Sport Club Corinthians Paulista: Encyclopedia II - Sport Club Corinthians Paulista - The Club in 2004-2005

Sport Club Corinthians Paulista - The Club in 2004-2005

The club's situation in early 2004 was one the most difficult in its history. Bad administration, lack of money and terrible campaigns both in the 2003 Brazilian Championship and in the 2004 São Paulo State Championship were worrying its millions of supporters. Fortunately some young players like forward Jô (17 years old) and defenders Betão and Wendel (both 20) and a new manager Tite helped the team to improve from their terrible start. At the end of the championship, Corinthians finished in the 5th place and won entry to the Copa Sudamericana (a minor continental championship).

More recently, Corinthians have signed a controversial deal with an international fund of investors (MSI) that grants the company pretty much control of the club for 10 years, in exchange for large investments. This has brought many good quality players to the team, such as former Boca Juniors star Carlitos Tevez, midfielders Marcelo Mattos, Gustavo Nery, Roger, Javier Mascherano and Carlos Alberto, defender Seba Dominguez and Marinho as well as a new coach, Passarella, who was quickly replaced by Márcio Bittencourt, after an unexpected 5-1 loss for one of Corinthians' greatest rivals: São Paulo.

Despite the new reinforcements on field, Corinthians had a slow start in 2005 state championship, but the team improved its position considerably, managing to finish in 2nd. By August, Corinthians has won the "first half" (a symbolic title) of the Brazilian championship and since then have maintained the lead in the competition.

In September, after a sequence of bad results, coach Márcio Bittencourt was dismissed and Antônio Lopes became Corinthians' new coach. He had a good start eliminating River Plate in the Copa Sudamericana and kept Corinthians in first place. As of December 4th of 2005, they've been crowned Brazilian champions for the fourth time.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "The Club in 2004-2005", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki