São José Esporte Clube

History

The club was founded on 13 August 1933, as Esporte Clube São José, as their first president Galiano Alves had altercations with members of Associação Esportiva São José. The club's football spent their first decades only playing amateur tournaments, and saw Internacional Futebol Clube and Klaxon Clube merge into their structure.

São José played their first professional tournament in 1957, featuring in the Campeonato Paulista Terceira Divisão. In the following year, however, they returned to an amateur status, only officially becoming a professional club on 8 March 1964. In that year, they won the Terceira Divisão, and subsequently lifted another trophy in 1965 by winning the Campeonato Paulista Segunda Divisão, and achieved a first-ever promotion to the Campeonato Paulista.

Initially playing in the Estádio da Rua Antônio Saes, the club only featured in the Campeonato Paulista Primeira Divisão until 1967, subsequently going into inactivity for the construction of the Estádio Martins Pereira. Back to an active status in 1971 after the stadium was completed, the club won the Campeonato Paulista Primeira Divisão in the following year, but was unable to achieve promotion as any promotions were suspended by the Federação Paulista de Futebol.

On 24 December 1976, due to a financial crisis, Esporte Clube São José changed name to São José Esporte Clube to avoid pawning issues. They also changed its colors, which were black and white, to the current blue, yellow and white ones, and changed its logo. In 1977, under their new name, the club played in the second level, now named Campeonato Paulista Divisão Intermediária, and remained in that division until 1980, when they lifted the trophy and achieved a first-ever promotion to the Campeonato Paulista.

Due to their seventh place finish in the 1981 Campeonato Paulista, São José earned a spot in the 1982 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, their first-ever national competition. They managed to reach the round of 16 in that competition, being knocked out by Bangu (finishing 12th). They remained in the top tier of the Paulistão until 1983, but went inactive for the 1984 season. Back to the second division in 1985, São José returned to the first division in 1987, after finishing second.

After a good campaign in the 1988 Paulistão, the club qualified to the 1989 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B. In that year, the club was runner-up of Campeonato Paulista by beating Corinthians in the semifinals and losing to São Paulo in the final, and runner-up of the Série B, losing to Bragantino in the final, but being promoted to the following year's Série A.

Crest and colors

Until December 1976, the club played in black and white vertical striped shirts, black shorts and white socks, similar to Corinthians' away kit. After the change of name, the club's main colors switched to blue, yellow and white. The original crest was an inverted triangle, similar in format to São Paulo's, but in black and white. After 1976, the logo switched to a round gear, similar to the seal in the flag of the city of São José dos Campos.

The current kits of São José are made by Diadora.

Stadium

São José's home pitch is Estádio Martins Pereira, inaugurated in 1970, with a maximum capacity of 12,234 people. On 22 March 1970, São José Esporte Clube played its first match in their new stadium, losing to Nacional-SP 1-0.

Mascot

Before 1976, São José was nicknamed Formigão do Vale (Big Ant of the Valley) due to high amount of Atta ants flying through the city, and the club adopted the ant as their official mascot. After the name change in 1976, the club was nicknamed Azulão do Vale (Big Blue of the Valley) until 1978, when the Águia (Eagle) became the official mascot of São José, thus also changing the nickname to Águia do Vale.

Rivalry

The biggest rival of São José is Taubaté. The derby between the two clubs is known as O Clássico do Vale do Paraíba (The Paraíba Valley Classic).

Other rivalries also included Jacareí, and prior to that, the defunct Associação Esportiva São José.

Players

Brazilian teams are limited to five players without Brazilian citizenship per match. The squad list includes only the principal nationality of each player; some players on the squad may have dual citizenship with another country.

Current squad

As of 31 August 2026

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Youth team

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Personnel

Honours

Others tournaments

Torneio Incentivo (1): 1981

Copa Vale do Paraíba (1): 1996

Runners-up

Campeonato Brasileiro Série B (1): 1989

Campeonato Paulista (1): 1989

Copa Paulista (1): 2023

Campeonato Paulista Série A2 (1): 1987

Campeonato Paulista Série A3 (2): 2006, 2023

Notable players

Danilo Fidélis

Émerson Leão

Fidélis

Roque Junior

Sérgio Valentim

Tata

Tião Marino

Notable matches

1989 Campeonato Paulista finals

28 June – São José 0–1 São Paulo

2 July – São José 0–0 São Paulo

(Both games were at the Morumbi Stadium in São Paulo)

1989 Tour of Spain

17 August – São José 2–1 Torrevieja (Copa Acquapark)

19 August – São José 1–1 Palamós (2–4 on penalties)

21 August – São José 0–0 Córdoba (2–3 on penalties) (Trofeo Arcángel)

22 August – São José 0–0 Martos (1–3 on penalties)

24 August – São José 2–1 Reus Deportiu

25 August – São José 1–0 Atlético Palma (Trofeo Palma del Río)

27 August – São José 3–1 Mollerussa

28 August – São José 0–0 Estepona (4–1 on penalties) (Trofeo Villa de Estepona)

29 August – São José 2–1 Puertollano Industrial (Trofeo Ciudad de Puertollano)