# Campeonato Brasileiro Série C

The Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, commonly known as the Série C or the Brazilian Série C to distinguish it from the Italian Serie C, is the third tier of the Brazilian football league system.
Unlike the first and second divisions, the Série C is not played in a double round robin system, arguably because many participating teams lack the financial conditions to travel long distances. Thus, the tournament is organized in regional groups and the table prevents teams from distant states from playing each other in the initial rounds.
Beginning in 2009, the Série C was reduced from 64 teams to 20 and the new Campeonato Brasileiro Série D is the qualifier for Brazilian league football. In its current format the first phase was then played in a single round, with 19 matches. The top eight teams qualify for a knock out stage and the four semi-finalists are promoted to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B. The four lowest-placed teams are relegated to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série D.

## Format history

Until 2008, any professional team could apply, but only 64 teams would take part in the tournament. The teams that had been relegated from the Série B in the previous year were joined by teams qualified for each federation state. Qualification rules varied, some federations used the state tournaments as qualification tournaments, others organized exclusive qualification tournaments to the Série C.
From 2009 onwards, the qualifiers were played in four groups of five teams each. In 2011, the final round was played in two groups of four. From 2012, the competition was played in two groups of ten teams in the first phase, increasing the number of dates. This format was maintained until 2020, when the competition's Technical Council decided to make a change in the second phase, reintroducing two groups of four to determine the promoted teams and finalists, as in 2011. In 2022, in turn, the first phase was then played in a single round, with 19 matches instead of 18. The eight best teams qualify for the second phase, which is played in the same format as before, while the four lowest-placed teams are relegated.

## 2024 Série C teams

| Team | Home city | Stadium | Capacity | 2023 result |
| ABC | Natal | Frasqueirão | 24,000 | 20th (Série B) |
| Aparecidense | Aparecida de Goiânia | Annibal Batista de Toledo | 6,645 | 15th |
| Athletic | São João del-Rei | Joaquim Portugal | 2,500 | 3rd (Série D) |
| Botafogo | João Pessoa | Almeidão | 25,800 | 8th |
| Caxias | Caxias do Sul | Centenário | 22,132 | 4th (Série D) |
| Confiança | Aracaju | Batistão | 13,575 | 9th |
| CSA | Maceió | Rei Pelé | 17,126 | 12th |
| Ferroviária | Araraquara | Fonte Luminosa | 20,600 | 2nd (Série D) |
| Ferroviário | Fortaleza | Presidente Vargas | 20,268 | 1st (Série D) |
| Figueirense | Florianópolis | Orlando Scarpelli | 19,584 | 16th |
| Floresta | Fortaleza | Presidente Vargas | 20,268 | 14th |
| Londrina | Londrina | Estádio do Café | 36,000 | 19th (Série B) |
| Náutico | Recife | Aflitos | 19,800 | 10th |
| Remo | Belém | Baenão | 13,792 | 11th |
| Sampaio Corrêa | São Luís | Castelão (São Luís) | 40,149 | 17th (Série B) |
| São Bernardo FC | São Bernardo do Campo | Primeiro de Maio | 15,750 | 7th |
| São José | Porto Alegre | Passo D'Areia | 16,000 | 6th |
| Tombense | Tombos | Almeidão | 3,050 | 18th (Série B) |
| Volta Redonda | Volta Redonda | Raulino de Oliveira | 18,230 | 5th |
| Ypiranga | Erechim | Colosso da Lagoa | 22,000 | 13th |

