Brazil - Second and Third Division History


Second Level
Third Level
Number of Teams in Each Level


Second level

The 2nd level was played for the first time in 1971 when CBD (the
Brazilian FA) inaugurated the real Brazilian Championship. In this first
period the champions and runners-up were:

Year  Champion                              Runner-Up
1971  Villa Nova AC (Nova Lima, MG)         Remo (Belém, PA)
1972  Sampaio Corrêa FC (Sao Luís, MA)      Campinense (Campina Grande, PB)

Because there was no performance-based criterion defining the teams in 
the first level there was no promotion or relegation.  Between 1973 and 
1979 teams were invited to play at the 1st level based mainly on political 
criteria, and no 2nd division was disputed.

When CBD was dismembered into CBF and many other sports federations in 1980,
the Brazilian championship was reorganized and the number of teams at the
first level (Taça de Ouro) was reduced from 96 teams in 1979 to 40 in 1980.
The new second level (Taça de Prata) was disputed from 1980 to 1983 and 
qualified 4 teams for the second stage of the first division championship in
the same year, and concluded with the remaining teams, one more earning 
promotion (except in 1983). In 1982 and 1983, the eliminated teams from the
fisrt stage of the first division was relegated to this conclusion of the
second level. In 1984, the second division champions qualified for the third
stage of the first division championship and earned promotion for 1985.  
In 1985, under the name of Taça CBF, the second level only qualified its 
champions to the 1986 first level.

       Promoted (same year)                 Promoted (next year)
  
1980   Sport (Recife-PE)                    Londrina (Londrina-PR)
       América FC (São José do Rio Preto-SP) CSA (Maceió-AL)
       Americano (Campos-RJ)
       Bangu (Rio de Janeiro-RJ)
  
1981   SE Palmeiras (São Paulo-SP)          Guarani FC(Campinas-SP)
       Uberaba SC (Uberaba-MG)
       EC Bahia (Salvador-BA)
       Náutico (Recife-PE)

1982   Corinthians (São Paulo-SP)           Campo Grande AC (Rio de Janeiro-RJ)
       América FC (Rio de Janeiro-RJ)
       SC São Paulo (Rio Grande-RS)
       Atlético Paranaense (Curitiba-PR)

1983   Uberaba (Uberaba-MG)                 none
       Guarani (Campinas-SP)
       Botafogo (Ribeirco Preto-SP
       Americano (Campos-RJ)
   
1984   Uberlândia EC (Uberlândia-MG)        Uberlândia EC (Uberlândia-MG)
                                            Remo (Belém-PA)
  
1985   none                                 Tuna Luso (Belém-PA)
  
In 1982 and 1983 the relegated teams from the First Phase of first level to
the conclusion of the second level were:

       Relegated (same year)
  
1982   América FC (Natal, RN)
       CSA (Maceió, AL)
       Associação Desportiva FVRD (Vitória, ES)
       Ferroviário AC (Fortaleza, CE)
       Goiás EC (Goiânia, GO)
       AO Itabaiana (Itabaiana, SE)
       Joinville EC (Joinville, SC)
       Mixto EC (Cuiabá, MT)
       Nacional FC (Manaus, AM)
       Ríver AC (Teresina, PI)
       Taguatinga EC (Taguatinga, DF)
       EC Vitória (Salvador, BA)

1983   Brasília EC (Brasília, DF)
       CSA (Maceió, AL)
       Ferroviário AC (Fortaleza, CE)
       Fortaleza EC (Fortaleza, CE)
       Galícia EC (Salvador, BA)
       Joinville EC (Joinville, SC)
       CA Juventus (São Paulo, SP)
       Mixto EC (Cuiabá, MT)
       Moto Clube (São Luís, MA)
       Paysandú SC (Belém, PA)
       Rio Branco AC (Vitória, ES)
       Treze FC (Campina Grande, PB)

The champions and runners-up in these years were:

