EC Campo Grande: A Traditional Name in Rio de Janeiro Football

Esporte Clube Campo Grande, commonly known as EC Campo Grande, is a Brazilian football club from the city of Rio de Janeiro. Founded in 1942, the club has a proud history deeply rooted in the lower divisions of the Campeonato Carioca, the state championship of Rio de Janeiro. While it never reached the heights of the city’s giants (Flamengo, Fluminense, Vasco, Botafogo), Campo Grande carved its identity as a resilient and competitive side.

The club’s most notable achievement came in 1982 when they won the Campeonato Carioca Second Division (Série B), earning promotion to the top flight of the state league. In the years that followed, EC Campo Grande played in the Campeonato Carioca Primeira Divisão, often fighting for survival against larger clubs. Their home matches are held at the Estádio Ítalo del Cima (also known as Campo Grande Atlético Clube’s ground, though the two clubs share a complex), with a capacity of around 18,000.

Honours and Legacy

• Campeonato Carioca Série B (Second Division): 1982
• Campeonato Carioca Série C (Third Division): 1999, 2005
• Taça Santos Dumont: 1994 (a secondary Rio cup)

Today, EC Campo Grande competes in the lower tiers of the Rio de Janeiro state football pyramid. Despite financial difficulties and a small fan base compared to the city’s giants, the club maintains a strong local following in the Campo Grande neighborhood. Its kit—traditionally red and white—is a familiar sight in Rio’s working-class suburbs. The club’s academy has produced a handful of players who later moved to bigger Brazilian clubs, underscoring its role as a talent incubator.