## Champions
### Official champions

The Campeonato Brasileiro has existed since 1971. However, there have been many years when no third division tournament took place. In most cases it was because the two elite divisions had too many clubs (in 1989, for instance, 96 teams contested the second division). The following table shows the winners and runners-up of the Série C tournaments played from 1981, according to the Brazilian Football Confederation:
| Ed. | Season | Champion | Runner-up |
| 1 | 1981 | Olaria | Santo Amaro |
| – | 1982–1987 | Not held | Not held |
| 2 | 1988 | União São João | Esportivo |
| – | 1989 | Not held | Not held |
| 3 | 1990 | Atlético Goianiense | América Mineiro |
| – | 1991 | Not held | Not held |
| 4 | 1992 | Tuna Luso | Fluminense de Feira |
| – | 1993 | Not held | Not held |
| 5 | 1994 | Novorizontino | Ferroviária |
| 6 | 1995 | XV de Piracicaba | Volta Redonda |
| 7 | 1996 | Vila Nova | Botafogo |
| 8 | 1997 | Sampaio Corrêa | Juventus |
| 9 | 1998 | Avaí | São Caetano |
| 10 | 1999 | Fluminense | São Raimundo |
| 11 | 2000 | Not held See Copa João Havelange Group Green and White | Not held See Copa João Havelange Group Green and White |
| 12 | 2001 | Etti Jundiaí | Mogi Mirim |
| 13 | 2002 | Brasiliense | Marília |
| 14 | 2003 | Ituano | Santo André |
| 15 | 2004 | União Barbarense | Gama |
| 16 | 2005 | Remo | América (RN) |
| 17 | 2006 | Criciúma | Vitória |
| 18 | 2007 | Bragantino | Bahia |
| 19 | 2008 | Atlético Goianiense | Guarani |
| 20 | 2009 | América Mineiro | ASA |
| 21 | 2010 | ABC | Ituiutaba |
| 22 | 2011 | Joinville | CRB |
| 23 | 2012 | Oeste | Icasa |
| 24 | 2013 | Santa Cruz | Sampaio Corrêa |
| 25 | 2014 | Macaé | Paysandu |
| 26 | 2015 | Vila Nova | Londrina |
| 27 | 2016 | Boa Esporte | Guarani |
| 28 | 2017 | CSA | Fortaleza |
| 29 | 2018 | Operário Ferroviário | Cuiabá |
| 30 | 2019 | Náutico | Sampaio Corrêa |
| 31 | 2020 | Vila Nova | Remo |
| 32 | 2021 | Ituano | Tombense |
| 33 | 2022 | Mirassol | ABC |
| 34 | 2023 | Amazonas | Brusque |
| 35 | 2024 | Volta Redonda | Athletic |
* ↑ Currently named Manchete.
* ↑ Currently named Paulista.
* ↑ Currently named Boa Esporte.

### Unofficial champions

The following season is the part corresponding to the third level of the Copa João Havelange, a competition organized by the Clube dos 13, and is not officially recognized by the CBF:
| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Comments |
| 2000 | Malutrom | Uberlândia | It was the Green and White modules of the Copa João Havelange. |

## Titles by team

| Rank | Club | Winners | Winning years |
| 1 | Vila Nova | 3 | 1996, 2015, 2020 |
| 2 | Atlético Goianiense | 2 | 1990, 2008 |
| 2 | Ituano | 2 | 2003, 2021 |
| 4 | ABC | 1 | 2010 |
| 4 | Amazonas | 1 | 2023 |
| 4 | América Mineiro | 1 | 2009 |
| 4 | Avaí | 1 | 1998 |
| 4 | Boa Esporte | 1 | 2016 |
| 4 | Brasiliense | 1 | 2002 |
| 4 | Criciúma | 1 | 2006 |
| 4 | CSA | 1 | 2017 |
| 4 | Fluminense | 1 | 1999 |
| 4 | Joinville | 1 | 2011 |
| 4 | Macaé | 1 | 2014 |
| 4 | Mirassol | 1 | 2022 |
| 4 | Náutico | 1 | 2019 |
| 4 | Novorizontino | 1 | 1994 |
| 4 | Oeste | 1 | 2012 |
| 4 | Olaria | 1 | 1981 |
| 4 | Operário Ferroviário | 1 | 2018 |
| 4 | Paulista | 1 | 2001 |
| 4 | Red Bull Bragantino | 1 | 2007 |
| 4 | Remo | 1 | 2005 |
| 4 | Sampaio Corrêa | 1 | 1997 |
| 4 | Santa Cruz | 1 | 2013 |
| 4 | Tuna Luso | 1 | 1992 |
| 4 | União Barbarense | 1 | 2004 |
| 4 | União São João | 1 | 1988 |
| 4 | Volta Redonda | 1 | 2024 |
| 4 | XV de Piracicaba | 1 | 1995 |

## Titles by state

| State | Nº of titles |
| São Paulo | 10 |
| Goiás | 5 |
| Rio de Janeiro | 4 |
| Santa Catarina | 3 |
| Minas Gerais | 2 |
| Pará | 2 |
| Pernambuco | 2 |
| Alagoas | 1 |
| Amazonas | 1 |
| Distrito Federal | 1 |
| Maranhão | 1 |
| Paraná | 1 |
| Rio Grande do Norte | 1 |

## Participations
### Most appearances

    As of 2025 season
Below is the list of clubs that have more appearances in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C.
| Club | App | First | Last |
| Confiança | 24 | 1988 | 2025 |
| Botafogo (PB) | 22 | 1988 | 2025 |
| Caxias | 18 | 1990 | 2025 |
| Ferroviário | 17 | 1988 | 2024 |
| Volta Redonda | 17 | 1988 | 2024 |
| CSA | 16 | 1990 | 2025 |
| Tupi | 16 | 1988 | 2018 |
| Brasil de Pelotas | 15 | 1995 | 2022 |
| Treze | 15 | 1992 | 2020 |
| ABC | 14 | 1988 | 2025 |
| Fortaleza | 14 | 1990 | 2017 |
| ASA | 13 | 1992 | 2017 |
| Figueirense | 13 | 1981 | 2025 |
| Madureira | 13 | 1981 | 2015 |
| Paysandu | 13 | 1990 | 2023 |
| Sampaio Corrêa | 13 | 1992 | 2024 |
| Atlético Goianiense | 12 | 1990 | 2008 |
| Rio Branco (SP) | 12 | 1994 | 2006 |

