Botafogo: History, Squad, Rivalries, Honours & Future Plans

Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas, or simply Botafogo, is one of the most iconic and historical clubs in Brazil. Founded in the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro in the neighborhood of Botafogo, the football club operates in various tournaments like the Brasileiro Serie A and Rio de Janeiro's Premier State League.

Botafogo has earned a respected status in the country not for its eventful journey since its inception as a football entity in 1904, but also for its vibrant culture and discipline in contributing to football and rowing. Over the last 100 years, Fogo, a popular nickname of the club, has been carrying the legacy of Brazilian samba style, marked by the presence of iconic and legendary players, memorable moments, and a very loyal fan base.
Botafogo is hugely celebrated for its iconic black and white stripes, and lone Star emblem, symbolising a unique identity of the region filled with pride and singularity, and its beautiful stadium, Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos. It is also one of the “Big 12” clubs of Brazil that have won the Brazilian Championship title three times, including other major accolades like the Copa Libertadores and the Copa CONMEBOL. For its performances across all competitions, Botafogo was also recognised as the best South American club and the fifth best football club in the world by IFFHS in 2024. Despite experiencing fluctuating fortunes in recent times, Fogo remains firm, carrying the symbol of resilience and tradition under new ownership.

Botafogo: Key Facts

Club de Regatas Botafogo was originally founded in 1894 as a rowing club only. But in 1904, a new club came into existence as the Electro club, which was later named the Botafogo Football Club. In 1942, the two clubs of the neighborhood went through a merger, creating the present Botafogo club.

In 1904, a group of football-loving students named Flavio Ramos, Emilio Almeida, Jose Soares, Arthur Caesar Andrade, Vicente Cardoso, and Virgilo Leite led the foundation of the football club, sharing a deep passion for the game. In 2022, Fogo underwent a major managerial transformation and enlisted itself in the SAF network, opening the door to private investment. Botafogo is currently owned by the CEO of Eagle Football Holdings, John Textor, an American businessman who holds a 90% controlling stake in the club. Following the takeover of the SAF, the club has been performing consistently at the highest level of football. The Glorious One, a nickname of Botafogo, are the defending champion of the Brasileiro Serie A.

Botafogo Sponsors, Net Worth, and Value

Botafogo is one of the most successful and influential football clubs in Brazil, and it is highly invested in acquiring lucrative sponsorship contracts. Let's look at the Botafogo net worth.

The master shirt sponsor of Fogo is VBET, as the club has signed a $8.9 million per year deal with the company, ending its previous partnership with Parimatch. Botafogo sponsors can be a topic of discussion.

Reebok is another important uniform supplier for Botafogo, serving since 2023. The Glorious One's brand value is gradually increasing at a rapid rate, with it sitting at an estimated net worth of around $99 million, according to Transfer Market. Following the ownership change in the club, Botafogo's market value is now approximately $97 million, with projections of $110 million by 2026.

Botafogo Rivalries

Botafogo's rivalries are deeply woven into the historical and passionate fabric of South American football. Over the years, the club has given its crazy fanbase fiery matches rooted in geography, traditional pride, and class. Botafogo's base City, Rio de Janeiro, shares a border with three major cities of Brazil, Fluminense, Flamengo, and Vasco da Gama, which has led it to three Fierce derbies with those three clubs. Each of these rivalries carries its own stories of heroes, joyous moments, heartbreaks, and many more.

Derbies

The Clássico da Rivalidade, one of the most important football rivalries in Brazil, features two of the most historic clubs - Botafogo and Flamengo. The intensity of this fixture comes from the sheer contrast of the regional culture and geographical backgrounds of the clubs and their fans. Botafogo is considered the symbol of pride for the intellectual class of Rio de Janeiro, while Flamengo seems to represent the working-class community.

They first collided against each other in 1913 when Flamengo snatched a narrow 1-0 win. However, Botafogo is the defending winner of this derby following their 2-0 victory in a Brasileiro Série A game in 2024.

Botafogo and Fluminense share an intense rivalry in football due to their geographical locations. Both the Brazilian clubs engage in the oldest derby in Rio de Janeiro, named Clássico Vovô. The first game in 1905 saw Botafogo humiliate Fluminense by a 6-0 margin in a time when football was growing into a national obsession for the citizens of Brazil. This historical football rivalry has seen players like Garrincha, Romerito, and Didi demonstrating their elegance and footballing excellence.

The rivalry between these two sides stems from mutual respect shown by the fans and players alike. Popularly known as the “Friendship Classic,” the football contest between Botafogo and Vasco da Gama carries a certain level of intensity on the field, due to the fixture's historic importance. They had their first face-off in 1923 when Vasco recorded a comfortable 3-1 triumph over their counterparts. Both teams often go against each other for the glory of Campeonato Carioca.

Botafogo Trophies & Achievements

Botafogo's status as the best club in South America has not come overnight, as it has been among trophies and achievements since 1904. Having won the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A for the first time in 1968, the Glorious One became the defending champions of the Brazilian top flight last year. Now, let's take a look at this club's trophy cabinet.

History of Botafogo

Botafogo history goes back to two separate clubs under the umbrella of one region, Botafogo. A group of local sportsmen founded a local rowing club in 1894 named Club de Regatas Botafogo, as the sport was very popular at that time in Rio de Janeiro. Almost 20 years later, a group of school boys led by Flavio Ramos built a football club by the name of Botafogo Football Club to create an organised football neighborhood.
In 1942, on the occasion of the tragic death of a basketball player, these two clubs merged to honour his memory, and thus Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas was born, carrying the traditions of two clubs under one crest. Between 1950 and 1960, it saw its golden age in football as it was the home to some of the greatest Brazilian players like Nilton Santos, Garrincha, Amarildo, and Didi. Botafogo won the Brasileirão Série A title for the first time in 1968 before winning the prestigious Copa CONMEBOL in 1993. Currently, the club is a part of the revamped FIFA Club World Cup and is looking to bring the taste of its Brazilian style of play to the global stage.

Future Goals

With a century-old heritage and rich culture, Botafogo's future looks good under the new leadership of SAF. Having won the Brasileiro Serie A last year, now it looks to settle into their place consistently in the Copa Libertadores. Now, as a participant in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Botafogo aims to make a mark on the global stage.