Brief history
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista came into existence on 1 September 1910, when a group of workers decided to follow up their passion and create a 'football team for the people of São Paulo. Despite suggestions of Santos Dummont, Carlos Gomes and Guarani, a vote approved co-founder Joaquim Ambrósio's idea to baptize it after esteemed English club Corinthians, who had toured Brazil that same year, winning all of their six matches.

Initially, Corinthians used beige jerseys, but their quality discoloured when washed, prompting the club to adopt white shirts, which they have used ever since. Corinthians played their first match nine days after their institution, losing 1-0 against União da Lapa, but they responded swiftly by overcoming Estrela Polar 2-0, striker Luiz Fabi netting their very first goal.

In 1913, Corinthians disputed their first state championship, finishing fourth out of five teams. One year later, inspired by the brilliance of Amílcar - the club's first international - and teenage prodigy Neco, they went through the competition unbeaten to claim their first title. With their popularity established, a second Paulista crown followed in 1916, and in 1922 Corinthians won the first of three consecutive state titles. They repeated this feat twice (1928-30 and 1937-39) before a ten-year spell without winning the Paulista Championship was ended in 1951. They collected their first Rio-São Paulo tournament win the previous year. In 1952, Corinthians boasted one of the most feared - and prolific - attacks in Brazilian football history, comprising Claudio, Luizinho, Baltazar, Carbone and Mario. They recorded an unprecedented total of 103 goals in the Paulista Championship, and their popularity swelled accordingly.

However, as the all-powerful side was disassembled, Corinthians began a run of 22 years without a major trophy. Not even the presence of Rivelino, one of the club's greatest ever players, could inspire success, and the moustached genius left the Parque Sao Jorge in 1974 without silverware. But during the time of their 1977 Paulista conquest, it was the legendary ball-artist Sócrates and his unforgettable back-heels kept the Timão supporters smiling.

The 1990s was to prove a glorious decade for Corinthians, who captured three Brazilian Championships, three State Championships and a Brazilian Cup in quick succession. The winning streak continued into the new millennium, with a 2000 FIFA Club World Championship victory follwed by Brazilian Cup and Rio-São Paulo tournament successes in 2002. In 2004, the club entered into a partnership arrangement with MSI, who immediately bankrolled the biggest spending spree in South American football history. Carlos Tevez, Carlos Alberto and Javier Mascherano were all recruited for large fees, and the outlay paid dividends with Corinthians winning their fourth Brazilian Championship in 2005.