# Ituano FC

Ituano Futebol Clube, commonly referred to as simply Ituano, is a Brazilian association football club in Itu, São Paulo. They currently play in the Série C, the third tier of Brazilian football, as well as in the Campeonato Paulista Série A2, the second tier of the São Paulo state football league.
Founded on May 24, 1947, Ituano won the São Paulo State League twice.
The club's home colours are red and black and the team mascot is a rooster.

## History

The club was founded on May 24, 1947, by employees of Estrada de Ferro Sorocabana (Sorocabana Railroad), based in Itu. When founded the club was originally known as Associação Atlética Sorocabana. In the 1960s, the club changed its name to Ferroviário Atlético Ituano and in the 1990s the club again changed its name, this time to Ituano Futebol Clube.
In 1977 a group of sportsmen of Itu unified the football of the city around Ferroviário Atlético Ituano (FAI) and reactivated the Liga Ituana de Futebol (Ituano Football League). In 1978 the club played in Série A3 the third level of the São Paulo state professional football championship. They were promoted to the Campeonato Paulista, the top-flight professional football league in São Paulo in 1989 after clinching the Série A2 championship.
In 2002, Ituano became one of the few teams from outside the São Paulo metroplex area to win the Campeonato Paulista.
In 2003, Ituano became the champion of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C after surpassing teams like Santo Andre who won the Copa Do Brasil one year later.
In 2007, Ituano were relegated back to the Brasileiro Serie C after finishing in last place and one year later were not playing in the Brazilian top 4 divisions.
In 2014, Ituano became one of the few teams outside of the São Paulo metroplex area to win the Campeonato Paulista twice beating Santos in the final.
Juninho Paulista, a former player from the club's academy and former Brazilian international, became the club's president in 2010. Juninho joined in a player-president capacity helping the team avoid relegation on the final day of the 2010 season with the decisive goal in a 3–2 victory.
In 2014, Ituano won the Campeonato Paulista, defeating the storied Santos Futebol Clube on penalty kicks.
In 2019, Arsenal signed young winger Gabriel Martinelli from the club and he quickly became a first-team regular.

## Stadium

Ituano's stadium is Estádio Novelli Júnior, inaugurated in 1947. The stadium has a capacity of 18,000 people.

## Mascot

The club mascot is a cock wearing the team kit. The nickname was received in 1957 when Sorocabana played against Club Atlético Ituano (Third Division champions in 1954–55, who have no connection with the current Ituano FC). On this occasion Sorocabana lost the match but the supporters said that the team had fought like a cock and from there the club received its nickname.

## Rivalries

Ituano's biggest rival is Paulista Futebol Clube and they contest the Briga de Galo. Other major rivals are Ponte Preta and São Bento, representing the cities of Campinas and Sorocaba, respectively.

## Players
### Current squad

    As of 5 September 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | GK | BRA | Jefferson Paulino |
| — | GK | BRA | Saulo |
| — | GK | BRA | Wesley |
| — | DF | BRA | Claudinho |
| — | DF | BRA | Guilherme Mariano (on loan from Inter de Limeira) |
| — | DF | BRA | Luiz Gustavo |
| — | DF | BRA | Nathan |
| — | DF | BRA | Pedro Libardoni |
| — | DF | BRA | Vitão (on loan from Cuiabá) |
| — | DF | BRA | Vinicius Poz |
| — | DF | BRA | Eduardo Diniz |
| — | DF | BRA | Guilherme Lazaroni |
| — | DF | BRA | Jonathan Silva |
| — | DF | BRA | Kauan Richard |
| — | DF | BRA | Léo Duarte |
| — | DF | BRA | Léo Oliveira |
| — | DF | BRA | Marcinho |
| — | MF | BRA | Gabriel Falcão (on loan from São Paulo) |
| — | MF | BRA | Eduardo Person |
| — | MF | BRA | José Aldo (on loan from Guarani de Palhoça) |
| — | MF | BRA | Lipe (on loan from Internacional) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | BRA | Matheus Aluísio |
| — | MF | BRA | Miqueias (on loan from Bahia) |
| — | MF | BRA | Rodrigo |
| — | MF | BRA | Thonny Anderson (on loan from Red Bull Bragantino) |
| — | MF | BRA | Xavier (on loan from Azuriz) |
| — | MF | BRA | Yann Rolim |
| — | FW | BRA | Álvaro |
| — | FW | BRA | Bruno Alves |
| — | FW | BRA | Bruno Xavier (on loan from Água Santa) |
| — | FW | BRA | Davi Araújo (on loan from Real Brasília) |
| — | FW | BRA | Jhow |
| — | FW | BRA | João Carlos (on loan from Criciúma) |
| — | FW | BRA | Leozinho |
| — | FW | BRA | Matheus Maia |
| — | FW | BRA | Pablo Diogo |
| — | FW | BRA | Ruan Carlos |
| — | FW | BRA | Salatiel |
| — | FW | BRA | Vinícius Paiva (on loan from Vasco da Gama) |
| — | FW | BRA | Zé Carlos |
| — | FW | BRA | Zé Eduardo |

### Youth team

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | GK | BRA | Vitor Henrique |
| — | DF | BRA | Matheus Rocha |
| — | DF | BRA | Léo Izidoro |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | BRA | Lucas Dias |
| — | MF | BRA | Kaíque Clemente |
| — | MF | BRA | Vini Oliveira |

### Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | BRA | Madison (at São Bento until 31 October 2024) |
| — | MF | BRA | Jean Pyerre (at Ypiranga-RS until 30 November 2024) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | FW | BRA | Marcelo Mineiro (at São Bento until 31 October 2024) |
| — | FW | BRA | Marlon (at Internacional until 30 September 2025) |

## Honours
### Official tournaments

National :
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Campeonato Brasileiro Série C | 2 | 2003, 2021 |
| State |||
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Campeonato Paulista | 2 | 2002, 2014 |
| Copa Paulista | 1 | 2002 |
| Campeonato Paulista Série A2 | 1 | 1989 |

### Others tournaments
#### State

* Campeonato Paulista do Interior (2): 2017, 2022

### Runners-up

* Copa Paulista (3): 1999, 2003, 2015
* Campeonato Paulista Série A2 (1): 1997