other Rivals: Santos
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £17.25 Million (£6.25Million Loan Debt)
Stadium: Parque Antartica
Stadium Capacity: 35000
Training Facilities: Top Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: Excellent youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 3rd
Squad Average Age: 24
Squad Personality: Determined
Captain: Jorge Valdivada

Palmeiras are nicknamed many things but their main nickname is Porco which is Pig in English. Over the previous years they have had many great players play for them. Household names like Wing Backs Cafu and Roberto Carlos and striker Vagner Love. Porco as they are known are a very talented side with the best of Brazil. They nuture many young players and lead them into the first team squad. They like many other teams have many honours to boast about. They have won the Serie A 4 times but since the last triumph back in 1994 they have struggled for form in the league. With the team they already have on FM they will go very far and will quite confidently finish well near the media predicition. However good transfer targets on a low budget and you could be turning 3rd into 1st.

Parana

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Year Founded: 1989
Status: Professional
Reputation: National
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel: Ricardinho, Flavio, Ciao Junior, Emerson
Fierce Rivals: None
Other Rivals: Cortiba, Athletico Paranesne
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £7.75 Million (£5.25Million Loan Debt)
Stadium: Villa Capanemna
Stadium Capacity: 16100 (3500 Seated)
Training Facilities: Average Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: Average youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 12th
Squad Average Age: 24
Squad Personality: Determined
Captain: Elton

Parana are a club who play in front of 16100 fans when there stadium is packed however they struggle to rake in crowds of at least 10,000 due to the fact that they play out many goal-less boring draws.
They are a club that have only been around for 19 years and have won the Serie B twice once in 1992, 3 years after the club was formed and again in 2000 when the club went back into Brazil’s top division. The team are predicted by the media to finish around the 12th mark place and this is achievable as long as they can play well and take advantage of their home games as their away form is pretty abysmal. If you were to take over Parana you would not be expected to do win anything unless you have made some costly signings then the Chairman will expect you to challenge for the league.

Ponte Preta (RELEGATED)

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Year Founded: 1900
Status: Professional
Reputation: National
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel: Abel Braga, Marco Aurelio
Fierce Rivals: Gurani
Other Rivals: Uniao Barbense
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £6.5 Million (£3Million Loan Debt)
Stadium: Moises Lucarelli
Stadium Capacity: 19722 (3500 Seated)
Training Facilities: Good Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: Average youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 20th
Squad Average Age: 24
Squad Personality: Determined
Captain: Dic

Since being founded in 1900 Ponte Preta have never set the Serie A alight. Always struggling for form season in season out and it would take a big manager with great tactical knowledge to take over this lacklustre club. They don’t hold an enourmus amount of talent and have a very small budget for the season it would take a tactical mastermind for this club to stay up. The only talent of note is Forward Daniel who scores and creates goals and likes to sit behind the front to. Also there is Defensive midfielder Julian who likes to sit and try and keep balls from going in the net even though they struggle.

Santa Cruz (RELEGATED)

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Year Founded: 1914
Status: Professional
Reputation: National
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel: Carlinhos Bola, Rosembrick
Fierce Rivals: Sport Reciefe
Other Rivals: Nautico
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £11 Million (£1.5Million Loan Debt)
Stadium: Arruda
Stadium Capacity: 65934 (44539 Seated)
Training Facilities: Average Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: Good youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 19th
Squad Average Age: 26
Squad Personality: Determined
Captain: Aldo

Despite playing in front of a big stadium with empty seats, Santa Cruz like Ponte struggle and again it will take a tactical mastermind due to fact that like Ponte they have a weak team bar a few players and the chairmen even though he loves the club doesn’t invest enough money in the club meaning they will probably be sent back into Serie B. The only talent of note within this team is Forward Kuki and attacking midfielder Elvis.

Santos

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Year Founded: 1912
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel:, Luxemburgo, Robinho, Diego, Pele, Giovanni, Alex, Roberto Carlos, Leo, Andre Luis, Elano.
Fierce Rivals: None
Other Rivals: Corinthians, Sao Paulo, Palmerias
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £16 Million (£2Million Loan Debt)
Stadium: Vila Belmiro
Stadium Capacity: 25120 (20000 Seated)
Training Facilities: Top Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: State of the art youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 6th
Squad Average Age: 24
Squad Personality: Professional
Captain: Zago

Santos are one of Brazils most traditional teams. They have boasted talent in previous years such as players like Real Madrid winger Robinho and Brazilian footballing legend Pele. Their current talent include the loanee from Shakatar Leonardo and Brazil wonderkid Fabiano. However in there 96 year club history they’ve only won 2 Serie A titles and these were in 2002 and 2004. The Santos team have the skill and the talent within the team to mount a decent title challenge against the big clubs such as Corinthians and Sao Paulo. However many of their players struggle with fitness and it would be a good idea that if your planning on managing Santos it may be an idea to employ a fitness coach or set out a new training scheme to keep your players fit. Overall this is a medium sort of challenge as you’ll be given a decent budget to work with and with that the board will be expecting you to bring the trophies home.