### Clubs promoted from Série C

| Year | Clubs |
| 1981 | Olaria |
| 1988 | None |
| 1990 | None |
| 1992 | None |
| 1994 | Novorizontino, Ferroviária |
| 1995 | XV de Piracicaba, Volta Redonda, Gama, Atlético Goianiense, ABC, Joinville |
| 1996 | Vila Nova, Botafogo (SP) |
| 1997 | Sampaio Corrêa, Juventus |
| 1998 | Avaí, São Caetano |
| 1999–2000 | See Copa João Havelange |
| 2001 | Etti Jundiaí, Mogi Mirim, Guarany de Sobral |
| 2002 | Brasiliense, Marília |
| 2003 | Ituano, Santo André |
| 2004 | União Barbarense, Gama |
| 2005 | Remo, América de Natal |
| 2006 | Criciúma, Vitória, Ipatinga, Grêmio Barueri |
| 2007 | Bragantino, Bahia, Vila Nova, ABC |
| 2008 | Atlético Goianiense, Guarani, Campinense, Duque de Caxias |
| 2009 | América Mineiro, ASA, Guaratinguetá, Icasa |
| 2010 | ABC, Ituiutaba, Criciúma, Salgueiro |
| 2011 | Joinville, CRB, Ipatinga, América de Natal |
| 2012 | Oeste, Icasa, Chapecoense, Paysandu |
| 2013 | Santa Cruz, Sampaio Corrêa, Luverdense, Vila Nova |
| 2014 | Macaé, Paysandu, Mogi Mirim, CRB |
| 2015 | Vila Nova, Londrina, Tupi, Brasil de Pelotas |
| 2016 | Boa Esporte, Guarani, ABC, Juventude |
| 2017 | CSA, Fortaleza, Sampaio Corrêa, São Bento |
| 2018 | Operário Ferroviário, Cuiabá, Botafogo (SP), Bragantino |
| 2019 | Náutico, Sampaio Corrêa, Juventude, Confiança |
| 2020 | Vila Nova, Remo, Brusque, Londrina |
| 2021 | Ituano, Tombense, Novorizontino, Criciúma |
| 2022 | Mirassol, ABC, Botafogo (SP), Vitória |
| 2023 | Amazonas, Brusque, Operário Ferroviário, Paysandu |
| 2024 | Volta Redonda, Athletic, Ferroviária, Remo |
* ^ Olaria lost the right to compete in the 1982 Taça de Prata after being relegated in the Campeonato Carioca.
* ^ Teams promoted after América de Rio Preto, Bangu, Barra do Garças, Ferroviária and Novorizontino withdrew from Série B.
* ^ Promoted after Malutron withdrew from Série B.

### Clubs relegated from Série C

| Year | Clubs |
| 2010 | Alecrim, Juventude, Gama, São Raimundo (PA) |
| 2011 | Campinense, Marília, Brasil de Pelotas, Araguaína |
| 2012 | Salgueiro, Santo André, Guarany de Sobral, Tupi |
| 2013 | Betim, Brasiliense, Grêmio Barueri, Baraúnas, Rio Branco (AC) |
| 2014 | São Caetano, Treze, CRAC, Duque de Caxias |
| 2015 | Águia de Marabá, Madureira, Icasa, Caxias |
| 2016 | América de Natal, Portuguesa, Ríver, Guaratinguetá |
| 2017 | Moto Club, Macaé, ASA, Mogi Mirim |
| 2018 | Tupi, Juazeirense, Salgueiro, Joinville |
| 2019 | ABC, Globo, Luverdense, Atlético Acreano |
| 2020 | Treze, São Bento, Boa Esporte, Imperatriz |
| 2021 | Jacuipense, Paraná, Santa Cruz, Oeste |
| 2022 | Atlético Cearense, Brasil de Pelotas, Ferroviário, Campinense |
| 2023 | Manaus, América de Natal, Altos, Pouso Alegre |
| 2024 | Sampaio Corrêa, Aparecidense, Ferroviário, São José (RS) |
* ^ Expelled by the sports court. CRAC is spared from relegation.

