The main rival of Treze is Campinense, another traditional football club from Campina Grande. They have a long-standing rivalry, being collectively known as the Maiorais. This is considered as the most important derby in the countryside of Brazil. There is also a rivalry between Treze and Botafogo (PB), a football club from João Pessoa (Paraíba's capital), due to some historical issues between the two cities.
The club own the Presidente Vargas stadium, which has a theoretical capacity of 12,000, but an approved capacity of 3,800.[2] Games are often played at the state-owned stadium Amigão.
Treze is currently ranked second among Paraíba teams in CBF's national club ranking at 67th place overall. They are the best placed team in the state from outside of Greater João Pessoa. [3]
According to research institutes such as Datavox and GPP, Treze is the local club with the largest number of fans in Paraíba. It is estimated that the club has a fan base of approximately 600,000 supporters just in Paraíba, which represents 62% of local fans' preference, having a larger fan base than the combined total of the second and third largest fan bases in the state. [4]
History
Foundation
The club was founded on 7 September 1925 by Antônio Fernandes Bioca and twelve other football fans. The group usually played football at a field which is now João Pessoa street. Antônio Fernandes Bioca introduced football to Paraíba, after bringing the first football to the state.
First team and First game
In 1925, Treze's first team was José Rodolfo, José Casado, Alberto Santos, Zacarias Ribeiro "Cotó" and Plácido Veras "Guiné", Eurico, Zacarias do Ó, José Eloy, Olívio Barreto, Osmundo Lima and José de Castro.
Treze's first official match was played on 1 May 1926, at Campo dos Currais, which is now the site of a public market. Treze beat Palmeiras, an established team from the state capital João Pessoa, 1-0. Plácido Veras (known as Guiné), one of the thirteen founders of the club, scored the goal, to become the scorer of the first official Treze goal.[5]
Garrincha
Garrincha played for Treze Futebol Clube in 1968.
In the year 1968, when Treze faced the Argentina U-20 national team and lost 3-2, shortly after the match on February 8, 1968, at Presidente Vargas Stadium, Garrincha donned the Treze Futebol Clube jersey in a friendly against the Romania national team, which was qualified for the 1970 World Cup. He was substituted in the second half, and Treze suffered a 2-1 defeat. Leduar scored the goal for Galo. Treze's lineup featured: Elias; Janca, Antonino, and Leduar; Mané and Nilton; Mané Garrincha, Lima, Chicletes, Pedrinho, and Zé Luiz.
State Championship
In 1939, Treze became the first team from outside the metropolitan region of João Pessoa to enter the Campeonato Paraibano.[6] They won their first title in 1940[7] and have a total of 15 championship titles.
In 1966, Treze won the Campeonato Paraibabo undefeated, recording 12 victories and 2 draws, and conceding only 5 goals[8]
National Competition
Treze have competed in the top tier of the Brazilian football league system a total of 9 times, including the combined tournaments held in 1986, 1987 and 2000.[9] They have competed a further 7 times in the second tier, 12 times in the third tier and 5 times in the fourth tier. They have gained promotion twice from Série D, in 2011, when a 5th-placed finish meant they replaced Rio Branco-AC who were excluded from the competition[10] and in 2018.
In 1999, Treze were the first Paraíba State team to progress beyond the first stage of the Copa do Brasil, beating Santa Cruz. Treze lost the first leg 2-3 in Campina Grande, but then won the second leg 4-2 in Recife.[11]
Treze's colors are black and white. They usually play in black and white vertical stripes, black shorts and black socks. Its away kit is almost all-white, with the exception being its black socks.
Club name and mascot
The name Treze translates Thirteen in English, the number of the founders of the club. The mascot is a rooster as it represents the number 13 in Jogo do Bicho (an illicit gambling game in Brazil).
