América Futebol Clube (MG)

On 30 April 1912, a group of young men who played football purely for the love of the game decided to turn their team into a football club.[7] In the first meeting, the founders decided that the name of the club would be América Foot-Ball Club,[8] and the colors would be green and white.[7] The first matches were played on the mayor's field.[7] In 1913, América and Minas Gerais Futebol Clube fused, and the club changed its colors to green, white and black.[9] Between 1916 and 1925, the team won ten state championships in a row.[9]

América´s team, 1971. National Archives of Brazil.

In 1933, as a protest to the professionalization of Brazilian football, the club changed its colors to red and white.[7] In 1943, the club professionalized its football division, and returned to its previous colors.[7] In 1948, América won its first state championship as a professional club.[9]

In 1997, América won the Série B for the first time,[10] and in 2000, the club won the Copa Sul-Minas first edition, beating Cruzeiro in the final.[11] In 2004, after a poor performance in the Série B, América was relegated to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C,[12] and in 2007, the club finished in Campeonato Mineiro's last position, and was relegated to the following year's Campeonato Mineiro Second Division.[13] América won the Série C in 2009, beating ASA in the final.[14] The following year, the team was fourth at Série B and returned to the top level of the Brazilian championship after ten years.[15] On 14 June 2013, América signed a cooperation contract with the Tahitian Football Federation to develop under-20 national players.[16]

The club's official anthem was composed by Vicente Motta. There are also two other anthems: The unofficial anthem, which was composed by Fernando Brant and Tavinho Moura, and the supporters' anthem, whose lyrics were composed by Márcio Vianna Dias and sung by Fernando Ângelo.[17] América's mascot, was created by the cartoonist Fernando Pierucetti, and is a red-eyed white cartoon rabbit with clearly protruding teeth.[9]

América's greatest rivals are Cruzeiro and Atlético Mineiro.[18] The derby between América and Atlético Mineiro is known as O Clássico das Multidões (The Derby of the Masses),[8] and was first played on November 15, 1913, in a friendly game that ended in a 1–1 draw.[19]

The club will use fixed squad numbers in 2019 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B for the first time.[20]

As of 21 June 2019[21]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player GK Airton GK Léo Lang GK Jori GK Victor Hugo DF Anderson DF Eduardo Bauermann DF João Cubas DF Joseph (on loan from São Gonçalo EC) DF Lucas Kal (on loan from São Paulo) DF Luisão DF Sabino DF Diego (on loan from Tombense) DF Leandro Silva DF Ronaldo DF João Paulo DF Lucas Luan DF Sávio (on loan from Ferroviária) MF Alê MF Flávio

No. Position Player MF João Gabriel MF Juninho MF Renan Gomes MF Rickson (on loan from Botafogo) MF Zé Ricardo MF Geovane MF Matheusinho MF Thalys FW Ademir FW Carlos Alberto FW Felipe Augusto FW Felipe Azevedo FW Léo Passos (on loan from Palmeiras) FW Marcelo Toscano FW Neto Berola FW Pedro FW Vitão FW Rodolfo (on loan from Capivariano)

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player GK Erick (on loan at Guarani-MG) GK João Pedro (on loan at Vila Nova) DF Roger Duarte (on loan at Botafogo-SP)

No. Position Player DF Messias (on loan at Rio Ave) MF Renato Bruno (on loan at Vila Nova) FW Jonatas Belusso (on loan at Juventude)

First-team staff

Position	Name	Nationality
Head coach	Lisca	Brazil

• Carlos Alberto Silva
• Flávio Lopes
• Givanildo Oliveira
• Paulo Comelli
• Yustrich

• (in Portuguese) Official website