The club was founded on August 20, 1912, after a misunderstanding of a group of boys from Natação e Regatas Campista club.

They felt depreciated because a request to use a boat to travel at Paraíba River was denied by the club.

They then abandoned the practice of rowing and founded a football club at Otto Nogueira's house.

Goytacaz plays its home matches at Ary de Oliveira e Souza stadium, usually known as Arizão, which has a maximum capacity of 15,000 people.

The club's mascot is a Native American of the Goytacazes tribe, first inhabitants of the city, which are also the source of the club's name.