The Copa Rio (English: Rio Cup) is a regional cup competition for football clubs in the Rio de Janeiro state. It is run by the Rio de Janeiro State Football Federation. Volta Redonda has the record for most trophies won.
| Founded | 1991 |
|---|---|
| Region |  Rio de Janeiro |
| Number of teams | 16 (2024) |
| Current champions | Portuguesa (3d title) |
| Most successful club(s) | Volta Redonda (5 titles) |
History
editThe competition was founded in 1991 by the Rio de Janeiro State Football Federation to decide one of the Rio de Janeiro's Copa do Brasil representatives of the following year (the other being the Campeonato Carioca champion). If the state champion had also won Copa Rio, the representative would have been the tournament runner-up. However, in 1995 the Brazilian Football Confederation established the possibility of a club being invited to dispute Copa do Brasil, and, as a consequence of this, Copa Rio ended up not being interesting for the big teams, so it was discontinued. Flamengo won the first competition with Léo Júnior as captain. It started in April 20 and was concluded on 10 August 1991.
In 1996 and 1997, the competition was replaced by a similar competition disputed only by Rio de Janeiro state countryside clubs, commonly known as Copa do Interior (Portuguese for Countryside Cup). In 1998, there was an attempt to recreate Copa Rio, but without the qualification to Copa do Brasil. This attempt was a failure, and after three years, the competition was discontinued again. During that season only Flamengo and Fluminense participated from the Rio's Big 4, while none of them joined the competition in the following year and only Botafogo in 2000. Thus, the Rio Cup started losing its shine in the decade to follow.
In 2008, the third-placed team (Madureira) was eligible to play in Copa Rio-Espírito Santo.[1] In 2005 and in 2007, the competition was held again, but without the participation of the big clubs of the state, and again without qualification to Copa do Brasil.
Champions
editCapital and interior winners
editThe competition was split in two groups with separate finals from 1991 to 1995.
| Year | Capital | Interior |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Flamengo | Americano |
| 1992 | Vasco da Gama | Americano |
| 1993 | Flamengo | Americano |
| 1994 | Fluminense | Volta Redonda |
| 1995 | Botafogo | Volta Redonda |
Copa do Rio
editTitles by club
editCopa do Interior
editList of champions
edit| Year | Champion |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Rubro Social |
| 1997 | Duquecaxiense |
Titles by team
edit| Club | Titles |
|---|---|
| Duquecaxiense | 1 title |
| Rubro Social | 1 title |
Records and statistics
editParticipations of Big Four
editRio's Big Four participated in the early competitions. Their last appearance was in 2000 before the Cup went on hiatus. Botafogo is the only club out of the 4 that never won the competition.
| Club | Years | Appearances |
|---|---|---|
| Botafogo | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000 | 6 |
| Flamengo | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998 | 6 |
| Fluminense | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998 | 6 |
| Vasco da Gama | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 | 5 |
Topscorers
edit| Year | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Éberson | Portuguesa-RJ | 10 |
| 2008 | Assumpção | Olaria | 13 |
| 2009 | Daniel | Sendas | 16 |
| 2010 | Pipico Rondinelli Tano |
Bangu Goytacaz Bangu |
8 |
| 2011 | Wellinton Pimenta | Serra Macaense | 8 |
| 2012 | Derley | Madureira | 10 |
| 2013 | Tiago Amaral | Volta Redonda | 8 |
| 2014 | Gilcimar | America-RJ | 8 |
| 2015 | Douglas Caé Sabão Tiago Amaral |
Resende Gonçalense Volta Redonda |
6 |
| 2016 | Lohan | Friburguense | 11 |
| 2017 | Felipe Augusto | Boavista-RJ | 5 |
| 2018 | Cláudio Maradona | Americano | 7 |
| 2019 | Lelê Sorriso |
Itaboraí Profute Sampaio Corrêa |
7 |
| 2021 | Di Maria | Americano | 6 |
| 2022 | Jonathan Chula Rhainer |
Americano Serra Macaense |
6 |
| 2023 | Guilherme Barrozo Xandinho |
Friburguense Olaria |
7 |
Winning managers and captains
edit| Season | Manager | Captain |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Vanderlei Luxemburgo | Léo Júnior |
| 1992 | Joel Santana | Roberto Dinamite |
| 1993 | Alcir Portella | Geovani |
| 1994 | Wilton Xavier | Denimar [10] |
| 1995 | Wilton Xavier | Denimar [11] |
| 1998 | Duílio Júnior | |
| 1999 | Wilton Xavier | |
| 2000 | Marcelo Neto | |
| 2007 | Valter Ferreira | |
| 2010 | Zé Ricardo | Léo Inácio |
| 2011 | Antônio Carlos Roy | |
| 2012 | Leonardo Condé | |
| 2019 | Luciano Quadros | |
| 2021 | Gilmar Estevam | |
| 2022 | Rogério Corrêa | Luan |
| 2023 | Caio Couto |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Nova Iguaçu em festa". Lance! (3871). Rio de Janeiro: Areté Editorial S/A: 12. 2008.
- ^ Em 1991, Flamengo vence Americano por 3 a 0 - ge.globo.com
- ^ - CR Vasco da Gama Campeão da Copa Rio de 1992
- ^ Título pós-Cocada: a história apagada da Copa Rio 1993, vencida pelo Vasco - ge.globo.com
- ^ HISTÓRIA: OS 25 ANOS DO TÍTULO DO VOLTAÇO NA COPA RIO (1994) - ge.globo.com
- ^ Final 2010 - ge.globo.com
- ^ Festa laranja! Nova Iguaçu bate o Bangu e é campeão da Copa Rio 2012 - ge.globo.com
- ^ "FERJ cancela algumas competições do seu calendário 2020" (in Portuguese). FERJ. March 24, 2020.
- ^ 2021 Final - cinturaobrasileiro.com
- ^ Bate bola 1995
- ^ Protagonista do último acesso do Voltaço na Série C, em 95, Magrão relembra feito: "Um ano mágico"