Flamengo's junior coach teaches boys with videos of the world champion team

Eduardo Peixoto

GLOBOESPORTE.COM

Márcio Braga, Adílio and Moyses Saubel show off the dish they won in Malaysia

Learn from the best. The phrase, which sounds more like a bumper sticker, isn't new. But this is how Flamengo's junior players are introduced to soccer by coach Adílio.

The former player has been at Gávea for four years and has a very unique way of teaching: during training camps, he shows videos of historic games from the generation he was part of in the 80s.

When he returned to Flamengo, Adílio started out in the youth team. But he won titles and was quickly promoted to the higher division. The titles multiply year after year. He won three state titles, won the Rio-São Paulo Tournament, the BH Cup (equivalent to the Brazilian Championship in that category), and finally, a commendable third-place finish in the U-19 Club World Cup in Malaysia.

"Since I arrived at Flamengo, we've won everything. The titles are there for anyone to see."

Adílio, coach of Fla's juniors

Adílio thinks this is really cool. But nothing compares to the thrill of seeing his students succeed on the professional team.

"Seeing Rômulo and Thiago Sales being praised so highly makes me very happy. Receiving a call from them before games moves me and reassures me that I'm on the right track," the coach said in an interview with GLOBOESPORTE.COM at a steakhouse in Rio's South Zone.

A starter for Flamengo since Joel Santana arrived, midfielder Rômulo remembers well the lessons he received at the youth level.

"I don't have many idols in football, but one person I admire for his character is Adílio. I don't know anyone who doesn't like him. He shows videos that teach us how to be a winning team. That's why Flamengo's youth academy has reached this level," he says.

Check out Adílio's interview below:

GLOBOESPORTE.COM: For years, all anyone has been talking about is Fluminense's youth teams. However, Flamengo is the bogeyman in the youth divisions, for example. Is there a lack of judgment in this pro-Xerém analysis? Adílio: I have nothing to do with Xerém. They do a very good job. But since I arrived at Flamengo, we've been winning everything. The titles are there for anyone to see.

And why has Flamengo improved so much? Because I created an identification between the players and the club. I took that slogan "Flamengo makes cracks at home" and passed it on to the kids. I want to nurture talent so they can move up to the professional level with ease. The title is a consequence.

However, not all athletes who come up manage to "kick in" to the first professional team...\ But this ups and downs are part of it. They are juniors, they are at a learning age. Whenever a player returns to the youth academy, I try to talk to them and show that this is not a bad thing.\

Flamengo fans are always eager to see new stars emerge. Who's emerging from this new crop?

Tiago Sales and Rômulo came from the youth team. I always like to highlight the group. If they come up together, they'll succeed. I'm building a winning team of guys who are friends and have a good rapport on the field.

(Later, in an informal chat, Adílio highly praised defender Anderson, known as "Bamba", midfielder Eric Flores and forwards Kayke and Pedro Beda)

What's the first lesson you teach your players? This is Flamengo, a winning pedigree that demands success from its players. They have to command respect, otherwise their rivals will pounce on them.

And is there a specific way to show this winning Flamengo? I always show videos of our team's games from the 80s. I watch the World Cup final against Liverpool, the Brazilian final against Santos... And I have everyone watch the player in their position. I ask Vânder, for example, to watch how Zico would come back to score, how he would slide tackles. They grow up watching the best Flamengo that ever existed.

Is taking on a professional team in your plans?

I'm happy, very happy at Flamengo. But I know I'm ready to take over any team.