1991 Brazilian champions | OneFootball

In 1991, São Paulo won the country’s main competition for the third time

On June 9, 1991, São Paulo won the third Brazilian Championship title in the club’s history. Remembering this huge achievement, the Historical Archive brings period information, photos, and documents to the official website.

THE BEGINNING OF THE JOURNEY

Two years earlier, in 1989, they came up just short. The following year, in 1990, it didn’t happen again. Tricolor finished as Brazilian runner-up in both seasons. The title so eagerly awaited by the fans would have to come in 1991.

Telê Santana, who had arrived at São Paulo during the 1990 Brasileirão and led the team to that tournament’s final — even after a forgettable first half of the year, when the club finished the Paulista Championship in 15th place — agreed to a new contract with the club and remained in charge of the team in 1991.

The squad was practically the same as in the previous half-year, since the Brasileirão began right after the previous one had ended. Only two new forwards were signed: Rinaldo, who came from Fluminense, and Macedo, a breakout talent from Rio Branco of Americana, precisely to take the places of Alcindo and Aguirre, who left Tricolor. Midfielder Carrasco also did not renew his contract: for that position, Telê bet on “homegrown talents.”

Photo: Historical Archive. Lined up: Rinaldo, Macedo, Sídnei, Zé Teodoro, Amadeu, Elivélton, Cafu, Vítor, Menta and Gilmar; Antônio Carlos, Ricardo Rocha, Flávio, Márcio Flores, Gefferson, Alexandre, Zetti, Marcos, Raí, Vizolli, Ronaldão, Eliel, Ivan and Bernardo; Mário Tilico, Marcelo Conte, Cláudio, Altair Ramos, Moraci Sant’Anna, Telê Santana, Valdir Joaquim de Moraes, Hélio Santos, Jairinho, Leonardo and Müller

THE CHAMPIONSHIP

The 1991 Brasileirão was contested by 20 clubs in a single round-robin format, with the top four advancing to the semifinals, which were knockout ties played over two legs. The winners then met in the final, also over two matches. The advantage in the event of a tie, or mirrored equal results, belonged to the club with the better overall campaign.

After a short preseason in Paraná (where they beat Apucarana 1–0 and Foz do Iguaçu 2–1 in friendlies), Tricolor started the championship well, defeating Atlético Mineiro — who would also advance to the semifinals — 3–0, even playing at Mineirão! But over the next five rounds, São Paulo stumbled three times, with defeats to Flamengo (0x1, at Gávea), Santos (1×2, at Morumbi), and Náutico (1×2, at Aflitos). The inconsistency, however, ended there.

Placar magazine

Raí, Müller, and Macedo led São Paulo’s resurgence, keeping the club unbeaten for 12 matches (8 wins and 4 draws), only tasting defeat again in the final round of the tournament’s initial stage (0x1 against Internacional, at Beira-Rio). Even so, Tricolor finished that stage in first place with 26 points — the same as Bragantino, but with two more wins — inheriting the “draw advantage” in the semifinal clash against Atlético Mineiro.

And that is exactly what happened. São Paulo drew both matches against the Minas Gerais side. The first leg ended 1–1, with a goal by Mário Tilico — the winger’s first great decisive goal. Tricolor played with one man less for almost the entire game (Antônio Carlos had been sent off in the 16th minute of the first half). In the return leg, 0–0 at Morumbi, and Tricolor were through to the final!

But qualifying through two draws came at a cost. Tricolor, who had been the top team during the “round-robin,” were overtaken in total points in the overall campaign by Bragantino, who reached the final by winning one match and drawing the other against Fluminense. The advantage of two draws, or two mirrored equal results, now belonged to the countryside club, which would also host the deciding match at home.

The 1991 Brazilian Championship Stickers – Abril/Panini

THE DECIDER

At Morumbi, with 67,759 paying fans in attendance for the first leg of the 1991 Brazilian final, Tricolor came out flying, wasting two good chances in the opening minutes, with Bernardo, who shot straight at goalkeeper Marcelo, and then with Macedo, in an incredible play after a beautiful move by Raí. The striker calmly dribbled past the keeper but hit the post with his finish!

Tickets from Paulo Padilha

In the 27th minute came the moment that would decide the title: Mário Tilico, the talisman, came on in place of the injured Elivélton. The first half, however, ended the same way it began — 0–0 — with Bragantino controlling midfield better and stopping the pace of the attacks by Müller, Macedo, and Tilico. In fact, they even missed clear chances of their own, denied by Zetti and Ricardo Rocha, the latter right on the goal line.

The second half began like the start of the first, with Tricolor dominating and pushing forward. Bragantino’s defense collapsed and gave in to the pressure after four minutes. A ball was lifted into São Paulo’s attacking area and Bernardo headed it onto the crossbar. Müller tried a volley, but the ball went straight through to the reliable feet of Mário Tilico, who smashed it into the net — sending the ball just inside the right post of the goalkeeper — scoring the goal that would give São Paulo the victory. Mário Tilico’s euphoric celebration reflected the feeling that this would be the title-winning goal!

Nelson Coelho/Abril Imagens

Abril Imagens

Nelson Coelho/Abril Imagens

It is worth noting that by the time the first leg of the final was played, the venue for the second match had still not been decided. In the end, it was confirmed that the final showdown would indeed be at the cramped Marcelo Stéfani Stadium — now Nabi Abi Chedid — on June 9, 1991. Despite having the rival fans seemingly almost on the field, the Tricolor players were not intimidated. Without the injured Elivélton, Telê pushed Cafu up to right midfield and placed Zé Teodoro at full-back, not allowing Bragantino to find any space to play. Curiously, the decision to play on a small field did nothing to help the home team.

In fact, the best chances of the match belonged to Tricolor. In the 11th minute of the first half, Cafu played in Zé Teodoro, who hit a powerful shot. From the goalkeeper’s rebound, Leonardo crossed for Bernardo to head against the post, and Müller sent the loose ball over the bar. Bragantino only broke through São Paulo’s fortress in the 30th minute of the second half, when Luiz Müller shot, Zetti parried, and Sílvio nearly scored on the rebound. Near the end of the match (44 min.), the final blow to Bragantino’s hopes came after a beautiful pass from Raí to Flávio, who blasted a shot from the edge of the box onto the crossbar!

But there was nothing to regret. At the final whistle from referee José Roberto Wright, São Paulo Futebol Clube were crowned the 1991 Brazilian Champions — then the third national title for Tricolor of Morumbi! — an achievement that opened the gates to a new and unforgettable winning era under the command of Telê Santana, which would culminate in conquering the world in two consecutive years!

THE FIRST LEG

06/05/1991Brazilian Championship: Final (First Leg)São Paulo (SP), Cícero Pompeu de Toledo Stadium – Morumbi

SÃO PAULO 1 X 0 BRAGANTINO

SPFC: Zetti; Cafu, Antônio Carlos, Ricardo Rocha and Leonardo; Ronaldão, Bernardo and Raí; Müller, Macedo and Elivélton (Mário Tilico). COACH: Telê Santana. GOAL: Mário Tilico, 4/2

OPPONENT: Marcelo; Gil Baiano, Junior, Nei © and Biro Biro; Mauro Silva, Ivair (Luiz Müller), Alberto and Ronaldo Alfredo (Franklin); Mazinho and Silvio. COACH: Carlos Alberto Parreira

REFEREE: Marcio Rezende de FreitasGATE RECEIPTS: CR$ 149,165,000.00PAID ATTENDANCE: 67759

Photo: Historical Archive; Lined up: Zetti, Ronaldão, Leonardo, Cafu, Ricardo Rocha and Antônio Carlos; Hélio Santos (masseur), Müller, Macedo, Raí, Elivélton and Bernardo

THE TITLE MATCH

06/09/1991Brazilian Championship: Final (Second Leg)Bragança Paulista (SP), Marcelo Stéfani Stadium

BRAGANTINO 0 X 0 SÃO PAULO 

SPFC: Zetti; Zé Teodoro, Antônio Carlos, Ricardo Rocha and Leonardo; Ronaldão, Bernardo, Cafu and Raí; Macedo and Müller (Flávio, 34/2). COACH: Telê Santana.