Year  Champion                              Runner-Up
1980  Londrina EC (Londrina, PR)            CSA (Maceió, AL)
1981  Guarani FC (Campinas, SP)             AA Anapolina (Anápolis, GO)
1982  Campo Grande AC (Rio de Janeiro, RJ)  CSA (Maceió, AL)
1983  CA Juventus (São Paulo, SP)           CSA (Maceió, AL)
1984  Uberlândia EC (Uberlândia, MG)        Remo (Belém, PA)
1985  Tuna Luso (Belém, PA)                 Goytacaz FC (Campos, RJ)

In 1986 no second level was disputed, but 44 teams played a Parallel
Tournament divided into four groups, whose champions were qualified for
the second stage of the first level in the same year.  Some Brazilian
puiblications consider these teams as second level champions 1986:

Group E Champion: Treze FC (Campina Grande, PB)
Group F Champion: Central SC (Caruaru, PE)
Group G Champion: AA Internacional (Limeira, SP)
Group H Champion: Criciúma EC (Criciúma, SC)

(Group A, B, C, and D constituted the first stage of the first level.)

In 1987 a true first level was created, the Copa União, although it is not 
universally recognized as such.  Because the participation criteria were not
based on the 1986 championship or the state championship, some clubs left
out claimed berths in the first level.  The CBF then called this first level
Green Module, and incorporated the malcontent clubs in a second level named
Yellow module.  CBF had planned to stage a championship playoff in January
1988 between the first two teams of both Modules, but Flamengo (RJ) and
Internacional (RS), from the Green Module, refused to play this Final
Phase against Sport Recife (PE) and Guarani (SP) of the Yellow Module.
Because of this, officially Sport Recife is considered Brazilian champions
of 1987. See the file of Brazilian Championship 1987 for more informations.

From 1988 to 1992 the first level was renamed first division and CBF
alternated between having two small inferior divisions (second and third)
or one large one (second).  In this period the promoted and relegated
teams between first and second level were:

       Promoted                             Relegated
  
1987   Sport (Recife-PE)                    none
       Guarani FC (Campinas-SP)
       Atlético Paranaense (Curitiba-PR)
       Bangu AC (Rio de Janeiro-RJ)
       Criciúma EC (Criciúma-SC)
       EC Vitória (Salvador-BA)
       Portuguesa (São Paulo-SP)
       América FC (Rio de Janeiro-RJ) (1)

1988   AA Internacional (Limeira-SP)        Bangu (Rio de Janeiro-RJ)
       Náutico (Recife-PE)                  Santa Cruz FC (Recife-PE)
                                            Criciúma EC (Criciúma-SC)
                                            América FC (Rio de Janeiro-RJ)

1989   CA Bragantino (Bragança Paulista-SP) Coritiba FC (Curitiba-PR)
       São José EC (São José dos Campos-SP) Atlético Paranaense (Curitiba-PR)
                                            Guarani FC (Campinas-SP)
                                            EC Vitória (Salvador-BA)

1990   Sport (Recife-PE)                    São José EC (São José dos Campos-SP)
       Atlético Paranaense (Curitiba-PR)    AA Internacional (Limeira-SP)
       
1991   Paysandu SC (Belém-PA)               Grêmio FBPA (Porto Alegre-RS)
       Guarani FC (Campinas-SP)             EC Vitória (Salvador-BA) 
       
1992   Paraná Clube (Curitiba-PR)           none
       EC Vitória (Salvador-BA)
       Santa Cruz FC (Recife-PE)
       Criciúma EC (Criciúma-SC)             
       Coritiba FC (Curitiba-PR)
       Desportiva (Vitória-ES)
       Ceará SC (Fortaleza-CE)
       Fortaleza EC (Fortaleza-CE)
       Remo (Belém-PA)           
       União São João EC (Araras-SP) 
       Grêmio FBPA (Porto Alegre-RS)
       América FC (Belo Horizonte-MG)

(1) América (RJ) refused to play in the 1987 Yellow Module (second level)
    because of its fourth place in 1986. Because of this, they were invited
    to the first level in 1988.

