Associação Atlética Internacional, commonly referred to as simply Inter de Limeira, is a
Brazilian association football club in
Limeira
Limeira is a city in the eastern part of the Brazilian state of São Paulo. With a population of approximately 291,869 people (2022 IBGE.) and covering an area of 581 square kilometers, it sits at an elevation of 588 meters. The city is situated 1 ...
,
São Paulo
São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...
. They currently play in the
Série D, the fourth tier of
Brazilian football
Football is the most popular sport in Brazil and a prominent part of the country's national identity. The Brazil national football team has won the FIFA World Cup five times, the most of any team, in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. Brazil an ...
, as well as in the
Campeonato Paulista
The Campeonato Paulista Série A1, commonly known as Campeonato Paulista, nicknamed Paulistão, is the top-flight professional state football league in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. Run by the São Paulo State Football Federation (FPF), ...
, São Paulo's premier
state league A state league is a level of competition in Sport in Australia, Australian sport directly below that of a national league. Most of these competitions are based in a single States and territories of Australia, state or territory, and from this the te ...
.
The club's home colours are black and white and the team mascot is a
lion
The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'', native to Sub-Saharan Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body (biology), body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the ...
.
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.
On October 5, 1913,
Associação Atlética Internacional was officially founded. The club was named after a
São Paulo
São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...
city club named
Internacional (not to be confused with the still active
Internacional of Porto Alegre).
[Club history and trivia at Futebol Interior](_blank)
According to some fans, the club is named to honor the several immigrant communities in Limeira, like the
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany, the country of the Germans and German things
**Germania (Roman era)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
,
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance languag ...
,
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
ese, and
Portuguese communities.
In 1926, Internacional won its first title, the
São Paulo Countryside Cup.
In 1982, the club contested the
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
The Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (; English: "Brazilian Championship A Series"), commonly referred to as the Brasileirão (; English: "Big Brazilian" or "Great Brazilian"), the Série A or the Brazilian Série A (to distinguish it from the I ...
for the first time. Inter de Limeira finished in the 23rd position, ahead of big clubs like
Cruzeiro and
Atlético Paranaense.
In 1986, Internacional, managed by
Pepe,
[''Especial Placar - 500 Times do Brasil'', São Paulo: Editora Abril: 2003.] won the
Campeonato Paulista
The Campeonato Paulista Série A1, commonly known as Campeonato Paulista, nicknamed Paulistão, is the top-flight professional state football league in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. Run by the São Paulo State Football Federation (FPF), ...
. It was the first time that a countryside club won the competition.
In the semifinals, Inter de Limeira beat
Santos, and in the final, the club defeated
Palmeiras.
In 1988, Inter de Limeira won its first national title, the
Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
The Campeonato Brasileiro Série B (commonly referred to as the Brasileirão Série B, the Série B or the Brazilian Série B to distinguish it from the Italian and the Ecuadorian Serie B), and currently officially called Brasileirão Série B ...
. In the final four, the club finished ahead of
Náutico of
Pernambuco
Pernambuco ( , , ) is a States of Brazil, state of Brazil located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast region of the country. With an estimated population of 9.5 million people as of 2024, it is the List of Brazilian states by population, ...
state,
Ponte Preta of
São Paulo
São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...
state and
Americano of
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...
state. The club was promoted to the following year's Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
1988 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B at RSSSF
In 2024, Inter de Limeira made the Semi-Finals of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série D
The Campeonato Brasileiro Série D (English: Brazilian Championship Serie D), commonly known as the Série D or the Brazilian Série D to distinguish it from the Italian Serie D, is the fourth division of the Brazilian football league system, and ...
, clinching promotion to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C
The Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, commonly known as the Série C or the Brazilian Série C to distinguish it from the Italian Serie C, is the third tier of the Brazilian football league system.
Unlike the first and second divisions, the Sér ...
in 2025.
Current squad
First-team squad
Honours
Official tournaments
Others tournaments
Inter-state
* Taça dos Campeões Estaduais Rio-São Paulo (1): 1986
Runners-up
*Copa Paulista
The Copa Paulista de Futebol, formerly known as Copa FPF, also sometimes called Copa Federação Paulista de Futebol or, in English, São Paulo State Cup, is a tournament organized by Federação Paulista de Futebol Company every second half of ...
(1): 2017
*Campeonato Paulista Série A2
Campeonato Paulista Série A2 is the second tier of the professional state football league in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is run by the São Paulo State Football Federation (FPF).
Clubs
2025 Série A2
List of champions
There a ...
(2): 1928, 2019
*Campeonato Paulista Série A3
Campeonato Paulista Série A3 is the third tier of the professional state football league in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is run by the São Paulo State Football Federation (FPF). The tournament has been known as Série A3 since the ...
(2): 1962, 2017
Youth team
*Taça Belo Horizonte de Juniores
The Taça Belo Horizonte de Juniores (or ''Belo Horizonte Youth Cup'', in English), also known as Taça Belo Horizonte de Futebol Júnior or Taça BH, is a cup competition usually played by 36 Brazilian under-20 football teams, most of them from ...
(1): 1990
Stadium
Inter de Limeira's home stadium is Estádio Major José Levy Sobrinho, also known as Limeirão, inaugurated in 1977, with a maximum capacity of 23,475 people.[Estádio Major José Levy Sobrinho at Templos do Futebol](_blank)
/ref>
Notable players
* Guga
* Kita
* Paulinho
Notable managers
* Nelsinho Baptista
* Pepe
* Valdir Peres
Waldir Peres de Arruda (January 2, 1951 – July 23, 2017), known as Waldir Peres, was a Brazilian footballer who played as a goalkeeper, in particular with São Paulo and the Brazil national team.
Playing career Club
At club level, Pere ...
* Elano
Elano Blumer (born 14 June 1981), known as Elano, is a Brazilian football coach and former player who played as an attacking midfielder.
Known for his accurate passing and precise set pieces, Elano started his senior career at Santos, and spe ...
Club colors
Internacional's colors are black and white.
Anthem
The club's anthem was composed by Joel Navarini, and it is called "Avante Leão!" (meaning "Go ahead Lion!").
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
Ribeirão Preto (Portuguese pronunciation: Help:IPA/Portuguese, �ibejˈɾɐ̃w ˈpɾetu is a city and a metropolitan area located in the northeastern region of São Paulo (state), São Paulo state, Brazil.
Ribeirão Preto is the eighth-la ...
. 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.
Mascot
Inter de Limeira's mascot is called Leão, meaning lion
The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'', native to Sub-Saharan Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body (biology), body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the ...
. He is usually depicted wearing the club's home or away kit.[Mascot depicted in Internacional's fansite](_blank)
/ref>
References
External links
* (archived)
(archived)
Internacional at Futebol Interior
(archived)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Associacao Atletica Internacional (Limeira)
Internacional de Limeira
Association football clubs established in 1913
1913 establishments in Brazil
Limeira