Clube de Regatas do Flamengo

Foundation and first years (1895–1912)

Flamengo's shield, used when it was a rowing club exclusively.

The recently formed football team (wearing the squad jersey) before a match v. Paissandu in 1912.

Flamengo was founded on November 17, 1895, (although the club celebrates its birthday on November 15, a Brazilian national holiday) as a rowing club by José Agostinho Pereira da Cunha, Mário Spindola, Nestor de Barros, Augusto Lopes, José Félix da Cunha Meneses and Felisberto Laport.

The group used to gather at Café Lamas, in the Flamengo neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, and decided to form a rowing team. Rowing was the elite sport in Rio de Janeiro in the late 19th century. The young men hoped that forming a rowing club would make them popular with the young ladies of the city's high society.

They could only afford a used boat named "Pherusa", which had to be completely rebuilt before it could be used in competition. The team debuted on October 6, 1895, when they sailed off the Caju Point, from the Maria Angu beach, heading off to Flamengo beach. However, strong winds turned over the boat and the rowers nearly drowned. They were rescued by a fishing boat named Leal ("Loyal"). Afterwards, as the Pherusa was undergoing repairs, the boat was stolen and never again found. The group then had to save up money to buy a new boat, the "Etoile", renamed "Scyra".

The Flamengo team of 1914, when the club won its first Carioca championship.

On the night of November 17, the group, gathered at Nestor de Barros's manor on Flamengo beach, founded the Flamengo Rowing Group ("Grupo de Regatas do Flamengo", in Portuguese) and elected its first board and president (Domingos Marques de Azevedo). The name was changed a few weeks later to "Clube de Regatas do Flamengo" ("Flamengo Rowing Club"). The founders also decided that the anniversary of the club foundation should be celebrated on November 15, so as to coincide with the Day of the Republic, a national holiday.

Flamengo only embraced football when a group of dissatisfied players from Fluminense Football Club broke away from that club following a dispute with its board.^[9] The players (Alberto Borgerth, Othon de Figueiredo Baena, Píndaro de Carvalho Rodrigues, Emmanuel Augusto Nery, Ernesto Amarante, Armando de Almeida, Orlando Sampaio Matos, Gustavo Adolpho de Carvalho, Lawrence Andrews and Arnaldo Machado Guimarães) decided to join Flamengo because Borgerth, the team's captain, was also a rower for Flamengo. Admittance of the new members was approved on November 8, 1911. A motion against the club taking part in football tournaments was defeated, and the members assembly officially created the football team on December 24, 1911.

The new team used to train on Russel beach, and gradually gained the support of the locals, who closely watched their practice games. The first official match was played on May 3, 1912, and is, to this day, the most spectacular victory of the club, as the team defeated Mangueira 16-2. The first intracity rivalry, the Flamengo vs. Fluminense aka Fla-Flu was also played in that year on July 7 and was won by Fluminense, by 3–2.

From the first match to the end of amateur era (1912–1933)

Flamengo´s team, 1933. National Archives of Brazil.

The first training sessions were held at Praia do Russell and on May 3, 1912, the club was already affiliated to the Liga Metropolitana de Desportos Terrestres (Metropolitan League of Land Sports), the club had its first match. It was at América (RJ)'s stadium and Flamengo beat Mangueira by 16–2, with Belfort Duarte as the referee. The lineup for that historic match was: Baena, Pindar, Nery, Coriol, Gilberto, Galo, Baiano, Arnaldo, Amarante, Gustavo and Borgerth.^[10]

Already in 1912, Flamengo finished as runners-up at the Campeonato Carioca, the Rio de Janeiro State Championship. The first uniform, at that time, was called "papagaio vintém", due to the similarity with a certain type of kite called by the same name. In 1914, the club won the Campeonato Carioca for the first time adopting the striped shirt in white, red and black colors nicknamed "cobra coral" (coral snake), as reminded the snake's skin, and which only lasted until 1916. Flamengo won the Campeonato Carioca once again in 1915, 1920 and 1921.

In 1925, the club won Campeonato Carioca and five other different tournaments with the football team, a record until then. In 1927, Flamengo was voted "most beloved club in Brazil" after winning Vasco da Gama at Salutaris Cup, a contest held by Jornal do Brasil, one of the most important newspapers in Brazil. In 1933 the team made its first tour outside Brazil and on 14 May of the same year made its last game as an amateur team, winning River by 16–2. Since then the club's football department became professional.

Beginning of the professional era (1934–1955)

Flamengo´s team, 1934. National Archives of Brazil.

With the election of President José Bastos Padilha in 1934, the club was able to improve its social issues and grew in popularity. In 1936, great players like Domingos da Guia and Leônidas da Silva (who would become the first leading goalscorer in the 1938 FIFA World Cup as a Flamengo player) came to the club. 1937 was a year with plenty of arrivals for the Flamengo football team, with the signing of Hungarian coach Izidor "Dori" Kürschner, who implemented a new game plan known as WM, and training without a ball. Another innovation was the inclusion of the second uniform in order to facilitate the vision of the players in night games since the lighting was not ideal. In the same year came the unification of the Carioca championship with the newly-created Carioca Football League, and every club had already began their professionalisation. In 1939, after 12 years without winning any titles, Flamengo came back to win the state championship with a team that would become the basis of the three-time state championship winners in the 40s.

In 1941, the group played its first international competition, the Hexagonal Tournament of Argentina. In 1942, the first organised supporters group of Brazil, Charanga Rubro-Negra, was founded, and in 1944, Flamengo won their first three consecutive Rio de Janeiro State Leagues (winning the 1942,1943 and 1944 titles). The main event in 1946 was Zizinho's injury (broken leg), one of Brazilian football's main superstars of that era and home-grown at Flamengo, was sidelined for six months, a huge loss for the club at that time. Zizinho went to Bangu in 1950, which was considered one of the worst deals in Flamengo's history. In 1953/54/55, once again, Flamengo won the Rio de Janeiro State League three consecutive times.

Golden years on the eve of glory (1956–1973)

Despite the lack of achievements of this period, Flamengo kept growing regionally, especially as the club had in its cast players like Dida, Carlinhos, Paulo Cézar Caju, Gérson, Antônio Rondinelli, Horácio Doval, Fio Maravilha, Evaristo de Macedo, Francisco Reyes, among others who strengthened the teams assembled in the period.^[11]

In 1961, the team became champion of the Rio-São Paulo Tournament, which at the time assembled the best teams in Brazil. In late 1968, Garrincha was signed and began to play for Flamengo, but the expectation that he could play for the entire season failed. He made his last appearance for Flamengo on April 12, 1969, with 20 appearances and 4 goals.^[12]

The greatest legacy of the club in the 1970s was the fantastic generation of youth players to graduate from the youth ranks, many of whom went on to form the backbone of the Golden Age teams. During that time players like Zico, Júnior, Leandro and others who were just as important, were promoted to the club's professional team. In 1970, the club won its first Guanabara Cup (1st round of the state tournament). In the first half of 1971, Flamengo's situation was not good under the command of Yustrich, having only won 8 of 28 matches. In 1972 Flamengo won the Guanabara Cup and Campeonato Carioca.

The Zico era in the golden age (1974–1983)

Zico played for Flamengo in 1971–83 and 1985–89, achieving a large number of records with the club.

In 1978, a scarlet-black golden age began when Flamengo won the Rio de Janeiro State Championship. The five following years would be years of glory. Stars such as Júnior, Carpegiani, Adílio, Cláudio Adão and Tita were led by Zico to become State Champions three times in a row. The level of sustained excellence pushed Flamengo towards its first Brazilian Championship in 1980. Then, as national champions, the club qualified to play the South American continental tournament – the Libertadores Cup.

1981 is a benchmark year in Flamengo's history.^[13] After beating Chilean Cobreloa in three matches, the club became South American Champions. The next goal was clear: the Intercontinental Cup, a single match to be played in Tokyo's Olympic Stadium, Japan, against European Champions' Cup winner Liverpool FC.

On December 13, 1981, Raul, Leandro, Marinho, Mozer, Júnior, Andrade, Adílio, Zico, Tita, Nunes and Lico took the field for the most important match in the club's history. Two goals by Nunes and another one by Adílio (all during first half) along with a brilliant performance by Zico were more than enough to crown Flamengo the first Brazilian World Champions club since Pelé's Santos, shutting out Liverpool 3–0.^[14]

The next two years would also be great. Another Rio's State Championship in 1981 and two Brazilian Championships – 1982 and 1983 – closed the Golden Age in a fantastic way.^[15]

Departure and the return of Zico (1984–1994)

Two years later, Zico returned to the club in 1986 and won its last state championship. This year he participated in a few games, since a game in 1985 against the State he was the victim of a violent player input Márcio Nunes, running out of play for a long time due to the long period of recovery from surgery. However, in the opening match of the following State, scored three of the four goals in Flamengo's 4–1 victory over Fluminense.

In 1987, was a major contributor to the achievement of the first edition of the Copa União (called by the Brazilian Football Confederation green module), considered at the time by much of the press and at the 13 Club as the national tetracampeonato Flamengo . highlights are the victories in the semi-finals matches against oea final against, which was won with a goal from Bebeto. the Club of 13, and consequently the Flemish and international, have not accepted the intersection established by the CBF between the first two modules of green and yellow, losing their games by forfeit the CBF then officiated as the Brazilian champion and 1987 runner-up that year. on February 21, 2011, by Resolution No. 02/2011 presidency of CBF, officiated as Brazilian champion Flamengo 1987 Sport side of the door. However, in June 2011, had to withdraw following the decision of the Court of the 10th Federal Court of First Instance of the Judicial Section of Pernambuco, returning to the Sport acknowledge as the only Brazilian champion of professional football in 1987 on June 28, 2012, in manual, CBF recognized the title of the Brazilian Flamengo 1987. Then she backtracked and said that in the manual, there was a "huge mistake" which she sent to an outdated graphical material where Flamengo was considered champion 1987 side of the Sport. On April 8, 2014 the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) confirmed Sport as the only Brazilian champion Flamengo in 1987 after contesting the decision in the lower court. The entity recognizes Sport Recife as champion of 1987, although it understands that the recognition of the title of national champion of 1987 also to Flamengo would not go against the limits of the decision of the justice, with CBF demonstrating thus that it did not agree with The judicial decision only for the obligation to comply with the order stipulated by the STJ, because according to CBF, both were considered champions.

Throughout his career at Flamengo, Zico scored 508 goals and was the top scorer in club history.^[16] In 1990, before a packed Maracanã, Zico would make his farewell match with Flamengo.

Even without its biggest star, the early years of the post-Zico era have been successful for Flamengo. The first national victory was the second edition of the Brazil Cup in 1990 against Goiás in the finals. Between the end of 1990 and throughout 1991 Flamengo, now led by Júnior, won five matches in a row against the Vasco da Gama, and winning the 1991 State championship.

The year 1992, was marked by winning another national title, beating Botafogo in the final of the Championship that year, which had the first game won by Flamengo a 3–0 and the second ta 2-2 draw. The team highlight player was again Júnior, with 38 years old.

Centennial and the risk of relegation (1995–2005)

After the Brazilian League title in 1992, the club started to face a major financial crisis and the achievements in domestic e and international competitions have become less frequent, although in general the team continued to win some regional championships on a regular basis, one of the few Brazilian clubs who have never suffered a considerable title drought. In 1995, the year of its centenary, the radio sports broadcaster Kléber Leite became chairman of the club and signed striker Romário, then the world's best player, who was on Barcelona.^[17] He joined Sávio and later Edmundo to become, as the supporters called, "the attack of dreams".^[18] Even with Romário (who battled against Túlio this year and Renato Gaúcho the "title" King of Rio) and other superstars, the centennial year was not victorious. Flamengo only won the Taça Guanabara, the first phase of the Rio de Janeiro State League, and lost the tournament in the finals against Fluminense.^[19] The supporters of rivals club started mocking the attacking trio as "the attack of nightmare".^[20]

In 1996, Flamengo was unbeaten in the Rio de Janeiro State League, conquering the Taça Guanabara and Taça Rio and winning the tournament in advance. Romário was the top scorer of the tournament. Sávio and the highlight player in the Copa de Oro campaign, Flamengo won the cup after many years without international success. This was the third official international title of Flamengo.^[21]

In 1999, Edmundo dos Santos Silva was elected the club president, and with it came a millionaire contract with sports marketing company ISL.^[22] Despite bad campaigns in the Brazilian League, Flamengo won the 1999 Copa Mercosur, the South America second tier cup, and continued to be successful at regional level, winning the triple state championship (1999-2000-2001) and Copa dos Campeões in 2001. Also in 2001, the Flamengo avoided being relegated to Brazilian Série B in winning against Palmeiras the final match of the tournament^[23] and began a series of bad campaigns in the National League in the following years.

ISL went bankrupt in 2002, for reasons unrelated to the contract with Flamengo, and the club was left without its millionaire partner. No money to keep the great team assembled, has begun a bad phase in red and black football. In the same year, Edmundo Santos Silva was removed from the presidency accused, among other things, administrative impropriety, in a very troubled and controversial vote (there are reports that there was no quorum in the Statute of the Club). Until today, it was proven the veracity of these allegations unless the evasion of taxes, which were assumed by the former president. No money for big signings, Flamengo failed to form competitive teams and narrowly missed demoted in Brazilian championship in 2002, 2004 and 2005.

In 2003, and 2004, yet managed to reach the final of the Brazil Cup. In the first year, lost to Cruzeiro The second time, lost to Santo André.

In 2004, Flamengo won their 28th state title, over rivals Vasco da Gama. In 2005, Flamengo had one of the worst years in its history. Earlier this year they did not win the Cup International Finta, while in the Brazilian Championship, fought until later rounds to escape relegation, which was achieved only after the arrival of coach Joel Santana, when the team managed six wins and three draws in nine games played under his command, thus preventing the relegation to the Second Division in 2006.

The beginning of a new era and the Hexacampeonato (2006–2013)

Adriano celebrating a goal for Flamengo in 2009, he finished the league with 19 goals scored.

On March 9, 2007, Flamengo earned a commemorative date in Rio de Janeiro state's official calendar. On that day, State Governor Sérgio Cabral Filho signed Law 4998, declaring November 17 (the day the club was founded) "Flamengo Day".

In the 2007 Brazilian Football Championship, Flamengo won many games at home, leaving the relegation zone and reaching the second place and then being defeated the last match in Recife, Pernambuco by Náutico 1–0. After this match, Flamengo finished the League in third place, climbing from second worst to third best.

Flamengo started 2008, by winning the Rio de Janeiro State Championship over archrival Botafogo. However a couple of days later, in the Round of 16 of the Libertadores Cup, the team was beaten at home by Club América from Mexico 0–3 meaning they were eliminated 4–5 on aggregate.

In the 2009, season after finishing the 1st half of the Brazilian League in 10th place, Flamengo won the Brazilian Série A. With this victory Flamengo became a six-time Brazilian League Champion.^[24]

Gávea Stadium

Main article: Estádio da Gávea

Estádio da Gávea

Flamengo's home stadium is nominally the Estádio José Bastos Padilha (commonly known as Estádio da Gávea), which was inaugurated on September 4, 1938, and has a capacity for 4,000 people. The stadium is named after José Bastos Padilha, Flamengo's president at the time of the stadium's construction. He was president from 1933 to 1937. However, Flamengo does not play first team matches any more at Estádio da Gávea. Since the 1990s, the stadium is now used almost exclusively for the club's youth and women's teams matches, and also sometimes as the first team's training ground. Most first team games are played at the Maracanã Stadium, considered by supporters as the real Flamengo home ground.^[26] During the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the Dutch National Team used the Estádio da Gávea and all of its facilities as their training ground in preparation for the competition.^[27]