The champions and runners-up in these years were:

Year  Champion                              Runner-Up

1987  Sport (Recife, PE) and 
      Guarani FC (Campinas, SP) [shared]
1988  AA Internacional (Limeira, SP)        Náutico (Recife, PE)
1989  CA Bragantino (Bragança Paulista, SP) São José EC (São José dos Campos, SP)
1990  Sport (Recife, PE)                    Atlético Paranaense (Curitiba, PR)
1991  Paysandu SC (Belém, PA)               Guarani FC (Campinas, SP)
1992  Paraná Clube (Curitiba, PR)           EC Vitória (Salvador, BA)

In 1993 CBF reorganized the lower divisions.  The first level had been
extended to 32 teams, and all other interested teams played qualifying 
tournaments to form the second and third divisions of 1994.  From 1994 
until now the divisional structure consists of three levels, with
promotion and relegation in all directions and participation to the
third level in principle open to any interested team.  In this period 
the promoted and relegated teams between first and second level were:

       Promoted                             Relegated

1993   none                                 América FC (Belo Horizonte-MG) (x)
                                            Atlético Paranaense (Curitiba-PR)
                                            Coritiba FC (Curitiba-PR)
                                            Desportiva (Vitória-ES)
                                            Ceará SC (Fortaleza-CE)
                                            Santa Cruz FC (Recife-PE)
                                            Goiás EC (Goiânia-GO)
                                            Fortaleza EC (Fortaleza-CE)

1994   EC Juventude (Caxias do Sul-RS)      Remo (Belém-PA)
       Goiás EC (Goiânia-GO)                Náutico (Recife-PE)
       
1995   Atlético Paranaense (Curitiba-PR)    Paysandu SC (Belém-PA)
       Coritiba FC (Curitiba-PR)            União São João EC (Araras-SP)
       
1996   União São João EC (Araras-SP)        Fluminense FC (Rio de Janeiro-RJ) (2)
       América FC (Natal-RN)                CA Bragantino (Bragança Paulista-SP) (2)
       
1997   América FC (Belo Horizonte-MG)       EC Bahia (Salvador-BA)
       AA Ponte Preta (Campinas-SP)         Criciúma EC (Criciúma-SC)
                                            Fluminense FC (Rio de Janeiro-RJ)
                                            União São João EC (Araras-SP)

1998   SE Gama (Gama, DF)                   Goiás EC (Goiânia, GO)
       Botafogo FC (Ribeirão Preto, SP)     América FC (Belo Horizonte, MG)
                                            CA Bragantino (Bragança Paulista, SP)
                                            América FC (Natal, RN)

(x) América-MG were suspended for two years (returning in second division in
    1996) because they fought their relegation in a civil court.
(2) Saved from relegation when CBF announced that due to a referee corruption
    scandal in 1996 there would be no relegation.
1999   Goiás EC (Goiânia, GO)               SE Gama (Gama, DF)    
       Santa Cruz FC (Recife, PE)           Paraná Clube (Curitiba, PR) 
                                            EC Juventude (Caxias do Sul, RS)  
                                            Botafogo FC (Ribeirão Preto, SP)
       
The champions and runners-up in these years were:

Year  Champion                              Runner-Up

1994  EC Juventude (Caxias do Sul, RS)      Goiás EC (Goiânia, GO)
1995  Atlético Paranaense (Curitiba, PR)    Coritiba FC (Curitiba, PR)
1996  União São João EC (Araras, SP)        América FC (Natal, RN)
1997  América FC (Belo Horizonte, MG)       AA Ponte Preta (Campinas, SP)
1998  SE Gama (Gama, DF)                    Botafogo FC (Ribeirão Preto, SP)
1999  Goiás EC (Goiânia, GO)                Santa Cruz FC (Recife, PE)    

