Esporte Clube Pelotas

Esporte Clube Pelotas is one of the most traditional clubs in Gaúcho football, with over a century of history. Founded in 1908 in the city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, the Lobão is a symbol of football from the South Half of the state and has competed in several editions of Serie B of the Brazilian Championship.

History

Founded on October 12, 1908, Esporte Clube Pelotas is one of the oldest clubs in Brazil and one of the strongest forces in Gaúcho interior football. The club was born in Pelotas, the second largest city in Rio Grande do Sul, with a strong cultural and economic tradition, and football became part of the local identity from the beginning. Bento Freitas Stadium, home of the Lobão, is one of the most traditional stadiums in Rio Grande do Sul. The stadium bears the name of the club's patron and was the stage for numerous memorable matches over more than a century of history, receiving illustrious visitors from the biggest teams in Brazilian football. In its first decades, Pelotas was a prominent competitor in the Gaúcho Championship, competing for titles with the major clubs from Porto Alegre. The rivalry with capital-city clubs forged the Lobão's fighting identity, which always fought above its financial capacity. In the 2000s and 2010s, Pelotas experienced moments of rise to national football, participating in editions of Serie B and revealing talents for Brazilian football. The club represents the resilience and passion of Gaúcho interior football.