How the Most Beloved won the Penta
A promising start, a drop in performance, and a final surge: remember one of the greatest achievements in the history of Rubro-Negro
By Communication - Official Club Website - in
Twenty-two years ago, Flamengo drew 22-2 with Botafogo in the second leg of the 2 Brazilian Championship final. The result gave the Red-Blacks the title of five-time champions, boasting a team that wasn't among the favorites in the final stretch, but was packed with stars and promising names. The team balanced the experience of Gilmar, Gotardo, Uidemar, Zinho, and the great maestro Júnior with the talent of the then 1992 São Paulo Junior Cup Champions Djalminha, Marcelinho, Paulo Nunes, Júnior Baiano, and company.
The championship began in 1991, when Carlinhos, a former player and coach of the 1987 Brazilian champions, took over the reins of the red-and-black team. What was initially meant to be a temporary role became permanent, and Carlinhos was crowned Carioca Champion at the end of 1991. A few days after the victory, Flamengo began its campaign in that year's Brazilian Championship. Despite an excellent start, with three wins and two draws in five games, the team failed to establish itself. A series of injuries rocked the Red-and-Black team, which fell down the table in the following rounds, ultimately jeopardizing its qualification. That year, of the twenty clubs participating in the championship, only eight advanced to the semifinal stage. To reach that stage, Flamengo would need to secure 12 of the remaining 16 points.
After five wins, two draws, and one loss (a win was worth two points in that championship), the Red-Black team achieved exactly the 12 points needed in those eight matches and qualified in fourth place. The stigma of "you can't let Flamengo get there" proved true once again. Driven by the Biggest Fanbase in the World and the leadership of "Grandpa Boy" Júnior, the Red-Black team was relegated to a four-legged group stage in the next stage, where they would face some of the best teams in the championship, such as São Paulo, Santos, and Vasco.
Despite qualifying, Flamengo continued to be the target of criticism and doubts. To be champions, they needed to improve. In that quadrangular, only one team would qualify and then advance to the final. Flamengo went into the final game, against Santos, needing to win and hoping for a São Paulo defeat, which they did. Flamengo defeated Santos 3-1 at the Maracanã and was finally in the final of that year's Brazilian Championship.
Those players were definitely willing to face any club to become five-time champions. Besides all their talent, they had a great captain who kept the team going. Upon returning to Gávea, Júnior took on a new dimension in his career at Flamengo. Now in his sixties, the left-back who won the 1981 World Cup, he returned from his time in Italy as a midfielder. A free-kick taker, playmaker, and team organizer, Júnior assumed not only the champion's armband but also leadership on and off the field.
The opponent in those two final matches would be Botafogo, the favorite, who had a better record than Flamengo and, consequently, would have to play for two draws. Against all odds, and pushed by the largest crowd in the world, chanting "Go, go, go, Mengo, we'll be champions," that red-and-black squad showed its strength once again. Approximately 150 fans packed the Maracanã to watch a true Flamengo show. Only 35 minutes of play and an excellent performance by left-back Piá were needed for Júnior, Nélio, and Gaúcho, respectively, to score three goals. It was one of the greatest results in the history of a Brazilian Championship final. The difference and the football were so convincing that everyone declared them national champions there and then, in the first match.
The second leg of the finals confirmed what everyone already knew, and yet the "Mais Querido" (the most beloved team) surprised again. Júnior, with a stunning free kick, and Júlio César gave Flamengo a 2-0 lead. The equalizer, which came in the second half, didn't change the final score: Flamengo was the five-time Brazilian champion.
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Maestro Junior: "A more than special affection"
The championship began in 1991, when Carlinhos, a former player and coach of the 1987 Brazilian champions, took over the reins of the red-and-black team. What was initially meant to be a temporary role became permanent, and Carlinhos was crowned Carioca Champion at the end of 1991. A few days after the victory, Flamengo began its campaign in that year's Brazilian Championship. Despite an excellent start, with three wins and two draws in five games, the team failed to establish itself. A series of injuries rocked the Red-and-Black team, which fell down the table in the following rounds, ultimately jeopardizing its qualification. That year, of the twenty clubs participating in the championship, only eight advanced to the semifinal stage. To reach that stage, Flamengo would need to secure 12 of the remaining 16 points.
After five wins, two draws, and one loss (a win was worth two points in that championship), the Red-Black team achieved exactly the 12 points needed in those eight matches and qualified in fourth place. The stigma of "you can't let Flamengo get there" proved true once again. Driven by the Biggest Fanbase in the World and the leadership of "Grandpa Boy" Júnior, the Red-Black team was relegated to a four-legged group stage in the next stage, where they would face some of the best teams in the championship, such as São Paulo, Santos, and Vasco.
Despite qualifying, Flamengo continued to be the target of criticism and doubts. To be champions, they needed to improve. In that quadrangular, only one team would qualify and then advance to the final. Flamengo went into the final game, against Santos, needing to win and hoping for a São Paulo defeat, which they did. Flamengo defeated Santos 3-1 at the Maracanã and was finally in the final of that year's Brazilian Championship.
Those players were definitely willing to face any club to become five-time champions. Besides all their talent, they had a great captain who kept the team going. Upon returning to Gávea, Júnior took on a new dimension in his career at Flamengo. Now in his sixties, the left-back who won the 1981 World Cup, he returned from his time in Italy as a midfielder. A free-kick taker, playmaker, and team organizer, Júnior assumed not only the champion's armband but also leadership on and off the field.
The opponent in those two final matches would be Botafogo, the favorite, who had a better record than Flamengo and, consequently, would have to play for two draws. Against all odds, and pushed by the largest crowd in the world, chanting "Go, go, go, Mengo, we'll be champions," that red-and-black squad showed its strength once again. Approximately 150 fans packed the Maracanã to watch a true Flamengo show. Only 35 minutes of play and an excellent performance by left-back Piá were needed for Júnior, Nélio, and Gaúcho, respectively, to score three goals. It was one of the greatest results in the history of a Brazilian Championship final. The difference and the football were so convincing that everyone declared them national champions there and then, in the first match.
The second leg of the finals confirmed what everyone already knew, and yet the "Mais Querido" (the most beloved team) surprised again. Júnior, with a stunning free kick, and Júlio César gave Flamengo a 2-0 lead. The equalizer, which came in the second half, didn't change the final score: Flamengo was the five-time Brazilian champion.
Read also
Maestro Junior: "A more than special affection"