Fortaleza Esporte Clube
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Fortaleza Esporte Clube (Brazilian Portuguese: [foʁtaˈlezɐisˈpɔʁtʃiˈklubi]) is a Brazilian multi-sport club based in Fortaleza, capital of the state of Ceará. Founded in 18 October 1918, primarily a football club, is active in other sports such as futsal, handball and basketball. The club's colors are red, blue and white.
Fortaleza is one of the most successful football clubs in the Brazilian Northeast, having won 46 state league titles and 3 Copa do Nordeste titles. It is placed by surveys as the second biggest fan base in the Northeast, behind only EC Bahia. Its biggest rival is Ceará SC, and clashes between them are called Clássico-Rei (Classic of Kings).
History
On 23 February 1912, Alcides Santos founded a club called Fortaleza, and participated shortly after in the founding of the Stella Foot-Ball Club. Finally, on 18 October 1918, Fortaleza Sporting Club was born, the first denomination of the Fortaleza Esporte Clube. Its colors represent the colors of the French flag, since the founder spent time in France and decided to put the colors of the European country in the Brazilian club.
In 1920, they participated in the foundation of the Associação Cearense de Desportos. That same year they got their first Cearense Championship title.
In 1951, the Municipality of Fortaleza decided to renovate the Presidente Vargas Stadium. The idea of having a private stadium was reborn in the board since it had its own stadium during the 1920s.
In 1957, the club acquired from the land in Bairro do Pici from Mrs. Hedwing, which during the Second World War was where the American military base was in Fortaleza, called Post Command (Command Post), hence the name Pici, transfers it to the Club of Gentilândia in exchange for the new neighborhood. It changed its name to Leão do Pici, a reference to the neighborhood where the Parque dos Campeonatos is located.
The Alcides Santos Stadium opened its doors in June 1962, beating Usina Ceará in the inaugural match.
After finishing in 4th place in the 2021 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the club qualified for the Copa Libertadores for the first time in history. In 2023 they finished 2nd place in the Copa Sudamericana, losing to L.D.U. Quito.
Shield
| Shields - Fortaleza Esporte Clube | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1918 | 1940s | 1940s - 1950s | 1940s - 1950s | 1960s | 2019- |
Mascot
Fortaleza's mascot is a lion named Juba. In the 1960s, a journalist suggested that a lion be used as the club's mascot, inspired by the city of Fortaleza's General Tibúrcio Square, popularly known as Praça dos Leões (Square of Lions).
Uniform
- Home Uniform: Blue and red shirt with blue pants and white socks.
- Away uniform: White and blue shirt with blue pants and blue socks.
Uniform Evolution
| 1918-1922 | 1922-1926 | 1926-1938 | 1997 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015-2016 |
| 2016-2017 | 2017 | 2018 |
Statistics
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Player with most goals scored: Rinaldo (23 goals) Player with most goals scored in a single tournament: Rinaldo (16 goals), in 2005
- All divisions taken in consideration Player with most goals scored: Rinaldo (43 goals); in 2004 (14), 2005 (16), 2006 (11) and 2008 (2)
- Topscorers in national competitions (cups and leagues) Bececê (7 goals), Taça Brasil 1960 Rinaldo (14 goals), Campeonato Brasileiro Série B 2004
- Best Série A right-back (Bola de Prata award): Louro, in 1974
Club structure
Headquarters
The headquarters of Fortaleza lies in the district of Pici, which is a complex consisting of buildings named after prominent figures of the club throughout their history.
Stadiums
Fortaleza play their games at the 8,300-seater Estádio Alcides Santos, as well as Estádio Castelão, which can hold 63,903 supporters and Estádio Presidente Vargas with a capacity of 20,600.