In 1999, if only the points conquered "in the four lines" were considered,
Botafogo FR (from Rio de Janeiro) would be relegated. But in a polemical
judgement, Botafogo and Internacional (from Porto Alegre) won the points 
of his match against São Paulo, causing the relegation of Gama. After this,
Gama contest this judgement in a civil court and was successfully saved, 
relegating Internacional or Botafogo. Internacional, Botafogo and Clube dos 13
(the union of the biggest brazilian teams) didn´t accept it, starting a
succession of several new judgements. To solve this impasse, CBF delegated
the organization of the Brazilian Championship to the Clube dos 13, which
created the Copa João Havelange with 25 teams: Gama, Botafogo and Internacional
were not relegated, Juventude was also saved, the promotions of Goiás and Santa 
Cruz were mantained and Fluminense FC (Rio de Janeiro), EC Bahia (Salvador) 
and América FC (Belo Horizonte) were invited to dispute the main group (Blue
Module). For more informations, see the file of Copa João Havelange 2000. 
From the group equivalent to second level (Yellow Module), the three best
teams were qualified for the second stage of Copa João Havelange.
From 2000 to 2001, CBF organized new divisions based on the championships of
1999 (the last official one) and 2000 (Copa João Havelange) and on the political
strength of each team. In relation to the Blue Module of 2000, some teams can be
said as "promoted". No team was "relegated".
       Promoted (same year)                  Promoted (next year)
  
2000   Paraná Clube (Curitiba, PR)           Paraná Clube (Curitiba, PR)
       AD São Caetano (S.Caetano do Sul, SP) AD São Caetano (S.Caetano do Sul, SP)
       Clube do Remo (Belém, PA)	     Botafogo FC (Ribeirão Preto, SP)
Year  Champion                              Runner-Up

2000  Paraná Clube (Curitiba, PR)           AD São Caetano (S.Caetano do Sul, SP)
From 2001 on, the promoted and relegated teams were:
	Promoted			      Relegated

2001	Paysandu SC (Belém, PA)		      Santa Cruz FC (Recife, PE)
	Figueirense FC (Florianópolis, SC)    América FC (Belo Horizonte, MG)
					      Botafogo FC (Ribeirão Preto, SP)
                                              Sport (Recife, PE)

2002    Criciúma EC (Criciúma, SC)            A Portuguesa D (São Paulo, SP)
        Fortaleza EC (Fortaleza, CE)          SE Palmeiras (São Paulo, SP)
                                              SE Gama (Gama, DF)
                                              Botafogo FR (Rio de Janeiro, RJ)

2003    Palmeiras EC (São Paulo, SP)          EC Bahia (Salvador, BA)
        Botafogo FR (Rio de Janeiro, RJ)      Fortaleza EC (Fortaleza, CE) 
Year  Champion                              Runner-Up

2001  Paysandu SC (Belém, PA)               Figueirense FC (Florianópolis, SC)
2002  Criciúma EC (Criciúma, SC)            Fortaleza EC (Fortaleza, CE)
2003  Palmeiras EC (São Paulo, SP)          Botafogo FR (Rio de Janeiro, RJ)

Third Level

In the 1980 reorganization, the third level was inaugurated under the name
Taça de Bronze, with no promotion or relegation to the second level.
Between 1981 and 1986 no third level was played.  In 1987, CBF created the
Blue and White Modules, equivalent, respectively, to a southern and a
northern group of the third level.  No relegation took place.

The promoted teams were:

       Promoted                             
1980   none
1987   Americano FC (Campos, RJ)
       Operário FC (Campo Grande, MS)

The champions and runners-up in these years were:

Year  Champion                              Runner-Up

1980  Olaria AC (Rio de Janeiro, RJ)        AA Santo Amaro (Recife, PE) (3)
1987  Americano FC (Campos, RJ) (4)         Uberlândia EC (Uberlândia, MG) (4)
      Operário FC (Campo Grande, MS) (5)    Paysandu SC (Belém, PA) (5)

(3) AA Santo Amaro is today named Recife FC
(4) Champion and runner-up of Blue Module
(5) Champion and runner-up of White Module

From 1988 to 1992 the first level was renamed first division and CBF
alternated between having two small inferior divisions (second and third)
or one large one (second).  In this period the promoted and relegated
teams between second and third level were:

