November 7 – Vasco da Gama will return to the Brazilian top flight next season after a 1-0 victory against Ituano with a first-half penalty goal from Nene.
Alongside champions Serie B champions Cruzeiro, runners-up Gremio and third-placed Bahia, the Rio club gained promotion to the Serie A on the very last day of the league with three points against the club once run by Juninho Paulista. In 38 matches in the Brazilian second division, Vasco won 17 times, drew eleven matches, and lost 10 times.
The club used no less than three coaches, with Jorginho taking the team across the finish line. He guaranteed that ‘Vasco won’t be relegated again’. Founded in 1898, Vasco is one of the most storied clubs in Brazilian history. They have won the Brazilian league four times and boasted Romario, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Dinamite and other greats in their ranks. After two seasons in Serie B, they are back in the big time.
The 1994 World Cup winner said: “You can be sure that next year will be different. We will have a structure, capacity, the SAF, and 777 which will invest heavily with the possibility of forming a great team to have stability during the year. What I was hoping for was to make the fans rejoice with our return to Serie A.”
Last year the American investment firm obtained a 70% stake in the Brazilian club. The Sao Januario outfit was valued at 1.7 billion reais ($333.1 million) and 777 Partners committed to assume 700 million reais ($137.16 million) in debt. 777 Partners also have stakes in Sevilla, Genoa and Standard Liege.
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