Most Brazilians remember the Botafogo team of the 50’s and 60’s that brought together the cream of Brazilian football. But it isn’t from that team the club earned it’s nickname, the Glorious One, that it carries to this day. That nickname comes from an iconic Botofogo side of the 1930’s that formed the basis of the Brazilian national team that played in the 1934 FIFA World Cup. Not only did Botafogo win 5 of the 6 state titles played in this era, they also became the first, and only, four time consecutive Rio de Janeiro state champion. In addition, this was the club that symbolized the transition from amateurism to professionalism in Brazil. Their success began in 1930 with a win of the Carioca Championship. This was followed by another state tournament win with 15 wins, 6 draws and just the one loss. Botafogo scored 59 goals in the tournament, with Carvalho Leite getting 20 of them.

 

This is when beauracracy caused a confusing state of affairs in Brazilian football. Around this time, many in Brazil wanted to professionalise the sport, as had been done in neighbouring countries like Argentina, while some wanted it to remain amateur. As a result, several clubs in Rio began to take one side or the other. The Liga Carioca de Futebol was the professional league formed in 1933, and the biggest clubs migrated there, with the exception of Botafogo who stayed in the amateur league. The same thing took place in Sao Paulo, with its league divided into professional and amateur leagues. Brazil’s governing football body, the CBD, were up in arms over all this and created its own amateur league in Sao Paulo. The three amateur leagues in Rio then merged to create the Brazilian Football Federation and so began the country’s first interstate championship. Only one of the new leagues in Brazil was seen as legitimate by FIFA – Botafogo’s Carioca de Amea, and they won it again in 1933. But now there were two main entities running Brazilian football, the CBD and the FBF. The CBD, who controlled the national team, could only pick players from the weaker amateur leagues unless it had the permission of FIFA and the FBF to take professional league players. Brazil were in danger of missing the 1934 World Cup because it did not have access to suitable athletes as a result of this mess.

 

However, thanks to the smooth talking and negotiation skills of Botafogos Carlito Rocha, the national team managed to secure some FBF players, and a squad of 17 was sent to Italy, including no less than 9 Botafogo players. After the World Cup and amongst all the controversies over the state of football in Brazil, Botafogo procured two more state titles in 1934 and 1935. For his efforts in getting Brazil to the World Cup, for always being seen wearing a top hat and accompanied by his dog, Birita (the clubs mascot),  and for his various superstitions (such as Botafogo won’t win on cloudy days), club do-it-all Carlito Rocha goes down as one of the most illustrious characters in Botafogo history.

Achievements: Campeonato Carioca – Champions x5

Star Player: Leonidas DOB 9 September 1903, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, nickname: Diamante Negro

A player in two World Cups and nicknamed “The Rubber Man” due to his agility, Leonidas is considered to be one of the most important players of the first half of the 20th century. In 1933 he moved to Uruguay and joined Penarol, but returned to Brazil shortly after to join Vasco da Gama, helping them win the Rio state championship. After the 1934 World Cup he signed with Botafogo and won the state championship again. After this, Leonidas moved to Flamengo and remained there until 1941. He was at the forefront of the movement against rasism in Brazilian football, and was the first black player to join the then elitist white Flamengo team. After a successful time at Flamengo, he joined Sao Paulo and played for them until his retirement in 1950. Several players are credited with inventing the bicycle kick, and Leonidas in one of them. The first time he used the technique was in April 1932. He also did a bicycle kick in the 1934 World Cup, and the referee was so shocked that he didn’t know if it was allowed under the rules or not. A Brazilian confectionary company created a chocolate bar named after him which is still available and very popular today. After football, Leonidas became a radio reporter and a owned a furniture store. He died from Alzheimers complications in 2004.