Past presidents
- Alcides de Castro Santos (1918-1920)
- João Gentil (1920-1923)
- Eurico Salgado Duarte (1923-1924)
- Pedro Riquet Nogueira (1925-1926)
- Francisco Luís de Oliveira (1927-1928)
- Lafayette Tapioca (1929)
- Antônio de Pádua Freire (1930-1932)
- Antenor Vale (1933-1934)
- Osvaldo Moreira Lima (1935-1936)
- João Ramos César de Vasconcelos (1937)
- Heitor Ribeiro (1938)
- Meton Borges (1938)
- Demócrito Freire (1938)
- Francisco Araújo (1939-1940)
- José Milton Holanda Pimentel (1940)
- Pedro Riquet Nogueira (1940)
- Capitão Luís Clóvis de Oliveira (1940-1941)
- Adriano Rodrigues Martins (1941)
- Luís Abner (1941-1942)
- Edmar Vilar de Queiróz (1942)
- Ivan César de Vasconcelos (1942-1943)
- Agapito dos Santos Sátiro (1943-1944)
- Capitão Galileu Saldanha de Menezes (1944-1945)
- Capitão Edmar Rabelo Maia (1945-1946)
- José Mário Belém de Figueiredo (1946-1949)
- Francisco Lorda Filho (1949)
- Mendo Leonel Chaves (1949-1950)
- Otoni Diniz (1950)
- Álvaro Paulo Kruel Viana (1950)
- Amaury Barbosa Gurgel (1951)
- José William Girão Frota (1951)
- Arcelino Costa Leitão (1951-1954)
- Francisco Bezerra de Oliveira (1954-1955)
- Pedro Torres (1955)
- Francisco Bezerra de Oliveira (1955-1956)
- Carlos Rolim Filho (1956-1958)
- Francisco Bezerra de Oliveira (1958)
- Francisco Mozart Cavalcante Gomes (1958)
- José Raimundo Costa (1958-1959)
- Manuel Nunes de Oliveira (1959)
- Antônio Luís do Vale (1959)
- Manuel Nunes de Oliveira (1959-1960)
- Otoni Diniz (1960-1961)
- José Raimundo Costa (1961)
- Otoni Diniz (1961-1963)
- José Orestes Cavalcante (1963)
- Francisco Manhães (1963)
- José Raimundo Costa (1964)
- José Orestes Cavalcante (1964)
- José William Girão Frota (1964-1965)
- Francisco Bezerra de Oliveira (1965)
- José Raimundo Costa (1965-1966)
- Francisco Bezerra de Oliveira (1966-1967)
- José Raimundo Costa (1967)
- Edmilson Barros de Oliveira (1967)
- Renato Brito Bastos (1967)
- Abdias Veras Filho (1967)
- Egberto de Paula Rodrigues (1967)
- Edmilson Xavier Bindá (1967-1968)
- Fares Cândido Lopes (1968)
- Otoni Diniz (1968-1969)
- Egberto de Paula Rodrigues (1969)
- José Raimundo Fontenelle (1969)
- José Cidrão de Oliveira (1970-1971)
- José Edyr Sabóia de Castro (1971-1972)
- General Edmar Rabelo Maia (1972-1975)
- Francisco Alves Maia (1975-1976)
- Airton França Rebouças (1977)
- Cid Liberato Paracampos (1977)
- Deputado Alfredo Machado (1977-1978)
- Otoni Diniz (1978)
- Deputado Alfredo Machado (1978-1979)
- Engenheiro Cássio Borges (1979)
- Ezequiel Menezes Filho (1979)
- José Camilo de Aguiar (1979-1980)
- João de Deus Costa Lima (1980)
- Fares Lopes (1980-1981)
- Silvio Carlos Vieira Lima (1981-1982)
- Hélder Veríssimo de Lima (1982-1983)
- Newton Cavalcante de Castro (1983)
- Ney Rebouças (1983-1984)
- Emanoel Papy Sabóia (1984)
- João de Deus Costa Lima (1984)
- João Gonçalves Monteiro (1984)
- Newton Cavalcante de Castro (1984)
- José Nestor Falcão Filho (1985-1986)
- Silvio Carlos Vieira Lima (1987-1989)
- Mauro Moraes de Lima (1989-1990)
- Paulo Rogério Magalhães (1990)
- Péricles Mulatinho (1990)
- Carlos Alberto Ribeiro (1990)
- Péricles Ribeiro Mulatinho (1991-1992)
- Flávio Novaes (1993)
- Fernando Silva (1993)
- Newton Cavalcante (1994)
- Quintino Feitosa (1994)
- Raimundo Regadas (1994)
- José Raimundo Costa (1995)
- Fernando Silva (1995)
- José Raimundo Costa (1995)
- Souza Filho (1996)
- Ciro Nepomuceno (1996)
- José Raimundo Costa (1996)
- Osvaldo Azim (1996-1998)
- Atanásio dos Santos (1998)
- Ariosvaldo Gomes (1998)
- Leonel Pereira Alencar Neto (1998-1999)
- Jorge Alberto Carvalho Mota (1999-2004)
- Clayton Alcântara Veras (2004)
- José Ribamar Felipe Bezerra (2005-2006)
- Marcelo Desidério (2007-2008)
- Lúcio Bonfim (2008-2009)
- Renan Vieira (2009-2010)
- Paulo Arthur (2011)
- Osmar Baquit (2011-2014)
- Jorge Mota (2014-2017)
- Marcello Desidério (2017)
- Luis Eduardo Girão (2017)
- Marcelo Paz (2017—2023)
- Alex Santiago (2024—2025)
- Rolim Machado (2025—)
Current squad
As of 15 April 2026
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Youth team
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. Pos. Nation Player 27 FW BRA Caio Wesley 30 FW CHI Tomás Roco | No. Pos. Nation Player 36 DF BRA Guilherme Moura 39 DF BRA Cristovam | ||
| 27 | FW | BRA | Caio Wesley |