Maracanã

Inside view of Maracanã

The Maracanã Stadium was vital in the incredible 2007 Brazilian Série A Flamengo comeback, with the team winning almost all the matches played in the stadium. These victories helped the club rise from the relegation zone to finish in third place, securing a place in the 2008 Copa Libertadores. The stadium held the 2007 Brazilian Série A attendance records, with 87,895 fans against Atlético Paranaense and an average attendance of 44,719 fans per match, which was ahead of all of the other teams in the Brazilian Série A that year. In 2008, Flamengo was once again the leader of Brazilian Série A average attendance with 43.731 fans per match.^[28] The club also had the biggest attendance of the season with 81.317 fans in the 0–3 loss to Atlético Mineiro on October 11, 2008.^[29]

Ilha do Urubu

In 2017, Flamengo played at Ilha do Urubu, where they renovated the facility to fit 20,500 spectators. Flamengo started playing at the Arena in March.^[30]

Rivalries

First team squad

As of August 13, 2018^[54]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Diego Alves 2 DF Rodinei 4 DF Juan (vice-captain) 5 MF Willian Arão 6 DF Renê 7 MF Éverton Ribeiro 8 MF Gustavo Cuéllar 10 MF Diego (3rd captain) 11 MF Lucas Paquetá 13 DF Miguel Trauco 14 FW Vitinho 15 DF Réver (captain) 16 MF Ronaldo 17 FW Marlos Moreno (on loan from Manchester City) 18 MF Jean Lucas 19 FW Henrique Dourado

No. Position Player 20 FW Fernando Uribe 21 DF Pará 22 MF Matheus Sávio 23 FW Geuvânio (on loan from Tianjin Quanjian F.C.) 25 MF Robert Piris Da Motta 26 DF Matheus Thuler 27 MF Rômulo 28 FW Orlando Berrío 29 FW Lincoln 30 GK Thiago 37 GK César 43 DF Léo Duarte 44 DF Rhodolfo 45 GK Gabriel Batista DF Kléber

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player GK Alex Muralha (on loan to Albirex Niigata) DF Bernardo (on loan to Ferroviária) DF Léo (on loan to Fluminense) DF Moraes (on loan to Atlético Goianiense) DF Rafael Vaz (on loan to Universidad de Chile)

No. Position Player MF Jajá (on loan to Kalmar) MF Matheus Trindade (on loan to Atlético Goianiense) MF Pepê (on loan to Portimonense) FW Gabriel (on loan to Sport) FW Nixon (on loan to Kalmar)

Other Flamengo players with first-team appearances

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 40 MF Thiago Santos 52 DF Patrick 53 FW Lucas Silva 54 FW Vitor Gabriel 55 DF Matheus Dantas 57 MF Pepê 58 DF Rafael Santos 59 DF Michael – GK Hugo Souza

No. Position Player – GK Yago Darub – DF Pablo Maldini – DF Ramon – DF Thiago Ennes – MF Hugo Moura – FW Gabriel Silva – FW Loran – FW Wendel

For recent transfers, see List of Flamengo transfers 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Retired numbers

12 – Club Supporters (the 12th Man) – Number dedicated to the rubro-negro fans ^{(*) (**)}.

^(*) In spite of having its number "12" retired, Flamengo has to re-issue it for CONMEBOL competitions such as Copa Libertadores, where rosters must be numbered from 1 to 30 consecutively.^[55]

South American competitions

• Copa Libertadores^[56]

Winners: 1981

• Copa Sudamericana^[57]

Runners-up: 2017

• Supercopa Sudamericana^[58]

Runners-up (2): 1993, 1995

• Copa Mercosur^[59]

Winners: 1999

Runners-up: 2001

• Copa de Oro^[60]

Winners: 1996

Worldwide competitions

• Intercontinental Cup^[61]

Winners: 1981

Domestic competitions

Women's Competitions

• Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino:
  • Winners: 2016
• Campeonato Carioca de Futebol Feminino:

Winners (2): 2015, 2016

Average attendances per season

Average attendances at Maracanã including friendly matches and other competitions.^[67][68]

Supporters celebrating a goal

(*) Information not available.

