History [edit] FoundationIn the late 19th century rowing was the most important sport in Rio de Janeiro. At this time, four young men - Henrique Ferreira Monteiro, Luís Antônio Rodrigues, José Alexandre d'Avelar Rodrigues and Manuel Teixeira de Souza Júnior - who did not want to travel to Niterói to row with the boats of Gragoatá Club decided to found a rowing club.On August 21, 1898 in a room of the Sons of Talma Dramatic Society, with 62 members (mostly Portuguese immigrants), the Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama (Vasco da Gama Rowing Club) was born.Inspired by the celebrations of the 4th centenary of the first sail from Europe to India, the founders chose the name of the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama to baptise the new club.Football was included only with the fusion with Lusitania Clube, other mostly portuguese immigrants club (http://www.netvasco.com.br/mauroprais/vasco/histor1.html). In 1924 Vasco da Gama was pressured by the Metropolitan Athletic Association to ban some players that were not considered adequate to play in the aristocratic League, notably because they where black and/or poor. The former President of Vasco, Jose Augusto Prestes answered with a letter that became know as the Historic Answer (resposta histórica), available in portuguese version in http://www.crvascodagama.com/?display=HISTORIA-1 revolutionated the practice of sports in Brazil. [edit] The Victory Express and the South American Club ChampionshipBetween 1947 and 1952, the club was nicknamed Expresso da Vitória (Victory Express), as Vasco won several competitions in that period, such as the Rio de Janeiro championship in 1945, 1947, 1949, 1950, and 1952, and the South American Club Championship in 1948. Players such as Ademir, Moacyr Barbosa, Bellini and Ipojucan defended Vasco's colors during that period. [edit] 1998 Copa LibertadoresAfter winning the Campeonato Brasileiro in 1997, beating Palmeiras in the final, Vasco started its Tokyo Project, and invested US$ 10 million to win the Copa Libertadores 1998, and thus be eligible to play in the Intercontinental Cup in Japan. Vasco successfully won the Copa Libertadores, beating Barcelona of Ecuador in the final, but the club was defeated by Real Madrid of Spain 2-1 in the Intercontinental Cup. [edit] Campeonato Brasileiro 2008The team finished the championship in a disastrous 18th place and was relegated to the second division of the championship for the first time since its foundation, 110 years ago. Up until the relegation, it was one of only four clubs*** to have never been removed from the first division, along with Internacional, Cruzeiro and rivals Flamengo.***Santos FC and Sao Paulo FC also were never relegated, but in the 1979 Brazilian Championship, both clubs choose not to play the Tournament, avoiding conflicts with Paulista Championship agenda. [edit] Other sportsAlthough best known as a football club, Vasco da Gama is actually a comprehensive sports club. Its basketball section (twice Brazilian champion and twice South-American champion) produced current NBA player Nenê. The club is also the first Brazilian club to play against a NBA team. In 1999, the club played the McDonald's Championship final against San Antonio Spurs. Its rowing team is one of the best of Brazil. Its swimmers constantly represent Brazil in international competitions. And Vasco da Gama is present in many other sports. [edit] Current squad
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History [edit] FoundationIn the late 19th century rowing was the most important sport in Rio de Janeiro. At this time, four young men - Henrique Ferreira Monteiro, Luís Antônio Rodrigues, José Alexandre d'Avelar Rodrigues and Manuel Teixeira de Souza Júnior - who did not want to travel to Niterói to row with the boats of Gragoatá Club decided to found a rowing club.On August 21, 1898 in a room of the Sons of Talma Dramatic Society, with 62 members (mostly Portuguese immigrants), the Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama (Vasco da Gama Rowing Club) was born.Inspired by the celebrations of the 4th centenary of the first sail from Europe to India, the founders chose the name of the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama to baptise the new club.Football was included only with the fusion with Lusitania Clube, other mostly portuguese immigrants club (http://www.netvasco.com.br/mauroprais/vasco/histor1.html). In 1924 Vasco da Gama was pressured by the Metropolitan Athletic Association to ban some players that were not considered adequate to play in the aristocratic League, notably because they where black and/or poor. The former President of Vasco, Jose Augusto Prestes answered with a letter that became know as the Historic Answer (resposta histórica), available in portuguese version in http://www.crvascodagama.com/?display=HISTORIA-1 revolutionated the practice of sports in Brazil. [edit] The Victory Express and the South American Club ChampionshipBetween 1947 and 1952, the club was nicknamed Expresso da Vitória (Victory Express), as Vasco won several competitions in that period, such as the Rio de Janeiro championship in 1945, 1947, 1949, 1950, and 1952, and the South American Club Championship in 1948. Players such as Ademir, Moacyr Barbosa, Bellini and Ipojucan defended Vasco's colors during that period. [edit] 1998 Copa LibertadoresAfter winning the Campeonato Brasileiro in 1997, beating Palmeiras in the final, Vasco started its Tokyo Project, and invested US$ 10 million to win the Copa Libertadores 1998, and thus be eligible to play in the Intercontinental Cup in Japan. Vasco successfully won the Copa Libertadores, beating Barcelona of Ecuador in the final, but the club was defeated by Real Madrid of Spain 2-1 in the Intercontinental Cup. [edit] Campeonato Brasileiro 2008The team finished the championship in a disastrous 18th place and was relegated to the second division of the championship for the first time since its foundation, 110 years ago. Up until the relegation, it was one of only four clubs*** to have never been removed from the first division, along with Internacional, Cruzeiro and rivals Flamengo.***Santos FC and Sao Paulo FC also were never relegated, but in the 1979 Brazilian Championship, both clubs choose not to play the Tournament, avoiding conflicts with Paulista Championship agenda. [edit] Other sportsAlthough best known as a football club, Vasco da Gama is actually a comprehensive sports club. Its basketball section (twice Brazilian champion and twice South-American champion) produced current NBA player Nenê. The club is also the first Brazilian club to play against a NBA team. In 1999, the club played the McDonald's Championship final against San Antonio Spurs. Its rowing team is one of the best of Brazil. Its swimmers constantly represent Brazil in international competitions. And Vasco da Gama is present in many other sports. [edit] Current squad