# União Futebol Clube

União Futebol Clube, more commonly referred to as União Mogi, is a Brazilian football club based in Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo. The team compete in Campeonato Paulista Segunda Divisão, the fifth tier of the São Paulo state football league.

## History

The origins of União Futebol Clube trace back to an earlier team known as Operário Futebol Clube, the first football club established in Mogi das Cruzes. Operário was founded by Alfredo Cardoso, known as Alfredão, and Francisco Veríssimo, nicknamed Chiquinho. However, the team struggled to find opponents for matches, which led to its dissolution and the creation of two separate clubs: Falena Futebol Clube, founded by Alfredão, and Esporte Clube Mogi, established by Chiquinho.
Falena Futebol Clube primarily represented the working-class population, with Alfredão himself being a cobbler and community figure. In contrast, Esporte Clube Mogi was associated with wealthier residents, led by Chiquinho, a fabric store owner in the city centre. Despite their different social bases, Alfredão and Chiquinho maintained a close friendship, and in 1913 they decided to merge their teams to form União Futebol Clube. The name União (Portuguese for "Union") was chosen to represent the cooperation and harmony between these two groups.
União’s first match was played against Flor da Índia, a small neighbourhood club based in the Brás district of São Paulo. The game ended with a 1–0 victory for União, with the lone goal scored by Alfredão, underscoring his significance in the club's early history.
In its formative years, União Futebol Clube remained an amateur team, composed mostly of wealthier players who viewed football as a leisure activity. The notable exception was Alfredão, whose working-class background stood in contrast to that of his teammates but who played a pivotal role in the team’s establishment and early success.

### 1924–1950: Early Competitions

The first notable competition União Futebol Clube participated in was the Campeonato do Interior, organised by the Associação Paulista de Esportes Atléticos (APEA). Although the club registered for the tournament in 1924, the championship only began in 1928.
In the group stage, União was placed alongside Esporte Clube Elvira, from Jacareí, and Associação Atlética Caçapavense, from Caçapava. At the end of the group stage, Elvira decided to withdraw from the competition, leaving União and Caçapavense tied in all tiebreaking criteria. As a result, a playoff match was scheduled to determine which team would advance.
The decisive match, held amidst controversy and complaints from União’s side, ended in a 3–2 victory for Associação Atlética Caçapavense. The outcome sparked outrage among União’s directors and supporters, culminating in the club sending an official letter to the APEA requesting its withdrawal from the organisation. In a dramatic gesture, the club’s members organised a symbolic funeral for União on the night of the match to express their discontent.
After disaffiliating from the APEA, União Futebol Clube joined the Liga dos Amadores de Futebol, which offered an alternative structure for amateur teams in the region. During its amateur phase, União achieved its most significant triumph in 1947 by winning Group 1 of Zone 1 in the Campeonato do Interior, remaining undefeated with seven victories in ten matches played.

### 1951–1959: First professional years

União Futebol Clube debuted in the professional ranks in 1951, competing in the second tier of the Campeonato Paulista. However, the club faced early elimination, finishing second-to-last in its group with a record of four wins, three draws, and fifteen losses. The poor performance, combined with increasing demands from the Federação Paulista de Futebol and mounting financial debts, led União to withdraw from the competition in 1952.
The club returned to the Segunda Divisão in 1955 but suffered another early exit. In 1956, the team endured another disappointing campaign, again finishing second-to-last in its group. Slight improvements came in 1957 and 1958, with União, known as the Serpente do Tietê, placing eighth in its group but still far from securing qualification. The club's best performance during this era came in 1959, when it finished sixth in the first stage, though it was still eliminated.
During this period, União's squad notably included José Maria Marin, who would later serve as the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). Following the 1959 season, the club opted to leave professional football once again, a hiatus that lasted for the next twenty years.

### 1960–1978: XI da Saudade

During União's absence from professional football, the club sought to meet the local population's demand for the sport by creating a veterans' team named XI da Saudade. This team was formed to play friendly matches and celebratory games, quickly achieving widespread popularity. From its foundation, the XI da Saudade built an impressive run of 24 consecutive matches without defeat.
Initially composed of former União players, the team soon garnered attention beyond Mogi das Cruzes. During this period, several renowned figures in Brazilian football, including Garrincha and Rivellino, represented XI da Saudade in special exhibition matches, further enhancing its reputation and appeal.