       Promoted                             Relegated
  
1988   União São João EC (Araras, SP)       EC Pelotas (Pelotas, RS) (6)
       Esportivo Passense (Passos, MG)      Uberlândia EC (Uberlândia, MG) (6)
                                            Rio Branco AC (Vitória, ES) (6)
                                            Treze FC (Campina Grande, PB) (6)
       
1990   Atlético CG (Goiânia, GO)            AA Anapolina (Anápolis, GO) (7)
       América FC (Belo Horizonte, MG)      Coritiba FC (Curitiba, PR) (7)
       Parana Clube (Curitiba, PR)          Americano FC (Campos, RJ) (7)
       América FC (Natal, RN)               Treze FC (Campina Grande, PB) (7) 

1992   none                                 none

(6) 1989 3rd level cancelled, all relegated teams were saved.
(7) 1991 3rd level cancelled, all relegated teams were saved.

The champions and runners-up in these years were:

Year  Champion                              Runner-Up

1988  União São João EC (Araras, SP)        Esportivo Passense (Passos, MG)
1990  Atlético CG (Goiânia, GO)             América FC (Belo Horizonte, MG)
1992  Tuna Luso (Belém, PA)                 Fluminense FC (Feira de Santana, BA)

In 1993 CBF reorganized the lower divisions.  The first level had been
extended to 32 teams, and all other interested teams played qualifying
tournaments to form the second and third divisions of 1994.  From 1994
until now the divisional structure consists of three levels, with
promotion and relegation in all directions and participation to the
third level in principle open to any interested team.  In this period
the promoted and relegated teams between second and third level were:

       Promoted                             Relegated

1994   GE Novorizontino (Novo Horizonte-SP) Fortaleza EC (Fortaleza-CE)
       Ferroviária (Araraquara-SP)          CE Tiradentes (Brasília-DF) (8)

1995   EC XV de Novembro (Piracicaba-SP)    AA Ponte Preta (Campinas-SP) (9A)
       Volta Redonda FC (Volta Redonda-RJ)  EC Democrata (Governador Valadares-MG)
       SE Gama (Gama-DF) (9B)               América FC (S.José do Rio Preto-SP)(9C)
       Atlético CG (Goiânia-GO) (9B)        Ferroviária (Araraquara-SP) (9C)
       Joinville EC (Joinville-SC) (9B)     GE Novorizontino (N.Horizonte-SP)(9C)
       ABC FC (Natal-RN) (9B)               Barra do Garças FC (B.do Garças-MT)(9D)
                                            Bangu AC (Rio de Janeiro-RJ)(9C)

1996   Vila Nova FC (Goiânia-GO)            Goiatuba EC (Goiatuba-GO) (10)
       Botafogo FC (Ribeirão Preto-SP)      CS Sergipe (Aracaju-SE) (10)
                                            Central SC (Caruaru-PE) (10)

1997   Sampaio Corrêa FC (São Luís-MA)      Mogi Mirim EC (Mogi Mirim-SP)
       CA Juventus (São Paulo-SP)           Moto Clube (São Luís-MA)
                                            CS Sergipe (Aracaju-SE)
                                            Central SC (Caruaru-PE)
                                            Goiatuba EC (Goiatuba-GO)

1998   Avaí FC (Florianópolis-SC)           Clube Náutico Capibaribe (Recife-PE)
       AD São Caetano (S.Caetano do Sul-SP) Volta Redonda FC (Volta Redonda-RJ)
                                            Americano FC (Campos-RJ)
                                            CA Juventus (São Paulo-SP)
                                            Atlético CG (Goiânia-GO)
                                            Fluminense FC (Rio de Janeiro-RJ)

(8) GE Tiradentes is today named Flamengo Tiradentes
(9) A - relegated then saved by withdrawal of other 2nd level teams
    B - not initially promoted, but replaced withdrawing teams
    C - withdrew from the competition due to financial problems
    D - expelled from the competition for pending debts with the federation
(10) Saved from relegation (see (2) in the 1st level relegation)

