Associação Desportiva São Caetano

São Caetano is one of the greatest phenomena in modern Brazilian football, having risen from Serie C to the national runner-up position in record time. The club from Greater São Paulo's ABC region played out one of the most surprising stories in Brazilian sports at the beginning of the 2000s.

History

Refounded in 1989 in São Caetano do Sul, in the Greater São Paulo ABC region, the club experienced a meteoric rise unparalleled in Brazilian football. In just two years of national competitions, it climbed from Serie C to Serie A of the Brazilian Championship, surprising the nation with unmatched organization and determination. The height of this trajectory came in 2001 and 2002, when São Caetano achieved the runner-up position in both editions, a feat never repeated by such a young club. In 2001, it lost the title to Atlético Mineiro on goal difference; in 2002, it was surpassed by Santos, with Robinho and Diego, in the final round. Under coach Vadão's command, the team was known for its pragmatic, organized football and its players' collective fighting spirit. After this golden period, the club faced financial and sporting difficulties, but its history remains as one of the greatest Cinderella stories in national football.