Criciúma

Criciúma Esporte Clube was founded on May 13, 1947, as Comerciário Esporte Clube; however the club folded due to a financial crisis in the 1960s. The club was refounded in 1976 by some of the original Comerciário Esporte Clube members. In 1978 the club was renamed as Criciúma Esporte Clube, and its current colors black, yellow and white were adopted in 1984. The present colors of Criciúma Esporte Clube are the reason the club is called Tigre (meaning Tiger).

The club's greatest feat was winning the 1991 Copa do Brasil under coach Felipe Scolari, later World Cup winner with Brazil, while being in the second division. The achievement qualified Criciúma for the following year's Copa Libertadores.

In the following years, the club was not very successful. After being promoted to Série A in 1992, the club played in the division for 5 years before getting relegated. In 2005, Criciúma, after a very poor campaign, was relegated to the Brazilian Série C. In 2006, Criciúma won the Série C, and was promoted back to the Série B.

After a period of crisis in the club, in 2012 the club regained forces, and after being in the first four places the entire championship returned to the Série A.