Cruzeiro Esporte Clube

Founded by Italian immigrants in Belo Horizonte, Cruzeiro is one of the most traditional clubs in Minas Gerais and Brazilian football.

History

Cruzeiro Esporte Clube was founded in 1921 as Societa Sportiva Palestra Italia, adopting its current name in 1942 due to restrictions on foreign names during World War II. The club experienced its first great moment of glory in the 1960s, with the formation known as Cruzeiro da Rua Ceara, winning the Copa Brasil and Copa Libertadores in 1976 under the command of Ditao. In the 2000s, Cruzeiro consolidated itself as a national powerhouse, winning two consecutive Brazilian Championships (2003 and 2014) and several editions of the Copa do Brasil. Despite facing a serious financial crisis and relegation to Serie B in 2019, the club maintains one of the largest fan bases in the country and seeks to rebuild its sporting strength.