### 1978–1988: Return to Professional Football

Following the city’s strong performances in the Jogos Abertos do Interior in the late 1970s, former União player José 'Peru' Pierucetti decided it was time for Mogi das Cruzes to once again have a representative in the Campeonato Paulista. In 1979, União Futebol Clube returned to professional football, competing in the fifth division of the state championship.
União's performance in its return was underwhelming, with six draws in ten matches. The club managed only two victories, both against Paulistano Futebol Clube from Jundiaí—one of which was an emphatic 11–0 win.
In 1980, a ruling by the Conselho Nacional de Desportos limited state championships to a maximum of three divisions. This restructuring led to the final tier of the Campeonato Paulista featuring 79 teams, including União. Once again, the club was eliminated in the first stage.
The following year, in 1981, União was managed by Djalma Santos and featured Djalma Dias in its squad. Despite the star presence, the club failed to progress beyond the first stage. However, a reorganisation spearheaded by Nabi Abi Chedid, then president of the Federação Paulista de Futebol, expanded the second division from 28 to 54 teams. This change allowed União to secure a spot in the Segunda Divisão in 1982.
Between 1982 and 1986, União struggled to advance past the initial stages of the competition. The club’s best campaign during this period came in 1987, when it reached the second stage of the championship. União finished fifth in a group of seven teams, ultimately falling short of further progression. The momentum did not carry over to the following year, as União was once again eliminated in the first stage of the tournament.

### 1989–1993: Neymar Santos era

In 1989, União Futebol Clube once again failed to advance past the first stage of the competition. However, the season brought significant attention to the club due to the standout performances of forward Neymar da Silva Santos (Neymar Jr.'s father), who became one of the most prominent players in União's history.
Neymar’s importance to the club was such that, after receiving an offer from Rio Branco in December 1989, ten União members pooled resources to pay NCz$ 100,000 for his playing rights, ensuring the winger remained part of the squad.
Despite retaining their star player, União continued to struggle in subsequent seasons. In 1990, the club finished fourth in its group, failing to progress. The 1991 campaign proved even more disappointing, as União ended the group stage in last place. In 1992, the club faced additional adversity when Neymar's father was forced to miss the season due to a traffic accident. Without their key player, União finished the initial stage in penultimate place.
In 1993, União surprised expectations by finishing the first stage in second place, advancing to the second stage of the competition. However, the Serpente do Tietê finished last in a challenging group that included São Bento, Comercial de Ribeirão Preto, and Radium.
Despite the improved performance in 1993, a reduction in the number of teams in the top two tiers of the Campeonato Paulista forced União to return to the Série A3 for the 1994 season.

### 1994–2001: Back to the third tier

In its first year back in the third division in 1994, União finished in seventh place out of 18 teams. The following season, in 1995, the club came close to promotion, finishing fourth and falling just three points short of securing a spot in the Série A2. However, in 1996, União returned to mid-table, failing to maintain the momentum of the previous year.
From 1997, the league abandoned the round-robin format, but União continued to struggle, once again failing to advance past the first stage—something that had become routine since the early 1990s. In 1998, the club underwent a name change, becoming União Mogi das Cruzes Futebol Clube.
On the pitch, União Mogi was eliminated in the first stage yet again, but showed improvement in 1999, advancing to the second stage as group leaders. However, the team failed to win a single match in the second stage, finishing at the bottom of the group after six games. Starting in 2000, the competition returned to a round-robin format. União Mogi consolidated itself as a mid-table team for two seasons, finishing 10th in 2000 and 9th in 2001.

### 2002–2006: Relegation and comeback

However, in 2002, the club endured a disastrous campaign, resulting in relegation. União Mogi finished the Série A3 in last place, ending the season nine points behind the penultimate team. The side lost 20 of 30 matches, recording both the worst attack and worst defence in the league. The season ended with two humiliating defeats: an 8–0 away loss to Sertãozinho and a 7–2 home defeat to Ferroviária.
The poor performances continued during União Mogi's first three seasons in the fourth division, with the team suffering repeated eliminations in the first stage and managing only seven victories in 42 matches during this period.
In 2006, the management of União Mogi's football department was outsourced to a group of four investors under the name DARM Marketing Esportivo. One of the investors, Venílton Montini—a former União Mogi player from the 1990s—had previously achieved success in the lower tiers of São Paulo football, notably guiding Grêmio Barueri to a runner-up finish in the Série B2 in 2003. That same Grêmio Barueri squad served as the foundation for União Mogi’s 2006 roster, including head coach Toninho Moura. The result was historic, as União Mogi secured the first official title in its history.
The club completed the first stage undefeated, advancing as group leaders. União Mogi maintained its unbeaten streak through the second stage as well. The team’s only loss in the competition came in the second round of the third stage, a 1–0 away defeat to Linense. Just three matches later, in a rematch against Linense, União Mogi secured promotion with a 2–1 victory at Nogueirão, celebrating in front of its home supporters.
Having achieved promotion, União Mogi advanced to the final of the tournament. In a single match played before a packed Nogueirão, the team from Mogi das Cruzes defeated Catanduvense 1–0, claiming the 2006 Série B1 title and etching its name into the club's history.