1999   Fluminense FC (Rio de Janeiro-RJ)    União São João EC (Araras, SP)
       São Raimundo EC (Manaus)  	    Criciúma EC (Criciúma, SC)
                                            Paysandu SC (Belém, PA)
                                            Tuna Luso (Belém, PA)   
                                            América FC (Natal, RN)
                                            Desportiva (Vitória, ES)

The champions and runners-up in these years were:

Year  Champion                              Runner-Up
1994  GE Novorizontino (N. Horizonte, SP)   Ferroviária (Araraquara, SP)
1995  EC XV de Novembro (Piracicaba, SP)    Volta Redonda FC (Volta Redonda, RJ)
1996  Vila Nova FC (Goiânia, GO)            Botafogo FC (Ribeirão Preto, SP)
1997  Sampaio Corrêa FC (São Luís, MA)      CA Juventus (São Paulo, SP)
1998  Avaí FC (Florianópolis, SC)           AD São Caetano (S.Caetano do Sul, SP)
1999  Fluminense FC (Rio de Janeiro, RJ)    São Raimundo EC (Manaus, AM)

In 2000, as consequence of the Gama x Botafogo/Internacional/Clube dos 13
question, CBF delegated the organization of the Brazilian Championship to 
the Clube dos 13, which created the Copa João Havelange with new lower groups.
Tuna Luso was alocated in the "third level" (Green and White Modules), the
relegation of the other five teams was cancelled, the promotion of São Raimundo
was mantained and Fluminense was "jumped" to the main group (Blue Module). Bahia
and América MG were also invited to join the Blue Module and other sixteen teams
were invited to play the Yellow Module. For more informations, see the Second
Level section of this file and the file of Copa João Havelange 2000. These
sixteen invited teams can be said, in some sense, as "promoted" from Third Level
of 1999:
       "Promoted" (Invited)
  
1999   América FC (Rio de Janeiro, RJ)
       Americano FC (Campos, RJ)
       AA Anapolina (Anápolis, GO)
       AD Bandeirante (Brasília, DF)
       Bangu FC (Rio de Janeiro, RJ)
       GE Brasil (Pelotas, RS)
       SER Caxias (Caxias do Sul, RS)
       CSA (Maceió, AL)
       Figueirense FC (Florianópolis, SC)
       Fortaleza EC (Fortaleza, CE)
       CN Marcílio Dias (Itajaí, SC)
       Nacional AC (Manaus, AM)
       Clube Náutico Capibaribe (Recife, PE)
       Ríver AC (Teresina, PI)
       GE Serra (Serra, ES)
       Villa Nova AC (Nova Lima, MG)
From the groups equivalent to third level (Green and White Modules), the best
team was qualified for the second stage of Copa João Havelange. From 2000 to 
2001, CBF organized new divisions based on the championships of 1999 (the last 
official one) and 2000 (Copa João Havelange) and on the political strength of 
each team. In relation to the Yellow Module of 2000, some teams can be said as
"promoted" and "relegated".
       Promoted (to 1st level, same year)     Promoted (to 2nd level, next year)
  
2000   Clube Malutrom (S.José dos Pinhais-PR) Clube Malutrom (S.José dos Pinhais-PR)
					      CS Sergipe (Aracaju, SE)
					      Tuna Luso Brasileira (Belém, PA)
       Relegated
  
2000   América FC (Rio de Janeiro, RJ)
       AD Bandeirante (Brasília, DF)
       Bangu FC (Rio de Janeiro, RJ)
       GE Brasil (Pelotas, RS)
       CSA (Maceió, AL)
       CN Marcílio Dias (Itajaí, SC)
       Ríver AC (Teresina, PI)
       Villa Nova AC (Nova Lima, MG)
The champion and runner-up were:

Year  Champion                               Runner-Up

2000  Clube Malutrom (S.José dos Pinhais-PR) Uberlândia EC (Uberlândia-MG)
From 2001 on, the promoted and relegated teams were:
	Promoted			      Relegated

