Founded | 1906 |
---|---|
Country | Brazil |
Confederation | CBF / FERJ |
Number of teams | 16 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | Campeonato Carioca Second Level |
Domestic cup(s) | Copa do Brasil |
Current champions |
Flamengo (2017) |
Most championships | Flamengo (34 titles) |
TV partners |
Rede Globo Rede Record |
Website | FFERJ Official website |
2017 Campeonato Carioca |
The Campeonato Carioca, officially known as Campeonato Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, is the annual football championship of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was first held in 1906 and is these days organised by the Federação de Futebol do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, the state's football federation.
The first season of the Campeonato Carioca was played in 1906 making it the third oldest league in Brazil, with only the Campeonato Paulista of São Paulo and the Campeonato Baiano of Bahia predating it.
Rivalries amongst four of the most prestigious Brazilian teams (Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense and Vasco da Gama) have marked the history of the competition.
The oldest clubs from Rio de Janeiro (America, Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense, São Cristóvão, Vasco da Gama) had inspired the creation of many clubs from other states.
Fluminense is the team with the largest number of titles of the 20th century, with 28, being known as the "champion of the century". Flamengo leads the new century with 8 titles and the overall counting with 34 titles.
In the beginning of the 20th century, the number of football clubs in Rio de Janeiro and Niterói increased dramatically, clubs such as Rio Cricket and Athletic Association in Niterói, Fluminense Football Club in 1902, and Bangu Atlético Club, América Football Club, and Botafogo Football Club in 1904 being founded. Football became very popular, and a campaign was initiated to organize a football league bringing together clubs such as Rio Cricket and Athletic Association, Fluminense Football Club, Football and Athletic Club, America Football Club, Bangu Atlético Club, Sport Club Petrópolis and Payssandu Cricket Club. On June 8, 1905, the Liga Metropolitana de Football (abbreviated LMF, Metropolitan Football League in English) was founded. LMF's first president was Bangu's José Villas Boas, who was soon replaced by Francis Walter in December of the same year.