Rio de Janeiro's Rubro-Negro has the same number of titles as Botafogo, Fluminense and Vasco combined

Fred Gomes\ Guilherme de Paula\

Lancets

Flamengo fans have plenty of reasons to have a very merry Christmas. After all, the club enjoyed a sensational comeback in the Brazilian Championship and earned a spot in the 2008 Copa Libertadores. But there's another reason for the nation to celebrate this holiday season: since the turn of the century, the Rubro-Negro has won five titles, the same number as its three rivals combined.

If in this period the Gávea club won two national titles – the Champions Cup (2001) and the Copa do Brasil (2006) –, the triumph marked by greater drama and which has a very special place in the heart of the red-black nation is the 2001 state title.

It was obtained after a masterful shot by Petkovic, in the 43rd minute of the second half, which guaranteed Flamengo's 3-1 victory over Vasco.

On vacation in Nis, Serbia, Pet recalled the legendary goal to LANCE!, classifying it as the most memorable moment of his career.

"It was the most wonderful moment of my career. I'm proud to have made history at Flamengo and to have had the best fans. It's incredible," the Serbian enthuses.

The peculiarities of that championship were highlighted by the number 10 in the 2001 victory:

"These are things that only happen once. Flamengo was beset by internal strife and was in dire financial straits. We forgot everything, played for the fans, and beat an opponent who was the favorite and had the advantage of losing by one goal. It was wonderful."

Also decisive in the Champions Cup for having scored a very similar goal in the final against São Paulo, Pet guarantees that he never wanted to leave Fla, something that happened in 2002.

"I didn't want to leave, but ISL, the club's partner at the time, went bankrupt. It's a good thing the fans knew I didn't want to leave them," he concludes.