On May 5, 1970, a sports group met in a room located downtown and set up a professional football club called Goiatuba Esporte Clube, named after the city.

Before the club became professional, it participated in the inauguration of Estádio Divino Garcia Rosa, known as Divinão.

Sometime later, Goiatuba played its first professional match beating América of Morrinhos 1–0.

In 1992, the club won the state championship for the first time, beating Goiás, Vila Nova, and Atlético Goianiense in the final four.

Between 1994 and 1997, Goiatuba participated in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B. Goiatuba's home stadium is Estádio Divino Garcia Rosa, nicknamed Divinão, with a maximum capacity of 15,000 people.