How Flamengo won finals by overcoming star absences
Rubro-Negro overcame the lack of idols like Dida, Gérson, Romário and even Zico, just as the team needs to win today
By Communication - Official Club Website - in
Neymar's absence in the final stretch of the World Cup has been compared to Pelé's absence in the 1962 World Cup. On that occasion, number 20 Amarildo filled in very well for the team's greatest star player, and Brazil went on to win the World Cup twice. Flamengo has also faced the same situation several times in its history, winning titles even without its star player on the field.
In the early 1960s, Dida, a left midfielder, and Gérson, a right midfielder, were the two great players who made the difference at Mais Querido. In 1963, Flamengo would go eight years without winning the Campeonato Carioca. The Rubro-Negro started well, defeating Canto do Rio 2-0, with two goals from Canhotinha de Ouro, and in the second round, they beat Portuguesa 2-1, with goals from Gérson and Dida. In the third game, against Botafogo, Gérson was benched by coach Flávio Costa. Even without the two stars, Flamengo defeated Botafogo, when the Alvinegro was the base of the Brazilian national team with Jairzinho, Zagallo, and Nílton Santos, 3-1. Gérson only returned to the field a month and a half later, against Vasco, in the 8th round. Dida continued playing until midway through the second half of the season, when he was loaned to Portuguesa Paulista, seven rounds before the end of the Carioca. To be crowned champions, Flamengo needed to win at least six matches and draw one. Without their key players from the start of the season, the team excelled after a draw with Madureira and won the next six matches, including an epic 4-3 victory over Vasco, with a hat-trick from center forward Aírton 'Beleza'. In the final, a draw against Fluminense was enough for Flamengo to lift the trophy and end their eight-year drought. Thanks to saves from goalkeeper Marcial, Flamengo held on to a 0-0 draw with Fluminense and became the 1963 Carioca champions.
The greatest idol in the history of the Mais Querido also missed two titles for Flamengo. In 1979, two Campeonato Carioca championships were contested. Flamengo won the first, winning both rounds, as in 1978. The second state title in 1979 would represent the club's third three-peat in its history. This championship was played over three rounds. The first, which was worth the Guanabara Cup, was won by Flamengo. In the second, the Rubro-Negro reached two rounds from the end needing to beat Botafogo and Fluminense to be crowned champion, without the injured Zico, who had already scored 34 goals in that championship. Without the Galinho, the one who shone was Cláudio Adão, who scored both goals in the 2-1 comeback victory over Botafogo, with the winner in the 45th minute of the second half. In the Fla-Flu match, Tita was the standout, scoring in the 2rd minute of the second half, as Flamengo defeated Fluminense 43-1, winning the second round title. In the third round, Zico barely played, appearing in only two of the seven matches. Despite the absence of the team's greatest star, Flamengo also won the third round, with two goals from Tita in the decisive match against Vasco in the penultimate round, which the Rubro-Negro won 0-3. Flamengo was crowned state champion for the third time in its history.
In 1986, Flamengo debuted in the championship with a fantastic midfield, which included Zico, Andrade, Adílio, and Sócrates—not to mention the defense, formed by Leandro and Mozer. Flamengo's victory in the very first game, a 4-1 rout of Fluminense, with three goals from Zico and one from Bebeto, made it the favorite to win that year's state title. However, Zico, Sócrates, Leandro, and Mozer were called up to the Brazilian national team preparing for the World Cup in Mexico that year and did not play any more matches in that Guanabara Cup, which Vasco eventually won. Flamengo won the Rio Cup, which gave Flamengo the right to compete in the Carioca against Vasco. In the return leg, the "Mais Querido" won with a severely weakened squad: Zico played in only three of eleven matches; Leandro and Mozer each played two; Sócrates, injured, did not play a single game. In the finals against Vasco, Flamengo won the title, defeating their rival 2-0, even without Zico, Mozer, and Sócrates. Of the team's four biggest names, only Leandro played in the finals, serving as captain. The team's top scorer was Bebeto, just 22 years old, who scored 16 goals, including one in the final against Cruzmaltino.
Once again facing Vasco, Flamengo reached the 1999 State Championship final needing a win to be crowned champion. Romário, the championship's top scorer with 16 goals, was the Nação Rubro-Negra's main hope. But 19 minutes into the first half, the striker had to be replaced by Caio due to a thigh injury. The fans found relief in the 30th minute of the second half, when midfielder Rodrigo Mendes scored a 1-0 winner from a free kick, securing another Rio de Janeiro title. In the Mercosul Cup that same year, Flamengo again found itself without Romário, who only played in the first round and the quarterfinals, before being released by the club. Even without the top scorer, the "Mais Querido" defeated Uruguay's Peñarol in the semifinals and Palmeiras in the final. Three forwards scored the decisive goals in the last four matches: Lê, Caio, and Reinaldo. However, Romário, despite not playing the last four games, finished the competition as top scorer, with eight goals.