Sao Caeatano (RELEGATED)

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Year Founded: 1989
Status: Professional
Reputation: National
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel: Silvio Luiz, Baptista, Denhio, Cesar
Fierce Rivals: None
Other Rivals: Sato Andre
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £7.5 Million
Stadium: Anacleto Campanella
Stadium Capacity: 30000 All Seater
Training Facilities: Good Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: Average youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 17th
Squad Average Age: 25
Squad Personality: Determined
Captain: Jonas

Caeatano are another club that are just shy of there 20th birthday and it shows that less established teams like the Cats are unlikely to succeed in Brazil’s top league. They set the Serie B alight in 2005 when they were promoted surprisingly to Serie A. Since then they have just managed to shave through each campaign without managing to shoot themselves in the foot and return back to the Second tier. Just like Ponte and Santa, Caeotano will struggle and with selling their best players so they didn’t dive into administration could mean that they struggle even more.

Sao Paulo

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Year Founded: 1935
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Will listen to offers
Favoured Personnel: Jose Sanchez, Kaka, Ceni, Lugano, Luis Fabiano, Baptista, Autorui, Ze Sergio, Zilas, Cuca, Sergio Rocha
Fierce Rivals: Corinthians & Palmerias
Other Rivals: Santos
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £39.5 Million (£6.5 Million Loan Debt)
Stadium: Morumbi
Stadium Capacity: 73500 All Seater
Training Facilities: Top Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: Excellant youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 4th
Squad Average Age: 25
Squad Personality: Determined
Captain: Rogerio Ceni

Well what is there to say? Sao Paulo are a traditional Brazilian football club and have been ever since they were established back in 1935. Playing in front of 73500 people they are spurred on to win every home game they play and the fans even travel anywhere to see their beloved team play football. Sao Paulo plays wonderful and fast flowing football. It’s easy on the eye and is something that everyone wants to see in football. Again like many other teams they hold a prestigious amount of honours and have won 5 league titles since 1938 and have won the Serie A in the past two seasons. Sao Paulo have had many talented players such as Brazilian sensation Kaka and Wing Back Cafu. In there current line up there are names such as free scoring goal keeper Rogerio Ceni and Midfielders Learnado and Suazo. One easy challenge on FM really. They have the foundations there and not much work has to be done. There isn’t really a big transfer budget but you don’t really need it. Easy task on a amateurs managers hands.

Vasco

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Year Founded: 1898
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Enjoying Life at the club
Favoured Personnel: Romario, Edmundo, Helton, Junihio, Ze Mario, Leo Lima, Jardel, Gilberto
Fierce Rivals: Flamengo
Other Rivals: Fluminese & Botafogo
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £16.25 Million (£10.5 Million Loan Debt)
Stadium: Sao Januario
Stadium Capacity: 31000 (21000 Seated)
Training Facilities: Top Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: Excellant youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 11th
Squad Average Age: 23
Squad Personality: Determined
Captain: Elias

Vasco Da Gama as they are named are one of Brazils oldest clubs when they were formed in 1898. Despite the media recording a prediction of only 11th Vasco certainly have the potential to provide a shock. They have won the Serie A 4 times, the last time being in 2000. Since then they have struggled but with new ownership means more money in which to develop the club. Around the golden era for Vasco there were players playing such as Romario and Helton whereas now they have players such as midfield captain Elias and Defender Breda who likes to bomb forward and score many goals from full-back. This is a job that is of medium difficulty and a less experienced manager could struggle with a team like Vasco.

Promoted Teams

Nautico

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/516/328ti0.png

Year Founded: 1901
Status: Professional
Reputation: National
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel: Kuki – Ramalho
Fierce Rivals: Sport
Other Rivals: Santa Cruz
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £4.2 Million (Loan Debt 850K)
Stadium: Aflitos
Stadium Capacity: 23000 All Seater
Training Facilities: Average Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: Good youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction:
Squad Average Age: 24
Squad Personality: Fairly Determined
Captain: Beti

Nautico are a team that were promoted to Serie A thanks to a successful campaign in Serie B. They could however struggle with life inside Serie A as many other teams have bigger squads and more efficient players then the Nautico team. They have one or two players that could turn the game on their day this includes Forwards Beti and Kuki who scored goals for fun in Nautico’s serie B campaign. Another player that brings spark to the dressing room is legend Biano who works hard game in game out. Possible weaknesses in the Nautico team include there whole defence and the pace of the players down the wings as they fly down the wings like old grandfathers. If you were take up this challenge you would struggle even if you were a mastermind. As like all the promoted teams it will be a shock if any of them don’t go back down.

