The early Brazilian tournaments such as those won by Corinthians  may sound small by todays standards, but back then, these trophies carried the same weight and had the same meaning as winning todays Brazilian top flight. This team had it all. The two greatest scorers in the clubs history playing together. The greatest goalkeeper in the history of Brazilian football. One of the best Brazilian managers at the helm. A team of the people, and for the people – that was Corinthians Paulista in the early 50’s. Corinthians hit the transfer market around this time and bought several players who were destined to become stars for the club.  Luizinho, Baltazar and Claudio formed the spine of the Corinthians attack, helping the club to break their cup drought with victory in the Rio-Sao Paulo Tournament.

 

To achieve this, they defeated their rivals Palmeiras, and a Vasco da Gama side that formed the basis of the Brazilian national team that would compete in the World Cup that year. They also held a strong Botafogo to a 1-1 draw. With this cup, the club was able to make up for some of the prestige they had lost in the previous years, and more success was to follow over the next few. An already great team was further bolstered in the next season, with Claudio, Juliao and Goiano coming on board, along with a new goalkeeper, Gylmar, and Corinthians went in search of the 1951 state title with 5 consecutive victories. Following a single draw, they then won the next 7 games consecutively until finally tasting defeat against Palmeiras.  After another series of wins, the club eventually suffered a devastating 7-3 defeat – and the blame fell on the shoulders of poor Gylmar, who had started that game. Under pressure, manager Rato had no option but to exile him from the starting line up – but six months later, he would return.

 

Dealing well with the setback, the club won every game of the season from then on, until facing Guarani in the last match, and needing a win to earn their first state title in 10 years. They did it, 4-0. Over that season, Corinthians had scored an incredible 103 goals, and their striker Carbone was the leagues top scorer. This was followed up with a European tour in 1952. Gylmar had earned his place back in the squad thanks to some good performances in the absence of the clubs other keepers, and over 16 games in Turkey, Denmark, Sweden and Finland they won 12, drew 3 and lost the one. Back home, they picked up the final edition of the Sao Paulo Cup with a 5-1 smashing of Palmeiras, the biggest defeat in that clubs history. They were the favorates for the 1952 Paulista, dazzling their fans with numerous memorable performances, including an epic 6-4 battle with Palmeiras. As expected, they claimed the title with 25 out a possible 30 wins.

 

Victory in the next Rio-Sao Paolo tournament qualified the club for the Small Club World Cup in Venezuela, facing quality European rivals without fear. Roma, Barcelona and a Caracas XI all went down, twice each, to Corinthians. In 1954, the city of Sao Paulo celebrated its 400th anniversary, and all the local clubs wanted to celebrate it by winning the Paulista Championship that year. Winning this specific title would be momentous, and could only be repeated 100 years later. The four major clubs in the city were neck and neck throughout the competition. Corinthians needed to draw with Palmeiras in the penultimate match to win it. They were surprised and concerned when their opponents stepped out in blue shirts, opposed to their regular green. The Palmeiras chairman instructed them to do so as he considered blue to be “lucky.” It didn’t work. Corinthians opened the scoring in the first ten minutes. Palmeiras equalised but Corinthians held on to win the most emblematic trophy in their history, earning the title of Champions of the Century. 

Achievements: Campeonato Paulista – Champions x3 
                           Tornio Rio-Sao Paulo – Winners x3
                           Small Club World Cup – Winners x1

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Star player: GYLMAR  - DoB 22 August 1930, Santos, Brazil

Gilmar dos Santos Neves is rated as the best Brazilian goalkeeper of the 20th century, remembered for a sober goalkeeping style and peaceful personality. His name originates from those of his parents, Gilberto and Maria. Gilmar is famous as the starting goalkeeper for both the world famous Santos and Brazil teams featuring Pele, therefore he is known as “Pele’s goalkeeper”. Gilmar won state championships with Corinthians in 1951, 1953 and 1954. In 1961 he joined Santos, one of the greatest teams in the history of the sport, where he played alongside such icons as Pele, Pepe, Zito, Mengalvio and Coutinho. With their brilliant goalkeeper between the posts, Santos acquired trophies in virtually every championship they competed in, including 5 Sao Paulo state championships, 5 national championships, 2 Copa Libertadores and 2 Intercontinental Cups. Gilmar kept goal for his country 104 times including 3 World Cups. He is the only goalkeeper to win 2 consecutive World Cups. Gilmar died 3 days after his 83rd birthday.