Full name | Guaratinguetá Futebol Ltda. |
---|---|
Nickname(s) |
Garça O Orgulho do Vale |
Founded | October 1, 1998 |
Stadium | Ninho da Garça, Guaratinguetá, São Paulo state |
Capacity | 15,769 |
President | Edinilson de Araujo Carneiro |
Head coach | João Telê |
League | Campeonato Brasileiro Série C |
2014 | 2013 Série B, 17th (relegated) |
Website | Club home page |
Guaratinguetá Futebol Ltda., usually known simply as Guaratinguetá, is a Brazilian football club from Guaratinguetá, São Paulo state.
On October 1, 1998, the club was founded as Guaratinguetá Esporte Clube by a group including Doctor Mário Augusto Rodrigues Nunes (nicknamed Marinho).
On November 4, 1999, the Consórcio de Guaratinguetá (Guaratinguetá Consortium) was created, to co-manage the club with C.S.R Futebol e Marketing, owned by the entrepreneur Carlos Arini and by the football players César Sampaio and Rivaldo.
On November 26, 1999, the club joined the São Paulo Football Federation, competing in the Campeonato Paulista Série B2 in the following year.
In 2002, the Consórcio de Guaratinguetá ended, and the club was owned by the entrepreneurs Odário Mardegan Durães and Elmiro Aparecido de Faria.
Since 2004, the club has been owned by the entrepreneur Sony Alberto Douer. In 2005, he and the entrepreneur Carlos Arini founded Sony Sports, a company created to manage the club. Some time later, the entrepreneurs Clementino Bolan and Gustavo Gazzolla joined Sony Sports. The club then received its current name, Guaratinguetá Futebol, after it became a limited company.
In 2006, Guaratinguetá was eliminated in the Campeonato Paulista Série A2 semifinal stage, but was second in its group, and was therefore promoted to the following year's Campeonato Paulista Série A1.
In 2007, the club competed in the Campeonato Paulista Série A1 for the first time. Guaratinguetá was defeated by São Caetano 2–0 at the Anacleto Campanella stadium in its debut in the competition.
On October 15, 2010, the club announced its move from Guaratinguetá to Americana, and their change of name to Americana Futebol.