America De Natal

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/5660/107203nd0.png

Year Founded: 1915
Status: Professional
Reputation: National
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel: Fernandinho
Fierce Rivals: ABC
Other Rivals: Alecrim
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £2.9 Million (Loan Debt 1M)
Stadium: Machadao
Stadium Capacity: 32000 All Seater
Training Facilities: Average Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: Average youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction:
Squad Average Age: 24
Squad Personality: Fairly Determined
Captain: Berg

America De Natal finished 4th in the Serie B therefore they were promoted to Serie A with little hope they’d stay up. If everyone around Brazil is honest then there will be no sympathy for Natal when they go straight back down. In one case it’s too early for them to be promoted as they were building there team and promotion will not help. Promotion brings in money for the manager to spend money but in fairness you need a lot more money to keep Natal up as the teams above Natal are far more superior and have built teams up like Natal. However Natal are still building and this challenge will be a very difficult one indeed. With Junior in goal and Berg in midfield they could pull off a few decnent results but apart from that they are up against it.

Atletico Mineiro


http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3429/314df4.png

Year Founded: 1908
Status: Professional
Reputation: National
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel: Gilberto Silva – Mancini
Fierce Rivals: Cruzerio
Other Rivals: Flamengo
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £12.25 Million (Loan Debt 5.25M )
Stadium: Mineirio
Stadium Capacity: 66000 All Seater
Training Facilities: Top Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: Excellent youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction:
Squad Average Age: 24
Squad Personality: Determined
Captain: Lucio

Mineiro are welcomed back into the league with open arms after their relegation to Serie B in 2005. That came as a shock to everyone but after finishing 1st in the Serie B last season it comes as no surprise to see Mineiro back in the Brazilian top flight. They have many players that will play good football and if you fancied any of the four teams to stay up you’d most likely say Mineiro. Players in the squad that could impact on results includes prolific striker Amilton and Defensive midfielder Bilu. It would be a tough task but with enough grit and determination Atletico could stay up.

Sport

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/2057/338nk2.png


Year Founded: 1905
Status: Professional
Reputation: National
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Favoured Personnel: Leao Nildo
Fierce Rivals: Santa Cruz & Nautico
Other Rivals: None
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £5.5 Million (Loan Debt 2.5M)
Stadium: Ilha Do Retio
Stadium Capacity: 35000 All Seater
Training Facilities: Good Training Facilities
Youth Facilities: Good youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction:
Squad Average Age: 23
Squad Personality: Fairly Determined
Captain: Gomes

And so we finish with Sport Club Do Recife. This again is a team that has come into the Serie A on the back of a great campaign last time round something some people didn’t expect. The football they play isn’t pretty and is mainly jailhouse football but they can still get results with many great players at the helm. One example of this is Striker Weldon and Midfielder Fabio Gomes who could both swing results in Sport’s way. Another tough challenge really.


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Managed to finish it after problems with logos so here it is. I've included last years and this years teams. C&C welcome.

[AFC]

Another great guide by our YTS indiduals, these are looking really good.

Well done Ben for all the hard work and effort you put into this ;)

[Blaze]

This is an excellent guide displayed, the back injury didn't set you back at all - very well done on a great guide, Ben. :thup:

[The_Iron]

Thanks both Blaze & AFC for your comments.

Also a big thanks to Zabier and GD & all the lads on YTS.

[Validation]

:clapping:

Fantastic guide there Iron. Really does give great detail on each club and is easy to read. One thing that confused me though was the inclusion of relelgated teams, i thought they were relegated last year but that's your final league standings i take it?

[Koop]

He hasn't got the new FM yet, so he used the last years update, and they hadn't been relegated (I think), and he'd already wrote the thingy for them, so he just left them in.

Anyway, top guide mate, really well written. You've shown outstanding committment, writing through the injury and all. :checkit:

[The_Iron]

Spot on Conry. I still don't posses a copy of 08 and hopefully will have it soon. But I did it with the 07 update and the 4 clubs hadn't been relegated so I'd done it and noticed there were different teams in the league so I changed it.

[Zabier]

Yeah, great stuff Iron. Another example of just how prolific the YTS members are turning out to be! ;)