Itabuna Esporte Clube

Itabuna Esporte Clube is one of the main traditions in southern Bahia football, with regular participations in the Baiano Championship.

History

Founded in 1933 in the city of Itabuna, in the cocoa-growing region of southern Bahia, the club was born alongside the economic peak of cocoa in the region and became a local sports reference. Throughout the decades, it competed in several editions of the Baiano Championship, alternating between the elite and access divisions. The Cocoa Club built a historic rivalry with Vitória da Conquista and other clubs from the Bahian interior, being for years the main sporting force in the south of the state. The team also participated in national youth competitions and access competitions throughout its trajectory. In recent years, Itabuna has invested in training young athletes and restructuring its youth categories, seeking to regain its place among the main clubs in Bahia.