Esporte Clube Bahia

Brazilian football team.

Esporte Clube Bahia is a professional football club based in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Founded on January 1, 1931, Bahia is one of the most popular and successful clubs in the Northeast region of Brazil. The club's nickname is "Tricolor de Aço" (Steel Tricolor), and they play their home games at the Arena Fonte Nova, which has a capacity of 50,000 spectators. Bahia's traditional colors are blue, red, and white, which are prominently featured on their iconic striped shirts.

Bahia has a rich history in Brazilian football, having won the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (Brazilian national league) twice, in 1959 and 1988. Their first national title in 1959 was particularly significant as it made Bahia the first club from the Northeast to win a national championship, breaking the dominance of clubs from the South and Southeast regions. In addition to their national success, Bahia has been a dominant force in their state, winning the Campeonato Baiano (Bahia State Championship) a record 50 times.

The club has also tasted success in regional competitions, winning the Copa do Nordeste (Northeast Cup) four times in 2001, 2002, 2017, and 2021. On the continental stage, Bahia has participated in the Copa Libertadores three times, with their best performance coming in 1989 when they reached the quarter-finals.

Bahia's most famous period came in the late 1950s and early 1960s when they won their first national title and represented Brazil in the Copa Libertadores. The 1980s also saw a resurgence for the club, culminating in their second national title in 1988. However, like many Brazilian clubs, Bahia has faced periods of financial difficulty and inconsistent performances, including relegations to lower divisions.

The club's biggest rivalry is with Esporte Clube Vitória, another team from Salvador. Their matches, known as Ba-Vi, are among the most intense derbies in Brazilian football. Bahia also maintains rivalries with other major clubs from the Northeast region.