Botafogo Futebol Clube (PB)

Botafogo-PB
Full nameBotafogo Futebol Clube
NicknamesBelo (Beautiful)
Alvinegro da Estrela Vermelha (White and Black of the Red Star)
Xerifão do Nordeste (Northeast's Big Sheriff)
Tricolor da Maravilha do Contorno (Threecolour of the Wonder Contour)
Founded28 September 1931; 95 years ago (1931-09-28)
GroundAlmeidão
Capacity25,770
PresidentFilipe Félix
Head coachMarcelo Fernandes
LeagueCampeonato Brasileiro Série C
Campeonato Paraibano
2025
2025		Série C, 13th of 20
Paraibano, 2nd of 10
Websitebotafogopb.com.br

Botafogo Futebol Clube, commonly referred to as Botafogo da Paraíba, Botafogo-PB or simply Botafogo is a Brazilian professional club based in João Pessoa, Paraíba founded on 28 September 1931.

Botafogo is the top ranked team from Paraíba in CBF's national club ranking, at 51st overall.

History

On September 28, 1931, the club was founded at Centro de João Pessoa, João Pessoa city, by Beraldo de Oliveira, Manoel Feitosa, Livonete Pessoa, José de Melo, Edson de Moura Machado and Enock Lins, all of them Botafogo of Rio de Janeiro supporters. Beraldo de Oliveira was chosen as the club's first president.

In 1932, Botafogo played its first match, against São Bento. The Liga Suburbana match ended in a 2–2 draw.

In 1936, Botafogo won its first professional title, the Paraíba state championship.

In 1976, the club disputed the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A for the first time. Botafogo was eliminated in the second round, and finished in 25th position.

In 1985, Botafogo finished 19th in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, which is the club's all-time best position in the competition.

In 1989, Botafogo disputed Copa do Brasil's first edition. The team was knocked out in the first round by Cruzeiro, after two draws, on the away goals rule (the first leg, in João Pessoa was 1–1, and the second leg, in Belo Horizonte, ended 0–0).

The 2011 season saw Botafogo, for the first time in their history, the club advanced to the Copa do Brasil's second round after beating Vitória 3–1 on aggregate. Belo was knocked out in the second round by Caxias, after losing 4–1 on aggregate. Botafogo's first national title is the Série D, which was won in 2013, when they beat Juventude in the final.

Stadium

Estádio José Américo de Almeida Filho

Botafogo's home matches are usually played at Almeidão stadium, which has a maximum capacity of 40,000 people. Its official name is Estádio José Américo de Almeida Filho.

The club also owns a training ground named CT Maravilha do Contorno. The total training ground area is 10 ha.

Rivals

Botafogo's most important rivals are Treze, Campinense and Auto Esporte. The João Pessoa derby between Botafogo and Auto Esporte is commonly known as Botauto.

Current squad

As of 20 August 2026

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
2 DF  BRA Diogo Mateus
3 DF  BRA Yan Souto
4 DF  BRA Saimon Tormen
5 MF  BRA Jhonata Varela
6 DF  BRA Patric Calmon
7 FW  BRA Dudu Hatamoto
8 MF  BRA Igor Maduro
9 FW  BRA Henrique Dourado
10 MF  BRA Nenê
11 DF  BRA Diego Tavares
12 DF  BRA Erick
14 DF  BRA Igor Morais
15 FW  BRA Kayon (on loan from Capibaribe)
16 DF  BRA Bull
17 DF  BRA Lucas Sena
18 MF  BRA Giovanni Piccolomo
20 MF  BRA Thallyson
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 GK  BRA Leandro Mathias
22 DF  BRA Léo Pereira (on loan from EC Água Santa)
23 GK  BRA Max Walef
25 MF  BRA Caio Garcia
27 GK  BRA Luiz Daniel
28 MF  BRA Lucas Cândido
30 FW  BRA Lucas Matheus Alves
32 MF  BRA Gustavo
33 DF  BRA Júlio Vaz
34 GK  BRA Edilson
35 DF  BRA Dhônata
37 MF  BRA Ed Carlos
66 FW  BRA Lawan
47 MF  BRA Riquelmo
77 FW  BRA Rodolfo
84 GK  BRA Deivid Andrade
- FW  BRA Felipe Azevedo

Other sports

Besides football, Botafogo also has other sports sections, such as futsal and basketball.

The club's logo was inspired by Botafogo of Rio de Janeiro one. However, Botafogo da Paraíba's star is red. The star is red because, in 1976, the radio announcer Ivan Tomaz decided that the club's logo should have the same colors of Paraíba state flag, black and red.

Club colors

Botafogo's colors are red, black and white.

Nickname

The club is nicknamed Belo, meaning beautiful in Portuguese. This nickname was created by Antônio de Abreu e Lima, a club's counselor, after the club scored a goal considered very beautiful by him.

Mascot

Botafogo da Paraíba's mascot is a sheriff.

Honours

Official tournaments

National
Competitions Titles Seasons
Campeonato Brasileiro Série D 1 2013
Inter-state
Competitions Titles Seasons
Copa Paraíba-Pernambuco 2 1953, 1967
Copa Rio Grande do Norte-Paraíba 2 1954, 1964
State
Competitions Titles Seasons
Campeonato Paraibano 31 1936, 1937, 1938, 1944, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2026
Copa Paraíba 1s 2010
Taça ACEP 1 1981
Taça Mané Garrincha 1 1983
City
Competitions Titles Seasons
Taça Cidade de João Pessoa 1 1966
  •   record
  • s shared record

Others tournaments

State

  • Torneio Início da Paraíba (15): 1937, 1940, 1941, 1946, 1949, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1970, 1978, 1981, 1989, 1991, 1992

Runners-up

Women's Football

References

  1. ↑ "RNC - Ranking Nacional dos Clubes 2022" (PDF). CBF. 16 December 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Club info at Botafogo PB fansite". Archived from the original on July 12, 2006. Retrieved August 4, 2006.
  3. 1 2 Enciclopédia do Futebol Brasileiro, Volume 1 – Lance, Rio de Janeiro: Aretê Editorial S/A, 2001.
  4. 1 2 History at Botafogo PB fansite
  5. ↑ Campeonato Paraibano at RSSSF Archived November 20, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ "1976 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A at RSSSF". Archived from the original on February 22, 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2006.
  7. ↑ 1985 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A at RSSSF Archived December 4, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ 1989 Copa do Brasil at RSSSF Archived August 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ "Templos do Futebol". Archived from the original on 17 March 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2006.
  10. ↑ "Jokes at Botafogo PB fansite (it also lists the club's most important rivals)". Archived from the original on July 17, 2006. Retrieved August 4, 2006.
  11. ↑ "Duelo entre Bota-PB e Auto Esporte é adiado" (in Portuguese). Terra. 23 March 2001. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  12. ↑ "Futsal at Botafogo PB fansite". Archived from the original on July 12, 2006. Retrieved August 4, 2006.
  13. ↑ "Basketball at Botafogo PB fansite". Archived from the original on July 12, 2006. Retrieved August 4, 2006.
  14. 1 2 "Trivia at Botafogo PB fansite". Archived from the original on 12 August 2006. Retrieved 4 August 2006.
  15. ↑ "Arquivo de Clubes". Retrieved August 4, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)