Rio Branco Atlético Clube is a Brazilian professional football club from Vitória, Espírito Santo. Founded on 21 June 1913, it plays its home games at Estádio Kleber Andrade in Cariacica. Competes in the Campeonato Capixaba, the Espírito Santo state league, and in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série D.

Rio Branco holds the record for titles in Espírito Santo, with 38 state league titles and 1 Copa ES title. The club has participated in 13 editions of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.^[3]

The young students Antonio Miguez, José Batista Pavão and Edmundo Martins decided to found a team to play football, because they had been prevented from playing in other clubs of the city's financial elite. For this, other sports lovers were called and the meeting took place on June 21, 1913, at house number 37, on Rua 7 de Setembro, in downtown Vitória. The team was born, and since all the founders were between 14 and 16 years old, the name chosen was Juventude e Vigor (Youth and Vigor). The colors were initially green and yellow, in reference to Brazil. Shortly after, the boys matured and decided to change the name. The decision, at a meeting held on February 10, 1914, was quick: they chose to honor Chancellor José Maria da Silva Paranhos Júnior, known as the Baron of Rio Branco, who was responsible for the modernization of the country at the time. With that, the name was changed to Rio Branco Football Club.^[3][4] In May 1917, the colors were replaced by black and white, because the green and yellow were fading too much on the uniform. The new colors were suggested by player Gilberto Paixão, who was greatly admired by his teammates.^[3][5]

The team began competing in the Campeonato Capixaba in 1917, at the time known as the Campeonato da Cidade de Vitória. In its first participation, Rio Branco reached the final decision, losing the title to América FC. In 1918, the team had revenge against América in the final decision and won its first championship. Rio Branco would also be champion of the following edition in 1919 against Vitória FC.^[5]

In the 1920s, the capital's teams played on a field in Jucutuquara neighborhood, known as the Estádio do Zinco (Zinc Stadium), as it was surrounded by zinc sheets. In 1933, Vitória FC announced plans to build a stadium in the same space, but due to political force, Rio Branco won the battle and, between 1934 and 1936, built the Estádio Governador Bley, which was named after the interventor João Punaro Bley, who governed the state of Espírito Santo after the Revolution of 1930.^[5] This stadium was the scene of many achievements in the history of Rio Branco, such as the sixth state league titles between 1934–1939, the six titles in the 40s and four more in the 50s.^[3] In 1939, Rio Branco Football Club ended as an institution, but was “refounded” as Riobranquinho and, 16 months later, in 1941, adopted the name it still has today: Rio Branco Atlético Clube.^[5]

In 1972, Rio Branco sold the Estádio Governador Bley to the Federal Technical School.^[5] In 1983, Rio Branco built the Estádio Kleber Andrade, named in honor of the club's president, Kleber Andrade, the project's creator.^[6]

Rio Branco had a good campaign in the 1937 Torneio dos Campeões. The highlight of the campaign was a 4–3 victory over Fluminense. In August 2023, the CBF approved this competition as the first edition of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. Rio Branco was in third place, having the best position of a club from Espírito Santo in the Brazilian top division. Alcy Simões, the club's all-time top scorer with 213 goals, was in the squad at the time.^[7]

In 2024, Rio Branco became a Sociedade Anônima do Futebol (SAF). In its first year with the new management model, the club returned to being state champion after eight years, and returned to compete in national competitions.^[8]

Rio Branco play their home games at Estádio Kleber Andrade. The stadium has a maximum capacity of 21,152 people.

The biggest rival is Desportiva Ferroviária, which both make the state's largest derby known as the Giants Classic. Another rival is Vitória, with whom he has been doing the Vi–Rio classic since 1913.

Source: ^[3]

•   record

• Torneio Início do Espírito Santo (24): 1918, 1920, 1921, 1924, 1925, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1942, 1947, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1962, 1964, 1968, 1969, 1970

• Taça Cidade de Vitória (27): 1918, 1919, 1921, 1924, 1929, 1930, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1942, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1951, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971

• Campeonato Capixaba (16): 1917, 1927, 1928, 1940, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1988, 2002, 2009, 2020
• Copa ES (6): 2003, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2022, 2023

• Official website (in Portuguese)