### 2007–2009: Failed partnerships

The successful partnership with DARM Marketing Esportivo lasted only one year, ending in late 2006 due to disagreements with União Mogi's board of directors. The club returned to Série A3 in 2007, experiencing inconsistent results, finishing in 9th place that season and dropping to 14th place in 2008.
In 2009, União Mogi entered a new partnership, this time with the company Brasil Sports. Unlike the successful collaboration three years earlier, this arrangement led to the most disastrous season in the club's history. Brasil Sports' director, Márcio Borges, interfered heavily in football operations, including hand-picking the starting lineup during the competition. This interference led to the resignation of head coach João Araújo just one day after his appointment. Moreover, Brasil Sports failed to meet its financial commitments, as the company was mired in debt and had been operating irregularly since 1990, lacking even a proper office.
The 2009 Série A3 campaign reflected the off-field turmoil. União Mogi cycled through around ten coaches, both interim and permanent, throughout the year. The team endured a disastrous run, losing 18 of their 19 matches, conceding 75 goals, and suffering heavy defeats along the way. The club's best result was a goalless draw against Oeste Paulista, another relegated team. At the end of the season, União Mogi was relegated back to the fourth division for 2010, marking one of the lowest points in the club's history.

### 2010–present

Back in the bottom tier of the Campeonato Paulista in 2010, União Mogi advanced to the second stage of the competition but was eliminated after losing all six matches.
The 2011 season was marked by poor on-field performance, with the team suffering 10 defeats in 14 matches, and by serious allegations against head coach José Luiz Soares, who was accused of fraud, slander, defamation, and both moral and sexual harassment by players from the squad.
Despite facing financial difficulties and salary delays, União Mogi managed to reach the second stage again in 2013. In 2014, while forced to play their home matches in Suzano due to renovations at Nogueirão, the club exceeded expectations by advancing to the third stage of the tournament.
The ongoing renovations at their stadium caused União Mogi to miss the 2015 Campeonato Paulista Segunda Divisão. After a disappointing 2016 campaign, which ended with early elimination in the first stage, União Mogi bounced back in 2017 with an impressive run to the semifinals. The club beat São José EC in the quarterfinals but fell short against eventual champions Manthiqueira. After a 0–0 draw in the first leg at Nogueirão, União was defeated 3–1 in the return leg.
Since 2018, União Mogi has been eliminated in the first stage of the competition in six of the seven seasons played. The exception came in 2021, when the club reached the round of 16, only to be eliminated by Flamengo de Guarulhos.

## Stadium
### Rua Casarejos

The history of União Futebol Clube is closely tied to its first football ground: Estádio Francisco Ferreira Lopes, commonly referred to as the Estádio da Rua Casarejos, named after the street where it was located in the Mogilar neighbourhood.
The land for the stadium was purchased in October 1922, and in 1949 the club expanded the property by acquiring additional lots. The expanded area included not only the football field but also a social headquarters that hosted indoor football matches and carnival balls, which became renowned events in Mogi das Cruzes.
In 1974, a public campaign named Luzes para o Futebol Mogiano ("Lights for Mogian Football") successfully raised funds from supporters and city residents, enabling the installation of floodlights at Rua Casarejos. This improvement allowed the club to host night matches, further solidifying its importance as a hub for local football.
However, financial struggles led União to sell the Estádio da Rua Casarejos in 1999 following an unsuccessful partnership with the construction company Marsil. The site of the former stadium has since been redeveloped into a commercial centre, marking the end of an era for União’s historical home.

### Vila da Prata Training Centre

In 1975, União Futebol Clube purchased a 128,200 m² plot of land in the Caputera neighbourhood for Cr$ 50,000, with the intention of building the Vila da Prata Training Centre on the site. However, the land was seized in 2005 to settle the club's labour-related debts.

### Nogueirão

In 1995, the former Estádio Nami Jafet was revitalised by the Mogi das Cruzes city council and renamed Estádio Francisco Ribeiro Nogueira, in honour of a former mayor. Since the sale of the Rua Casarejos ground, this stadium has served as União Futebol Clube's home venue. The stadium has a maximum capacity of 14,384 people.

## Achievements

* Campeonato Paulista (fourth division):
** Winners (1): 2006