# Athletic Club (MG)

Athletic Club, commonly referred to as Athletic, is a Brazilian professional club based in São João del-Rei, Minas Gerais founded on 27 June 1909. It competes in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, the second tier of Brazilian football, as well as in the Campeonato Mineiro, the top flight of the Minas Gerais state football league.
Athletic is the only club in the Intermediate Geographic Region of Barbacena competing in the First Division of the Campeonato Mineiro. Since returning to professional football as a SAF, Athletic had a meteoric ascension and currently plays at the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B. Brazilians pronounce it stressing the last syllable: Athletic.

## History

The club was founded on 27 June 1909. Its foundation had no relation with the team from Belo Horizonte which has a similar name and colour, Atlético Mineiro.

### Return to professional football (2018–present)
#### 2018

After 50 years out of professional football, the club returned in 2018. It disputed the Campeonato Mineiro Segunda Divisão, equivalent of the third division of the Campeonato Mineiro. The team qualified third in the first round. In the semifinals, it eliminated Valeriodoce, and gained access to the 2019 Campeonato Mineiro Módulo II. Athletic ended in second place, after losing the final on penalties to Coimbra Sports.

#### 2019

In 2019, Athletic participated in the Mineiro Módulo II, finishing in seventh place and remaining in the competition.

#### 2020

In 2020, the team finished the qualifying round of the Módulo II in second place, qualifying for the final quadrangular. In the final stage, it finished again in the vice-leadership, winning the vice-championship of Module II and being promoted to the Campeonato Mineiro.

#### 2021

The club took part in the 2021 Campeonato Mineiro for the first time ever and attracted media attention after signing Uruguayan player Loco Abreu.
It ended up being defeated by URT in Patos de Minas at the semifinals of Troféu Inconfidência.

#### 2022

In 2022 Campeonato Mineiro, the team was the best in the state outside the capital, Belo Horizonte, therefore winning the title Campeão Mineiro do Interior for the first time.

#### 2023

The team won the Recopa Mineira in January by defeating Esporte Clube Democrata. In the 2023 Campeonato Mineiro, the team again was the best in the state outside the capital, Belo Horizonte, therefore winning the title Campeão Mineiro do Interior a second time.
At the semifinal, it was eliminated by Atlético. The team was defeated by Brasiliense at 2023 Copa do Brasil and kicked from the tournament. Athletic also played a friendly match against Vasco da Gama on 31 March, winning 2–0.
Athletic also played in the 2023 Campeonato Brasileiro Série D, achieving promotion to the Série C.

#### 2024

In the 2024 Campeonato Mineiro, the club finished second of their group, and won the Troféu Inconfidência. They were again eliminated in the second phase of the 2024 Copa do Brasil, and achieved a first-ever promotion to the Série B after reaching the final stages of the 2024 Campeonato Brasileiro Série C.

## Players
### Current squad

    As of 2 March 2025
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 | Diego Vitor |
| — | GK | BRA | Eduardo Freire |
| — | GK | BRA | Glauco |
| — | GK | BRA | Jefferson Luis |
| — | DF | BRA | Edson Miranda |
| — | DF | BRA | Jhonatan Silva (on loan from Fortaleza) |
| — | DF | BRA | Léo Dourado |
| — | DF | BRA | Matheus Mega |
| — | DF | BRA | Sidimar |
| — | DF | BRA | Douglas Pelé |
| — | DF | BRA | Nathan |
| — | DF | BRA | Wesley Gasolina |
| — | DF | BRA | Yuri |
| — | MF | BRA | Andrey |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | BRA | Amorim (on loan from Fortaleza) |
| — | MF | BRA | David Braga |
| — | MF | BRA | Diego Fumaça |
| — | MF | BRA | Sandry (on loan from Santos) |
| — | MF | BRA | Wallisson (on loan from Moreirense) |
| — | FW | BRA | Alason Carioca |
| — | FW | BRA | Gustavão |
| — | FW | BRA | Iarley (on loan from Fortaleza) |
| — | FW | BRA | João Adriano |
| — | FW | BRA | Lincoln (on loan from Rheindorf Altach) |
| — | FW | BRA | Mateus Gonçalves |
| — | FW | BRA | Neto Costa |
| — | FW | BRA | Welinton Torrão |

### 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 |
| — | DF | BRA | Davi |
| — | MF | BRA | Caick |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | BRA | Samuel |
| — | FW | BRA | Cauã |

## Honours
### Official tournaments

State :
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Recopa Mineira | 1 | 2023 |

### Others tournaments
#### State

* Campeonato Mineiro do Interior (2): 2022, 2023
* Troféu Inconfidência (2): 2024, 2025

#### City

* Campeonato Citadino de São João del-Rei (26): 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1993, 1997, 2009

### Runners-up

* Campeonato Brasileiro Série C (1): 2024
* Campeonato Mineiro Módulo II (1): 2020
* Campeonato Mineiro Segunda Divisão (2): 1969, 2018

## Stadium

The club's football matches take place at Joaquim Portugal Stadium.
In January 2021, the board made the club's stadium available to the city for use as a vaccination point.

## Public relations
### Death of Pelé

The team published an official lamentation for the death of the King of Football, Pelé, in December.

### Charity
#### Blood donation

The team stimulates the blood donation to the state of Minas Gerais' public foundation for hematology and blood transfusion, Hemominas (Fundação Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Estado de Minas Gerais).

#### Winter clothes

The team stimulates the donation of winter clothes in the city.