Volta Football

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

In 1975, the only professional team in Volta Redonda was Clube de Regatas do Flamengo of Volta Redonda, known as Flamenguinho, and Guarani Esporte Clube. That year, the states of Rio de Janeiro and Guanabara fused, forcing a merger of their football federations. At a meeting between the president of Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN), the city mayor Nelson Gonçalves, Doctor Guanayr, and Admiral Heleno Nunes (president of CBD), Doctor Guanayr argued that Flamenguinho should represent the city in the Campeonato Carioca. Admiral Heleno Nunes decided instead that a new club should be created, named Volta Redonda Futebol Clube, with the colors of the municipality: black, white, and red. On 9 February 1976, the club was officially founded, and they have never played in Série A; their highest division is Série B. The club won their first Copa Rio in 1994, and then won the following edition in 1996. In 1995, the club was eliminated earlier in Série C, not reaching the finals.

In Their Own Story

In 2005, Volta Redonda won the Taça Guanabara, the first turn of the Campeonato Carioca, after defeating strong teams such as Vasco da Gama. This qualified them for the state finals against Fluminense, winners of the Taça Rio. In the first match, Volta Redonda beat Fluminense 4–3, needing only a draw in the second match to win the competition. However, the second match ended 3–1 to Fluminense, and Fluminense won the title 6–5 on aggregate. In 2006, Volta Redonda reached the quarterfinals of the Copa do Brasil. They beat América Mineiro in the first stage, first division club Atlético Paranaense in the second, and 15 de Novembro of Campo Bom in the third. On 4 May, at Estádio São Januário, Volta Redonda was defeated by Vasco da Gama 2–1 and eliminated; Vasco later became a finalist. The first leg, played on 27 April, had ended 0–0. In 2016, Volta Redonda rose with one of the most impressive campaigns in Série D, beating Fluminense de Feira twice and finishing undefeated, thus gaining access to the 2017 Série C. In the finals, they beat CSA 4–0. In 2022, Volta Redonda won the Copa Rio for the first time in 15 years, gaining access to the 2023 Copa do Brasil.

Reader's Guide

Volta Redonda's stadium is the Estádio Raulino de Oliveira, with a maximum capacity of 20,255 people. Matches between Volta Redonda and Barra Mansa, its biggest rival, are called the Clássico do Sul Fluminense (Rio de Janeiro's South derby). The club's honours include the Taça Guanabara (1): 2005; Taça Rio (1): 2016; Taça Independência (1): 2020; Campeonato do Interior Copa Rio stage (2): 1994, 1995; and Taça Santos Dumont (1): 2022. They were runners-up in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C (1): 1995, and the Campeonato Carioca (1): 2005. The women's team won the Campeonato Carioca de Futebol Feminino (1): 2009.

Did You Know?

• Volta Redonda was founded on 9 February 1976, and has never played in Série A; their highest division is Série B.
• In 2005, Volta Redonda won the Taça Rio, defeating Vasco da Gama in the semifinals along the way.
• In 2006, Volta Redonda reached the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil, beating first division club Atlético Paranaense in the first round.
• In 2016, Volta Redonda won the Série D finals against CSA with a 4–0 victory, though they lost a group stage match to São Bento.
• The club's biggest rival is Barra Mansa, and their derby is called the Clássico do Sul Fluminense.