Nickname(s):Tricolor de Aço(The Steel Tricolour),Esquadrão de Aço(The Steel Squadron)
Founded:1931
Stadium:Arena Pantanal
Capacity:44,003
1931-1940
1940-1959
1959-1979
1979-1985
1985-1988
1988-1990
1990-2000
2000-2005
2005-2012
2012-2017
2017-Present
EC Bahia Crest History
The crest history of Esporte Clube Bahia is notable for its remarkable consistency. Since the club's foundation in 1931, almost every version has centred on the same three elements: a circular blue badge, the red-and-white flag of Bahia and the club's foundation year. While proportions, typography and additional symbols have changed, the fundamental identity has remained intact for nearly a century.
The original 1931–1940 crest already established the basis of Bahia's visual identity. A blue circular border carried the name “Sport Club Bahia” and the year 1931, while the centre contained a simplified representation of the flag of the state of Bahia. The combination of blue, red and white immediately established the colours that would define the club.
From 1940 to 1959, the central flag became more prominent and was depicted flying from a flagpole. The surrounding blue ring and club name remained, although the typography and proportions were adjusted. This version brought the emblem much closer to the structure recognisable in Bahia's modern crest.
The 1959–1979 design introduced a cleaner and more modern interpretation. The club's name appeared as “Esporte Clube Bahia”, reflecting its official Portuguese name, while the central flag was redrawn with clearer horizontal red-and-white bands and the distinctive blue canton containing the smaller state emblem. The year 1931 remained prominently positioned at the bottom.
Between 1979 and 1985, only relatively minor refinements were made. The circular blue border became heavier and the lettering was adjusted, while the central flag retained the same composition. By this stage, Bahia's crest had developed a visual structure that would remain largely unchanged thereafter.
A striking departure occurred between 1985 and 1988. The traditional badge was placed inside a large red circular field, with a much smaller blue central emblem containing the Bahia flag and the foundation year. It was one of the most unusual designs in the club's history and differed significantly from both earlier and later versions.
In 1988, Bahia returned to its traditional identity. The 1988–1990 crest restored the familiar blue circular badge, with the flag once again dominating the centre. The design featured cleaner outlines and a more balanced relationship between the lettering, outer rings and central symbol.
The 1990–2000 version continued this development, with a thicker blue outer ring and slightly larger central flag. The name Esporte Clube Bahia remained arranged around the circumference, while 1931 continued to anchor the lower part of the emblem.
From 2000 to 2005, the crest was accompanied by two gold stars. These represented Bahia's two recognised Brazilian national championships: the 1959 Taça Brasil and the 1988 Campeonato Brasileiro. The underlying badge itself remained strongly connected to the traditional circular design.
The 2005–2012 version removed the stars and refined the crest once again. Multiple blue circular outlines created a more detailed border, while the central flag and surrounding lettering were given cleaner proportions.
Between 2012 and 2017, the two gold championship stars returned above the crest. The badge itself was slightly simplified while maintaining the same fundamental elements: blue circular borders, the Bahia state flag, the club name and the year 1931.
The 2017–Present crest continues the same traditional identity. The circular badge has been given cleaner lines and more consistent typography, while two gold stars remain above it in recognition of the club's two Brazilian championship titles.
EC Bahia Club History
Esporte Clube Bahia was founded on 1 January 1931 in Salvador, Bahia, following the dissolution of the football departments of two local clubs, Associação Atlética da Bahia and Clube Bahiano de Tênis. Players from the former teams joined together to establish a new football club, adopting the colours blue, red and white and creating an identity closely connected to the state of Bahia.
Success came almost immediately. Bahia won the Campeonato Baiano in its first year, 1931, establishing itself as one of the leading clubs in the state. Over the following decades, the Tricolor de Aço became the dominant force in Bahian football, building an extensive collection of state championships and a large supporter base throughout Salvador and northeastern Brazil.
Bahia achieved national prominence in 1959, when it won the inaugural Taça Brasil, the competition created to determine Brazil's national champion and representative in the Copa Libertadores. Bahia defeated the legendary Santos of Pelé in the final, including a decisive victory at the Maracanã. The achievement made Bahia the first Brazilian national champion of the Taça Brasil era and the first club from outside the traditional southeastern power centres to capture the competition.
As a result, Bahia became Brazil's first representative in the Copa Libertadores, participating in the 1960 edition of the newly created South American competition. This gave the club an important place in the history of both Brazilian and continental football.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Bahia remained a dominant force in the Campeonato Baiano and a regular participant in national competition. The club developed a reputation for producing talented players while becoming one of the most strongly supported institutions in northeastern Brazil.
The club's second great national triumph arrived in 1988. Led by coach Evaristo de Macedo, Bahia produced an outstanding Campeonato Brasileiro campaign and reached the final against Internacional. Bahia won the first leg 2–1 in Salvador before drawing 0–0 in Porto Alegre, securing its second Brazilian championship. The title confirmed Bahia's status as one of the few northeastern clubs capable of competing successfully with Brazil's traditional national powers.
Bahia's two national championships – 1959 and 1988 – remain central to the club's identity and are represented by the two stars above its crest. They also distinguish Bahia as one of the historically most successful clubs from Brazil's Northeast.
The decades that followed brought greater instability. During the 1990s and 2000s, Bahia experienced relegations and periods outside the top division. One of the lowest points came when the club fell as far as Série C, although its enormous supporter base remained an important source of strength during the difficult period.
Bahia returned to Série B in 2007 and eventually regained its place in Série A in 2010. The recovery restored the club to the national stage, although subsequent seasons continued to include periods of promotion and relegation.
At state and regional level, Bahia remained highly successful. The club has accumulated dozens of Campeonato Baiano titles, making it one of the competition's most successful teams. It has also enjoyed major success in the Copa do Nordeste, reinforcing its position as one of the leading football institutions of northeastern Brazil.
Bahia's greatest rivalry is with Esporte Clube Vitória, the other major club from Salvador. Their derby is known as Ba-Vi and is one of the largest and most passionate rivalries in Brazilian football. The rivalry extends far beyond individual matches, traditionally dividing football support across Salvador and much of the state of Bahia. State championship finals and Copa do Nordeste encounters have added numerous important chapters to the rivalry.