2001	Etti Jundiaí FL (Jundiaí, SP) (*)     CS Sergipe (Aracaju, SE)
	Mogi-Mirim EC (Mogi-Mirim, SP)	      Tuna Luso Brasileira (Belém, PA)
	Guarany SC (Sobral, CE)  (11)         ABC FC (Natal, RN)
					      Nacional FC (Manaus, AM)
					      Desportiva FVRD (Vitória, ES)
					      GE Serra (Serra, ES)
                                              Clube Malutrom (São José dos Pinhais, PR)  (11)

2002    Brasiliense FC (Brasília, DF)         Americano FC (Campos, RJ)
        Marília AC (Marília, SP)              Botafogo FC (Ribeirão Preto, SP)
                                              Sampaio Corrêa FC (São Luís,  MA)
                                              Guarany SC (Sobral, CE)
                                              EC XV de Novembro (Piracicaba, SP)
                                              CA Bragantino (Bragança Paulista, SP)

2003    Ituano EC (Itu, SP)                   SE Gama (Gama, DF)
        EC Santo André (Santo André, SP)      União São João EC (Araras, SP)
(11) Malutrom withdrew from the 2002 competitions due to financial problems and 
was replaced by Guarany.
Year  Champion                               Runner-Up

2001  Etti Jundiaí FL (Jundiaí, SP) (*)      Mogi-Mirim EC (Mogi-Mirim, SP)
2002  Brasiliense FC (Brasília, DF)          Marília AC (Marília, SP)
2003  Ituano EC (Itu, SP)                    EC Santo André (Santo André, SP) 

(*) Etti Jundiaí FL was the former Paulista FC and is currently named Jundiaí FL.

Number of Teams in Each Level

Year     1st level           2nd level           3rd level
1971        20                 23                   -
1972        26                 23                   -
1973        40                  -                   -
1974        40                  -                   -
1975        42                  -                   -
1976        54                  -                   -
1977        62                  -                   -
1978        74                  -                   -
1979        96                  -                   -
1980        44 (a)              64 (a)              24 (b)
1981        44 (a)              36 (a)              -
1982        44 (a)              48 (a)              -
1983        44 (a)              24 (a)              -
1984        41 (a)              32 (a)              -
1985        44                  24                   -
1986        48 (a)              44 (a)              -
1987        18 (a)              15 (a) (c)          48 (d)
1988        24                  24                  44
1989        22                  96                  -
1990        20                  24                  30 (b)
1991        20                  64                  -
1992        20                  32                  31
1993        32                  -                   -
1994        24                  24 (b)              41 (b)
1995        24                  24                 106
1996        24                  25 (e)              59
1997        26 (f)              25                  64
1998        24                  24                  66
1999        22                  22                  36 (b)
2000        29 (a)(g)           36 (a)              53 (g)(h)
2001        28                  28		    65
2002        26                  26		    65
2003        24                  24                  TBD

(a) Including those teams that played the 1st phase in the 2nd level and
    were promoted to final phases of 1st level in the same year.
(b) Not including the teams that played only the regional qualifying
    tournaments.
(c) Originally 16, but reduced to 15 due to refuse of América (RJ). See (1)
    in 1st level relegation.
(d) 24 teams in Blue Module and 24 teams in White Module.
(e) Increased from 24 to 25 due to the return of América (MG), suspended
    three years earlier.
(f) Originally 24, but increased to 26 due to the cancellation of the
    relegations. See (2) in 1st level relegation.
(g) Including those teams that played the 1st phase in the 3rd level and
    were promoted to 1st level in the same year.
(h) 27 teams in Green Module and 26 teams in White Module.

About this document

Prepared and maintained by Ricardo Pontes and Marcelo Leme de Arruda for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation and RSSSF Brazil

Authors: Ricardo Pontes (yahoo.com) and Marcelo Leme de Arruda (mlarruda@terra.com.br)
Last updated: 18 Dec 2003

(C) Copyright Ricardo Pontes, Marcelo Leme de Arruda and RSSSF 1998/2003
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All rights reserved.