In the early 1960s, Dida, a left midfielder, and Gérson, a right midfielder, were the two great players who made the difference at Mais Querido. In 1963, Flamengo would go eight years without winning the Campeonato Carioca. The Rubro-Negro started well, defeating Canto do Rio 2-0, with two goals from Canhotinha de Ouro, and in the second round, they beat Portuguesa 2-1, with goals from Gérson and Dida. In the third game, against Botafogo, Gérson was benched by coach Flávio Costa. Even without the two stars, Flamengo defeated Botafogo, when the Alvinegro was the base of the Brazilian national team with Jairzinho, Zagallo, and Nílton Santos, 3-1. Gérson only returned to the field a month and a half later, against Vasco, in the 8th round. Dida continued playing until midway through the second half of the season, when he was loaned to Portuguesa Paulista, seven rounds before the end of the Carioca. To be crowned champions, Flamengo needed to win at least six matches and draw one. Without their key players from the start of the season, the team excelled after a draw with Madureira and won the next six matches, including an epic 4-3 victory over Vasco, with a hat-trick from center forward Aírton 'Beleza'. In the final, a draw against Fluminense was enough for Flamengo to lift the trophy and end their eight-year drought. Thanks to saves from goalkeeper Marcial, Flamengo held on to a 0-0 draw with Fluminense and became the 1963 Carioca champions.
The greatest idol in the history of the Mais Querido also missed two titles for Flamengo. In 1979, two Campeonato Carioca championships were contested. Flamengo won the first, winning both rounds, as in 1978. The second state title in 1979 would represent the club's third three-peat in its history. This championship was played over three rounds. The first, which was worth the Guanabara Cup, was won by Flamengo. In the second, the Rubro-Negro reached two rounds from the end needing to beat Botafogo and Fluminense to be crowned champion, without the injured Zico, who had already scored 34 goals in that championship. Without the Galinho, the one who shone was Cláudio Adão, who scored both goals in the 2-1 comeback victory over Botafogo, with the winner in the 45th minute of the second half. In the Fla-Flu match, Tita was the standout, scoring in the 2rd minute of the second half, as Flamengo defeated Fluminense 43-1, winning the second round title. In the third round, Zico barely played, appearing in only two of the seven matches. Despite the absence of the team's greatest star, Flamengo also won the third round, with two goals from Tita in the decisive match against Vasco in the penultimate round, which the Rubro-Negro won 0-3. Flamengo was crowned state champion for the third time in its history.
In 1986, Flamengo debuted in the championship with a fantastic midfield, which included Zico, Andrade, Adílio, and Sócrates—not to mention the defense, formed by Leandro and Mozer. Flamengo's victory in the very first game, a 4-1 rout of Fluminense, with three goals from Zico and one from Bebeto, made it the favorite to win that year's state title. However, Zico, Sócrates, Leandro, and Mozer were called up to the Brazilian national team preparing for the World Cup in Mexico that year and did not play any more matches in that Guanabara Cup, which Vasco eventually won. Flamengo won the Rio Cup, which gave Flamengo the right to compete in the Carioca against Vasco. In the return leg, the "Mais Querido" won with a severely weakened squad: Zico played in only three of eleven matches; Leandro and Mozer each played two; Sócrates, injured, did not play a single game. In the finals against Vasco, Flamengo won the title, defeating their rival 2-0, even without Zico, Mozer, and Sócrates. Of the team's four biggest names, only Leandro played in the finals, serving as captain. The team's top scorer was Bebeto, just 22 years old, who scored 16 goals, including one in the final against Cruzmaltino.
Once again facing Vasco, Flamengo reached the 1999 State Championship final needing a win to be crowned champion. Romário, the championship's top scorer with 16 goals, was the Nação Rubro-Negra's main hope. But 19 minutes into the first half, the striker had to be replaced by Caio due to a thigh injury. The fans found relief in the 30th minute of the second half, when midfielder Rodrigo Mendes scored a 1-0 winner from a free kick, securing another Rio de Janeiro title. In the Mercosul Cup that same year, Flamengo again found itself without Romário, who only played in the first round and the quarterfinals, before being released by the club. Even without the top scorer, the "Mais Querido" defeated Uruguay's Peñarol in the semifinals and Palmeiras in the final. Three forwards scored the decisive goals in the last four matches: Lê, Caio, and Reinaldo. However, Romário, despite not playing the last four games, finished the competition as top scorer, with eight goals.