| 30 | FW | CHI | Tomás Roco |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 36 | DF | BRA | Guilherme Moura |
| 39 | DF | BRA | Cristovam |
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. Pos. Nation Player — DF CHI Benjamín Kuscevic (on loan to Toronto until 31 December 2026) — DF ARG Eros Mancuso (on loan to Estudiantes LP until 31 December 2026) — MF BRA Kauan Rodrigues (on loan to Athletic-MG until 30 November 2026) — MF BRA Matheus Pereira (on loan to Corinthians until 31 December 2026) | No. Pos. Nation Player — MF BRA Pablo Roberto (on loan to Juventude until 30 November 2026) — MF COL Yeison Guzmán (on loan to América de Cali until 31 December 2027) — FW BRA Allanzinho (on loan to Juventude until 30 November 2026) — FW BRA Iarley (on loan to ASA until 30 September 2026) | ||
| — | DF | CHI | Benjamín Kuscevic (on loan to Toronto until 31 December 2026) |
| — | DF | ARG | Eros Mancuso (on loan to Estudiantes LP until 31 December 2026) |
| — | MF | BRA | Kauan Rodrigues (on loan to Athletic-MG until 30 November 2026) |
| — | MF | BRA | Matheus Pereira (on loan to Corinthians until 31 December 2026) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | BRA | Pablo Roberto (on loan to Juventude until 30 November 2026) |
| — | MF | COL | Yeison Guzmán (on loan to América de Cali until 31 December 2027) |
| — | FW | BRA | Allanzinho (on loan to Juventude until 30 November 2026) |
| — | FW | BRA | Iarley (on loan to ASA until 30 September 2026) |
Staff
Current staff
As of 8 December 2025.
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Coaching staff | |
| Head coach | Brazil Thiago Carpini |
| Assistant head coach | Argentina Nahuel Martínez |
| Assistant head coach | Argentina Gastón Liendo |
| Assistant head coach | Brazil Leonardo Porto |
| Fitness coach | Argentina Luis Aspiazu |
| Fitness coach | Brazil Émerson Santana |
| Fitness coach | Brazil Kelmo Bonatto |
| Fitness coach | Brazil Lucas Martins |
| Goalkeepers trainer | Argentina Santiago Piccinini |
| Goalkeepers trainer | Brazil Guto Albuquerque |
| Development analyst | Brazil Henrique Bittencourt |
| Development analyst | Brazil Leonardo Abreu |
| Medical staff | |
| Team doctor | Brazil Cláudio Maurício |
| Team doctor | Brazil Glay Maranhão |
| Team doctor | Brazil Rafael Veras |
| Team doctor | Brazil Roberto Oliveira |
| Team doctor | Brazil Vinícius Castelo Branco |
| Physiotherapist | Brazil Albino Luciano |
| Physiotherapist | Brazil Egberto Oliveira |
| Physiotherapist | Brazil Patrício Teixeira |
| Physiotherapist | Brazil Ranielson Xavier |
Honours
Official tournaments
| National | ||
|---|---|---|
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Campeonato Brasileiro Série B | 1 | 2018 |
| Regional | ||
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Copa do Nordeste | 3 | 2019, 2022, 2024 |
| Torneio Norte-Nordeste | 1s | 1970 |
| State | ||
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Campeonato Cearense | 47s | 1920, 1921, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1933, 1934, 1937, 1938, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1953, 1954, 1959, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1991, 1992, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2026 |
| Copa dos Campeões Cearenses | 2 | 2016, 2017 |
- record
- s shared record
Others tournaments
International
- Panamaribo Cup (1): 1962
National
- Torneio Início do Torneio de Integração Nacional (1): 1971
Regional and Inter-state
- Copa Cidade de Natal (1): 1946
- Zona Norte-Nordeste da Taça Brasil (2): 1960, 1968
State
- Torneio Início do Ceará (12): 1925, 1927, 1928, 1933, 1935, 1948, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1977
Runners-up
- Copa Sudamericana (1): 2023
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (2): 1960, 1968
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série B (2): 2002, 2004
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série C (1): 2017
- Campeonato Cearense (28): 1922, 1925, 1929, 1936, 1941, 1944, 1950, 1958, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1997, 2002, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2024, 2025
- Copa Fares Lopes (1): 2017
Women's Football
- Campeonato Cearense de Futebol Feminino (4): 2010, 2020, 2022, 2025
External links
- (archived 20 August 2008)
- (archived 8 February 2006)