Brazilian Football: A Primer
Continuing our series of primers on football around the world, we today look at Brazil with the help of Bill Turianski from Bill’s Sports Maps. We all know plenty about Brazilian football internationally; but as Brazil’s 2008 season kicks into gear, get to know the domestic teams historically and geographically by clicking on the map to view the full version.
Great work from Bill, and be sure to view the rest of his amazing collection at Bill’s Sports Maps.
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Coritiba’s nickname is ‘the White Thigh’? Anyone have any background on that? Seems like an odd nickname (says the man whose team is named after tree products).
CLUBE ATLETICO MINEIRO (black & white) GALO FORTE E VINGADOR !!!!
My Portuguese is far from perfect, but the “white thigh” seems to have its origins in an insult hurled at a Coritiba player of German origin in a highly charged match in 1941. For whatever reason (perhaps because German immigrants played a large role in Coritiba’s foundation in the 19th c or perhaps because Coriitiba won the match in question), it was adopted by the fans as a badge of honour (not unlike what Tottenham have done with “yids” perhaps).
Interested parties with better Portuguese can read the story here:http://www.coritiba.com.br/php/index.php?ir=layout_padrao.php&cod_item_menu=106
I knew that someone around here would have some background, thanks, Ursus!
Fluminese all the way. You really can’t beat those colours.
Cruzeiro!!!
ursus is right.
that’s the reason why we are known as “the white thighs”, or simply “the thighs”, after the 1970′s: because the german immigration, atletico paranaense president “gave” us this pejorative nickname in the early 1940′s.
in late 1960′s the supporters began to call themselves as the white thighs, adopting the nickname as a symbol.
sounds strange, but it became an important brand for us.
but it don’t mean we just accept white people or germans in our attendance. we have 1.500.000 supporters of all etnics, nacionalities and social casts, around the world but principally in south brazil.
for more info, send me an email.
regards!
Very good written. I’ m loving reading these articles , it is such a rich topic, and a great chance for fans to share their knowledge & passion!
R.Vinello