OPPONENT: Marcelo; Gil Baiano, Junior, Nei © and Biro Biro; Mauro Silva, Ivair (Luiz Müller), Alberto and João Santos (Franklin); Mazinho and Silvio. COACH: Carlos Alberto Parreira

REFEREE: Jose Roberto Ramiz Wright.GATE RECEIPTS: CR$64,650,000.00PAID ATTENDANCE: 12942

Photo: Nelson Coelho/Abril Imagens; Lined up: Zetti; Ronaldão, Leonardo, Ricardo Rocha, Zé Teodoro and Antônio Carlos;

Müller, Raí, Macedo, Bernardo and Elivélton

Abril Imagens

THE CAMPAIGN

First Phase02.02.1991 – 3 X 0 – Clube ATLÉTICO MINEIRO (MG)06.02.1991 – 0 X 1 – Clube Regatas do FLAMENGO (RJ)17.02.1991 – 1 X 2 – SANTOS Futebol Clube (SP)23.02.1991 – 1 X 0 – FLUMINENSE Football Club (RJ)03.03.1991 – 2 X 1 – Clube ATLÉTICO PARANAENSE (PR)06.03.1991 – 1 X 2 – Clube NÁUTICO Capibaribe (PE)09.03.1991 – 1 X 0 – Esporte Clube BAHIA (BA)16.03.1991 – 1 X 1 – GOIÁS Esporte Clube (GO)22.03.1991 – 2 X 0 – GRÊMIO Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense (RS)31.03.1991 – 2 X 1 – Clube Atlético BRAGANTINO (SP)04.04.1991 – 0 X 0 – Sociedade Esportiva PALMEIRAS (SP)07.04.1991 – 1 X 1 – Sport Club CORINTHIANS Paulista (SP)14.04.1991 – 1 X 0 – Associação PORTUGUESA de Desportos (SP)20.04.1991 – 2 X 2 – Club de Regatas VASCO DA GAMA (RJ)28.04.1991 – 2 X 0 – SPORT Clube do RECIFE (PE)01.05.1991 – 2 X 1 – Esporte Clube VITÓRIA (BA)05.05.1991 – 1 X 0 – BOTAFOGO de Futebol e Regatas (RJ)12.05.1991 – 3 X 1 – CRUZEIRO Esporte Clube (MG)18.05.1991 – 0 X 1 – Sport Club INTERNACIONAL (RS)Semifinals25.05.1991 – 1 X 1 – Clube ATLÉTICO MINEIRO (MG)02.06.1991 – 0 X 0 – Clube ATLÉTICO MINEIRO (MG)Finals05.06.1991 – 1 X 0 – Clube Atlético BRAGANTINO (SP)09.06.1991 – 0 X 0 – Clube Atlético BRAGANTINO (SP)

Also registered for the competition, but without playing a single match: Gilmar Popoca (MC), Marcos (GK), Amadeu, Gefferson (CB), Alexandre (GK), Andrey (MC), Doriva (DM), Menta (CB), and Gilmar (CB). Although Marcelo Conte appears in the official champions’ photo, there is no record that he was officially registered (and eligible to play) in the tournament.

Photo: Historical Archive; Trophy presentation match: Altair Ramos, Fernando Casal de Rey, Telê Santana, Antônio Carlos, Ronaldão, José Eduardo Mesquita Pimenta, Cafu, Sídnei, Nelsinho, Adílson, Marcos, Moraci Sant’Anna; doctor, kit man, Hélio Santos, Müller, Suélio, Raí, Elivélton and Baiano

By Michael Serra / João Farah Historical Archive

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.