Associação Atlética Internacional (Limeira)

Inter de Limeira
Full name	Associação Atlética Internacional
Nickname(s)	Leão da Paulista (Paulista Lions)
Founded	October 5, 1913; 111 years ago
Ground	Estádio Major José Levy Sobrinho
Capacity	23,475
Head coach	Dyego Coelho
League	Campeonato Brasileiro Série D; Campeonato Paulista
2023; 2023	Série D, 26th of 64; Paulista, 13th of 16
Home colors	Away colors

Associação Atlética Internacional, commonly referred to as simply Inter de Limeira, is a Brazilian association football club in Limeira, São Paulo. They currently play in the Série D, the fourth tier of Brazilian football, as well as in the Campeonato Paulista, São Paulo's premier state league.

The club's home colours are black and white and the team mascot is a lion.

History

On October 2, 1913, at Teatro da Paz (meaning Peace Theater) members of an amateur football club called Barroquinha decided to professionalise their club, and established a monthly fee to be paid by its members and associates.^[1] On October 5, 1913,^[2] Associação Atlética Internacional was officially founded. The club was named after a São Paulo city club named Internacional (not to be confused with the still active Internacional of Porto Alegre).^[3] According to some fans, the club is named to honor the several immigrant communities in Limeira, like the German, Italian, Japanese, and Portuguese communities.^[1]

In 1926, Internacional won its first title, the São Paulo Countryside Cup.^[4]

In 1982, the club contested the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A for the first time. Inter de Limeira finished in the 23rd position, ahead of big clubs like Cruzeiro and Atlético Paranaense.^[5]

In 1986, Internacional, managed by Pepe,^[6] won the Campeonato Paulista. It was the first time that a countryside club won the competition.^[6] In the semifinals, Inter de Limeira beat Santos, and in the final, the club defeated Palmeiras.^[7]

In 1988, Inter de Limeira won its first national title, the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B. In the final four, the club finished ahead of Náutico of Pernambuco state, Ponte Preta of São Paulo state and Americano of Rio de Janeiro state. The club was promoted to the following year's Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.^[8]

In 2024, Inter de Limeira made the Semi-Finals of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série D, clinching promotion to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C in 2025.

Honours

National

Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
- Winners (1): 1988

Inter-state

Taça dos Campeões Estaduais Rio-São Paulo
- Winners (1): 1986

State

Campeonato Paulista
- Winners (1): 1986
Campeonato Paulista Série A2
- Winners (3): 1978, 1996, 2004
Campeonato Paulista Série A3
- Winners (1): 1966

Youth team

Campeonato Paulista Sub-20
- Winners (1): 2003
Taça Belo Horizonte de Juniores
- Winners (1): 1990

Stadium

Inter de Limeira's home stadium is Estádio Major José Levy Sobrinho, also known as Limeirão,^[2] inaugurated in 1977, with a maximum capacity of 23,475 people.^[9]

Notable players

Notable managers

Club colors

Internacional's colors are black and white.^[2]

Anthem

The club's anthem was composed by Joel Navarini, and it is called "Avante Leão!" (meaning "Go ahead Lion!").^[10]

Nickname

The club is nicknamed Leão da Paulista (meaning "Lion of Paulista"). The nickname appeared after a match between Internacional and Comercial-Ribeirão Preto of Ribeirão Preto. Comercial is nicknamed Leão, and after a successful trip when the club remained undefeated, the club was beaten by Inter de Limeira, which then adopted the nickname.^[3]

Mascot

Inter de Limeira's mascot is called Leão, meaning lion.^[6] He is usually depicted wearing the club's home or away kit.^[11]

References

^ ^a ^b "History at Internacional's fansite". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved August 17, 2006.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Internacional at Arquivo de Clubes". Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2006.
^ ^a ^b Club history and trivia at Futebol Interior Archived June 25, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
^ "Titles at Internacional's fansite". Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved August 17, 2006.
^ 1982 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A at RSSSF Archived February 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
^ ^a ^b ^c Especial Placar - 500 Times do Brasil, São Paulo: Editora Abril: 2003.
^ 1986 Campeonato Paulista at RSSSF Archived February 20, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
^ 1988 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B at RSSSF Archived December 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
^ Estádio Major José Levy Sobrinho at Templos do Futebol
^ "Anthem at Internacional's fansite". Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved August 17, 2006.
^ Mascot depicted in Internacional's fansite^{[permanent dead link]}

External links

[historyfansite-1] "History at Internacional's fansite". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved August 17, 2006.

[arquivo-2] "Internacional at Arquivo de Clubes". Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2006.

[historytrivia-3] Club history and trivia at Futebol Interior Archived June 25, 2006, at the Wayback Machine

[titles-4] "Titles at Internacional's fansite". Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved August 17, 2006.

[5] 1982 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A at RSSSF Archived February 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine

[placar-6] Especial Placar - 500 Times do Brasil, São Paulo: Editora Abril: 2003.

[7] 1986 Campeonato Paulista at RSSSF Archived February 20, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

[8] 1988 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B at RSSSF Archived December 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

[clubstadium-9] Estádio Major José Levy Sobrinho at Templos do Futebol

[anthem-10] "Anthem at Internacional's fansite". Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved August 17, 2006.

[mascot-11] Mascot depicted in Internacional's fansite^{[permanent dead link]}

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