Middlesbrough FC

Middlesbrough is an English club founded in 1876, based in northeastern England. It became famous in world football for its policy of hiring Brazilian stars in the 1990s and 2000s, such as Juninho Paulista, Emerson and Fabrício — in addition to winning the English Football League Cup in 2004.

History

Founded in 1876 in the industrial city of Middlesbrough, in northeastern England, the club is one of the oldest in English football. For decades it competed in the lower divisions of English football, until it consolidated itself in the top division in the 20th century. The Riverside Stadium, opened in 1995, replaced the historic Ayresome Park and became one of England's most modern stadiums at the time. Middlesbrough's great era of international projection came in the 1990s, when the club invested heavily in foreign players and especially Brazilians. The arrival of Juninho Paulista in 1995 was a landmark: the small midfielder from Bahia enchanted English fans with his dribbling and leadership, becoming an absolute idol and returning to the club on two other occasions. In addition to Juninho, the club signed Emerson, Fabrício Ravanelli and other big names, becoming a showcase of South American and European football in the Premier League. Italian Fabrício Ravanelli also stood out, scoring a hat-trick on his debut in the 1996 Charity Shield final. The highest point in the club's recent history was the conquest of the English Football League Cup in 2004, the first — and to this day the only — national trophy of Middlesbrough, defeating Bolton Wanderers 2-1. The club also reached the UEFA Cup final in 2006, when it was defeated by Sevilla. Currently competing in the Championship, English football's second division, seeking a return to the elite.