ABC Futebol Clube, commonly referred to as ABC, is a Brazilian professional club based in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte founded on 29 June 1915. It competes in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, the third tier of Brazilian football, as well as in the Campeonato Potiguar, the top flight of the Rio Grande do Norte state football league.

ABC
Full nameABC Futebol Clube
Nickname(s)O Mais Querido (The Most Beloved)
Elefante da Frasqueira (Frasqueira's Elephant)
O Clube do Povo (The People's Club)
Campeão das Multidões (Crowd Champions)
Founded29 June 1915; 108 years ago (1915-06-29)
GroundFrasqueirão
Capacity18,000
PresidentBira Marques
Head coachFernando Marchiori
LeagueCampeonato Brasileiro Série C
Campeonato Potiguar
2023
2023 [pt]
Série B, 20th of 20 (relegated)
Potiguar, 2nd of 8
WebsiteClub website

ABC is the top ranked team from Rio Grande do Norte in CBF's national club ranking, at 44th overall.[1]

History edit

At precisely 13 hours on 29 June 1915, a group of young men belonging to the elites of the state of Rio Grande do Norte met in Rio Branco Avenue, in the back of the Carlos Gomes Theatre, now known as the Alberto Maranhão Theatre, to decide about the creation of the first football club of the state. The club's foundation ceremony occurred in the house of Avelino Alves Freire, a respected merchant in the state.[citation needed]

The first subject to decide in the meeting was the name of the club. One of the founders, José Pinheiro, gives the idea of calling the new club as ABC Futebol Clube in which it was unanimously approved. The name ABC is given in honour of the pact of fraternal friendship which was diplomatically supported by three countries: Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, called the ABC Pact, whose letters refer to the initials of the three countries.[citation needed]

The team incorporated on 13 December 1927, when the state's football league registered the club charter.[citation needed]

ABC's first interstate match was in 1917, defeating Santa Cruz of Recife, Pernambuco 2–1.[citation needed]

ABC is in the Guinness Book for having won ten consecutive state championships from 1932 to 1941, sharing this record with América Mineiro, that won ten consecutive titles from 1916 to 1925. The team also is the team with the most state championship titles in Brazil, holding 57 titles.[citation needed]

In 1979, Rivellino played for ABC in a 1–1 friendly match against Vasco da Gama. In the same year ABC played against the Brazil Olympic team, losing 1–0.[citation needed]

The club won the Série C in 2010 after beating Ituiutaba in the final.[2]

Stadium edit

The club owns Estádio Maria Lamas Farache, nicknamed Frasqueirão, which has a maximum capacity of 18,000.[3]

Players edit

As of 20 September 2023

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK   BRA Carlos Eduardo
GK   BRA Michael
GK   BRA Matheus Refundini
GK   BRA Wellington Lima
DF   BRA Afonso
DF   BRA Alemão
DF   BRA Fabrício
DF   BRA Gedeilson
DF   BRA Geovane
DF   BRA Genílson
DF   BRA Gustavo Daniel
DF   BRA Habraão (on loan from Fortaleza)
DF   BRA Jefinho (on loan from Botafogo)
DF   BRA Romário
DF   BRA Alex Silva
MF   BRA Andrey
MF   BRA Matheus Anjos
MF   BRA Daniel
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF   BRA Jhonnathan (on loan from Santos)
MF   BRA Nathan Melo (on loan from Goiás)
MF   BRA Wellington Reis
MF   BRA Randerson
MF   BRA Ramon Vinicius (on loan from Água Santa)
MF   URU Agustín Rodríguez
MF   BRA Thonny Anderson (on loan from Red Bull Bragantino)
MF   BRA Walfrido
MF   BRA Wallace (on loan from Fluminense)
FW   BRA Anderson
FW   BRA Evandro
FW   BRA Gil Robson
FW   BRA Maycon Douglas (on loan from Tombense)
FW   BRA Mike
FW   BRA Paulo Sérgio
FW   BRA Wallyson
FW   BRA Welliton (on loan from Red Bull Bragantino II)

Out on loan edit

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
DF   BRA Richardson (at Náutico until 30 November 2023)

Honours edit

National edit

Regional edit

State edit

  • Campeonato Potiguar
    • Winners (57): 1920, 1921, 1923, 1925, 1926, 1928, 1929, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1944, 1945, 1947, 1950, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022
  • Copa Rio Grande do Norte
    • Winners (1): 2005
  • Copa Cidade do Natal
    • Winners (5): 2012, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022
  • Copa RN
    • Winners (9): 2008, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021

References edit

  1. ^ "RNC - Ranking Nacional dos Clubes 2022" (PDF). CBF. 16 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Brazil 2010 – Third Level (Série C)" (in Portuguese). RSSSF Brasil. 20 November 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2010.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "CNEF – Cadastro Nacional de Estádios de Futebol" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Confederação Brasileira de Futebol. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  • Enciclopédia do Futebol Brasileiro, Volume 1 – Lance, Rio de Janeiro: Aretê Editorial S/A, 2001.
  • Especial Placar – 500 Times do Brasil, São Paulo: Editora Abril: 2003.

External links edit