The club was founded on March 17, 1919, by Alírio Gandra, Victor Miranda and Gabriel João Collares with the intention to develop rowing in Itajaí city. The club's name was given after a suggestion by its first president, Ignácio Mascarenhas.[2]
In 1988, the club competed in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C for the first time, being eliminated in the third stage of the competition.[4] In the following year, Marcílio Dias competed in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, but was eliminated in the first stage of the competition.[5]
In 1995, Marcílio Dias competed again in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C,[6] and also competed in its first international competition, which was the Torneio Mercosul, reaching the semifinal stage of the competition.[7] In 1999, the club won the Campeonato Catarinense Second Level, after beating in the final a club from the same city, Itajaí.[8]
The club competed in the yellow module of Copa João Havelange in 2000, but was eliminated in the competition's first stage,[9] in 2001,[10] in 2003,[11] in 2005[12] and in 2006[13] Marcílio Dias competed in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, being eliminated in the first stage in those seasons. In 2007, Marcílio Dias won the Copa Santa Catarina, thus qualifying to the following year's Campeonato Brasileiro Série C[8] and the same season's Recopa Sul-Brasileira.[14] On December 8, 2007, the club beat Caxias 4–1, and won the Recopa Sul-Brasileira. Marcílio Dias' Luiz Ricardo, with five goals, was the competition's top goalscorer.[15]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
