About

Esporte Clube Bahia is a professional football club from Salvador, Brazil, competing in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. Founded on 1 January 1931, the club traces its roots to that season and collectors often cite the club’s foundation year, 1931, as an important provenance marker for vintage shirts. Walkouts features signed shirts and framed pieces that tie the club’s history to tangible memorabilia, presented alongside clear provenance when available.

The club’s stadium story is central to its identity, having played at Estádio Fonte Nova for decades and returning to the rebuilt Arena Fonte Nova in 2013, which remains the side’s primary match venue and a focal point for match-worn memorabilia. Supporters remember national glory days and the archive includes pieces tied to the club’s most notable domestic honours, notably the club’s two Brasileirão titles, seasons that push demand for season shirts and winner variants.

On the continental stage Bahia’s best performance is a deep run in the Copa Libertadores, reaching the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals in 1989, a milestone that collectors reference when seeking shirts worn in international fixtures. The club also returned to international competition through Copa Sudamericana campaigns and is recognised in global metrics, being ranked 65 by IFFHS, which helps frame modern collector interest.

Anniversary releases after 1970 are particularly prized. Commemorative runs such as the club’s 80th and 90th year sets have produced limited crest variations and special packaging, and the 2023 SAF era adjustments created a new badge iteration for collectors. These anniversary shirts are valued for their distinct crests and short production runs, and they serve as cornerstone pieces for Bahia-focused collections.

Season and match magnets include the 1959 Taça Brasil campaign and the 1988 Brasileirão title season, each producing sought-after retail and player-issue shirts. Away garments linked to decisive fixtures are chased too, for example the club’s memorable blue away shirt used during the 1988 title run, a colourway that appears on specialist wish lists because of its association with decisive away wins and finals appearances.

Signed retail pieces are an important strand of the market, not only match-worn shirts. Fanshop releases, early retail runs, player-issue variants and region-specific editions all appear in the marketplace; collectors prize first-run retail shirts and authenticated signatures. For provenance we list COAs where supplied and note supplier eras such as Penalty, Adidas and Under Armour as helpful dating clues. The Ba-Vi derby provenance also elevates shirts worn or signed around local derbies.

For buyers who want definitive season links look for shirts tied to the 1959 Taça Brasil final against Santos and the decisive matches from the blue away shirt, 1988 Brasileirão winning run, both seasons that produce the most sought-after signed items. Walkouts closes its Bahia selection with clear provenance statements, and Free worldwide shipping.

Collector Highlights

Iconic home kits

  • 1959 White/Blue/Red Taça Brasil first national champions
  • 1988 White/Blue/Red Brasileirão title season
  • 2023 White/Blue/Red Copa do Nordeste modern trophy

Iconic away kits

  • 1988 Blue away title run
  • 2012 White Brasileirão solid campaign
  • 2023 White Nordestão away finals

Anniversary shirts

  • 2011 80 years commemorative crest
  • 2021 90 years anniversary set
  • 2023 SAF/CFG era badge update

Collector seasons

  • 1959 National title first in Brazil
  • 1988 Brasileirão champions golden era
  • 2023 Copa do Nordeste regional crown

Honours

Bahia’s silverware cabinet reflects sustained achievement across Brazil and the Northeast. The club holds 2 national championships, sealed in contrasting eras: in 1959 they overcame a famed Santos side to clinch Brazil’s inaugural national crown, and in 1988 they triumphed over Internacional to reclaim the summit. Regionally, Bahia dominate their state with 50 state titles, underscoring long-term superiority in the Campeonato Baiano. The club have also lifted the Copa do Nordeste five times, adding recent triumphs that reaffirm their stature in the Northeast, with the latest success arriving in 2025.

On the continental stage, Bahia have appeared in the Copa Libertadores four times, reaching the quarter-finals in 1989, and have returned regularly to international competition via the Copa Sudamericana since 2012, including participation as recently as 2021. In global benchmarking, the club are ranked 65th by the IFFHS, reflecting consistent competitive presence and historical pedigree within CONMEBOL football.

Legends & Leadership

Bobô and Charles were legend players of the late 1980s, combining cutting-edge attacking quality with title-winning decisiveness that defined the club’s golden run in that decade.

Beijoca emerged as a legend player in the 1970s, embodying Bahia’s competitive identity of that era, while Cláudio Adão added further firepower as a legend player in the 1980s with the savvy of an experienced forward.

Douglas Friedrich stood out as a recent key player in the late 2010s, providing assured goalkeeping presence during a period of renewed consistency at top-flight level.

Evaristo de Macedo is regarded as a legendary manager of the late 1980s, steering a side that captured national acclaim, while City Football Group became the club’s owner in the early 2020s, taking a majority stake to shape the modern SAF era.

Stadium

Bahia’s home identity is anchored at the Arena Fonte Nova, the rebuilt successor to the historic Estádio Fonte Nova. The original bowl, which accommodated 66,080 spectators, served from 1951 before a 2007 incident led to a temporary move to Estádio de Pituaçu. Reopened in 2013 as a modern venue prepared for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Arena Fonte Nova brought the club back to its spiritual home with upgraded facilities and improved matchday comfort.

Atmosphere peaks when Salvador unites for the city’s derby, the fierce Ba-Vi against Vitoria, where colour, noise and tradition fill the stands. Tricolour shirts, choreographed flags and the acoustics of the new structure combine to create an intense, partisan setting that has become synonymous with Bahia’s biggest domestic and regional fixtures.

Capacity
50025
Local derby
Ba-Vi Vitória Salvador derby

Authentication & Provenance

  • Verification 1959/1988 shirts rare
  • Suppliers Penalty/Adidas/Under Armour eras
  • Condition tricolor panels bleed

FAQ

Q: Which competitions does E.C. Bahia currently play in? A: The club competes in the Campeonato Baiano and Brazil's top flight, the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A.

Q: What are Bahia's standout honours? A: Bahia have two national titles, including a historic first Brazilian crown in 1959 and another in 1988, plus multiple regional successes such as the Copa do Nordeste, and a record number of state championships.

Q: Where do Bahia play and who are their main rivals? A: Home matches are staged at the modern Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador. The club's fiercest rivalry is with Vitoria, in the derby known as Ba-Vi.

Q: Who owns Bahia? A: The club's SAF has a majority shareholder in the City Football Group, which completed the acquisition of 90% of the shares in May 2023. For memorabilia, signatures are supplied with an appropriate Certificate or equivalent verification. Free worldwide shipping.