• ¹ In 2004 Flamengo played its home games at Estádio Raulino de Oliveira.
• ² In 2005 Flamengo played its home games at Estádio Luso-Brasileiro.
• ³ In 2010 Flamengo played its home games at Estádio do Maracanã, Estádio Raulino de Oliveira and Estádio Olímpico João Havelange.
• ⁴ Includes Série A average attendances only.

Average attendances at Brazilian League

Regularly thousands of supporters show the strength of the scarlet-black nation, having the biggest number of highest average attendances per season between all the Brazilian clubs. Out of 38 editions of the Brasileirão, Flamengo held the average attendance record on 12 occasions. Atlético Mineiro are the closest followers, having the biggest average attendances nine times. From 1971 to 2006, Flamengo took an average 25.989 supporters per match to the Maracanã. Strong campaigns in the Copa Libertadores and a national championship title in 2009 brought crowds averaging 40,000 per season, but the temporary closing of the Maracanã due to the 2014 FIFA World Cup forced the club to hold matches in smaller stadiums and even outside the state of Rio de Janeiro, bringing the average attendance down between the years of 2010 and 2012. A modernized but smaller Maracanã, more expensive tickets, disagreements between the club and administrators of the venue, and lackluster league campaigns brought crowds of around 30,000 in the 2013 and 2014 seasons, although multiple sellouts were observed.

Technical staff

As of May 23, 2018.^[75]

Position	Name
Head coach	Dorival Júnior
Assistant coach	Maurício Souza
Goalkeeping coaches	Rogério Maia
	José Jober
Fitness coaches	Gustavo Araújo
	Fábio Eiras
	Roberto Oliveira Junior
Medical staff manager	Marcio Tannure
Doctors	João Marcelo
	Gustavo Caldeira
	Luiz Claudio Baldi
	Serafim Borges
Physiologist	Alberto Filgueiras
Physiotherapists	Mario Peixoto
	Walteriano da Silva
	Fred Manhães
General manager	Carlos Noval
Supervisors	Sérgio Helt
	Marcio Santos

Management

As of October 29, 2015^[76]

Presidents

Below is the presidential history of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo.^[77] The club had dozens of presidents, with variable permanence time. From 1895 to 1932, the terms lasted one year, from 1933 to 1956 two years, from 1957 to 1968 three years, from 1969 to 2000 was again two years and starting from 2001 again three years.

Honors

Noted athletes

• Artistic Gymnastics
  • Daniele Hypólito
  • Diego Hypólito (World Champion : 2005, 2007), (Olympic silver medalist: 2016)
  • Flávia Saraiva
  • Jade Barbosa
  • Luiza Parente
  • Luzia Lopes Pessoa
  • Marco Monteiro
  • Rebeca Andrade
  • Victor Rosa
• Athletics
  • Erica Lopes "Gazela Negra" (The Black Gazelle)
  • José Telles da Conceição – (High Jump Olympic bronze medalist: 1952)
  • Ulisses Malagutti
• Basketball

• Swimming
  • Armando Coelho de Freitas
  • César Cielo Filho
  • Eliana Motta
  • Eliete Motta
  • Fernando Carsalade
  • Fernando Scherer (Olympics medalist, Bronze; 50m freestyle- Atlanta 1996; 4 × 100 meters relay -Sydney 2000)
  • Inge de Bruijn
  • Maria Lenk
  • Patrícia Amorim
  • Ricardo Prado – (400m Medley – World Champion, Ecuador 1982 ;Olympics medalist, Silver, Los Angeles 1984)
  • Rômulo Arantes
  • Rômulo Arantes Filho

Noted coaches

• Volleyball (women)
  • Isabel Salgado
• Rowing
  • Guilherme Augusto Silva "Buck"