## Topscorers

| Year | Player (team) | Goals |
| 1981 | Fabinho (Santo Amaro) Pedro Müller (São Borja) | 5 |
| 1988 | Kel (União São João) | 9 |
| 1990 | Júlio César (Atlético Goianiense) | 10 |
| 1992 | Jorge Veras (Ferroviário-CE) | 9 |
| 1994 | Rogerinho (Caldas) | 5 |
| 1995 | Serginho (XV de Piracicaba) | 6 |
| 1996 | Marcelinho (Rio Branco-SP) | 16 |
| 1997 | Marcelo Baron (Sampaio Corrêa) | 9 |
| 1998 | Fabrício (Anapolina) | 14 |
| 1999 | Aldrovani (Figueirense) | 14 |
| 2000 | Murilo (Tuna Luso) | 10 |
| 2001 | Edmilson (Brasiliense) Jean Carlos (Etti Jundiaí) Rodrigo Ayres (Atlético Goianiense) | 14 |
| 2002 | Túlio Maravilha (Brasiliense) Wellington Dias (Brasiliense) | 11 |
| 2003 | Nílson Sergipano (Botafogo-PB) | 11 |
| 2004 | Frontini (União Barbarense) Marciano (Limoeiro) Vítor (Gama) | 10 |
| 2005 | Paulinho Marília (América-RN) | 10 |
| 2006 | Sorato (Bahia) | 16 |
| 2007 | Túlio Maravilha (Vila Nova) | 27 |
| 2008 | Marcão (Atlético Goianiense) | 25 |
| 2009 | Marciano (Icasa) Nena (ASA) | 8 |
| 2010 | Bruno Rangel (Paysandu) | 8 |
| 2011 | Ronaldo Capixaba (Joinville) | 11 |
| 2012 | Dênis Marques (Santa Cruz) | 11 |
| 2013 | Assisinho (Fortaleza) | 12 |
| 2014 | Ytalo (Guaratinguetá) | 12 |
| 2015 | Guilherme Queiróz (Portuguesa) | 12 |
| 2016 | Jones Carioca (ABC) | 12 |
| 2017 | Rafael Grampola (Joinville) | 13 |
| 2018 | Caio Dantas (Botafogo-SP) | 11 |
| 2019 | Eduardo (Treze) Luiz Eduardo (São José-RS) Negueba (Globo) Salatiel (Sampaio Corrêa) | 8 |
| 2020 | Thiago Alagoano (Brusque) | 12 |
| 2021 | Diego Quirino (Ypiranga de Erechim) | 10 |
| 2022 | Alex Henrique (Aparecidense) | 12 |
| 2023 | Sassá (Amazonas) | 18 |
| 2024 | Kayke (São Bernardo) Paulo Sérgio (Náutico) | 10 |

## Winning managers

| Year | Manager | Club |
| 1981 | Duque | Olaria |
| 1988 | José Duarte | União São João |
| 1990 | Homero Cavalheiro | Atlético Goianiense |
| 1992 | Nélio Pereira | Tuna Luso |
| 1994 | José Teixeira | Novorizotino |
| 1995 | Vadão | XV de Piracicaba |
| 1996 | Roberval Davino | Vila Nova |
| 1997 | Pinho | Sampaio Corrêa |
| 1998 | Roberto Cavalo | Avaí |
| 1999 | Carlos Alberto Parreira | Fluminense |
| 2000 | Amauri Knevitz | Malutron |
| 2001 | Giba | Etti Jundiaí |
| 2002 | Gérson Andreotti | Brasiliense |
| 2003 | Ruy Scarpino | Ituano |
| 2004 | Sérgio Farias | União Barbarense |
| 2005 | Roberval Davino (2) | Remo |
| 2006 | Guilherme Macuglia | Criciúma |
| 2007 | Marcelo Veiga | Bragantino |
| 2008 | Mauro Fernandes | Atlético Goianiense |
| 2009 | Givanildo Oliveira | América Mineiro |
| 2010 | Leandro Campos | ABC |
| 2011 | Arturzinho | Joinville |
| 2012 | Luís Carlos Martins | Oeste |
| 2013 | Vica | Santa Cruz |
| 2014 | Josué Teixeira | Macaé |
| 2015 | Márcio Fernandes | Vila Nova |
| 2016 | Ney da Matta | Boa Esporte |
| 2017 | Flávio Araújo | CSA |
| 2018 | Gerson Gusmão | Operário Ferroviário |
| 2019 | Gilmar Dal Pozzo | Náutico |
| 2020 | Márcio Fernandes (2) | Vila Nova |
| 2021 | Mazola Júnior | Ituano |
| 2022 | Ricardo Catalá | Mirassol |
| 2023 | Luizinho Vieira | Amazonas |
| 2024 | Rogério Corrêa | Volta Redonda |