FIFA proclaimed on the cover of its official website: "The Sleeping Giant has awakened." Not even FIFA president Sepp Blatter could have predicted this prediction would be so perfect. When Flamengo won the 2006 Copa do Brasil, a winning era for Flamengo was beginning. After struggling in 2005, the team laid the foundation for a group that would go on to win another three-time Rio de Janeiro state championship and the club's sixth Brazilian title in the following years.

\

The year 2006 didn't start well for Flamengo. In the Guanabara Cup, the team failed to qualify for the semifinals, so they took advantage of the forced break to play two friendlies in Uruguay. The team ended up losing to Nacional and Peñarol. In the Rio Cup, the team started better, but after a few stumbles, they ended up out of the final stages. However, while the team performed poorly in the Campeonato Carioca, the story turned out very differently in the Copa do Brasil.

\

The team starts off by scaring the fans, advancing through the first stage with a hard-fought victory against ASA AL. But then they advance through the stages, always achieving results playing at Maracanã. They beat ABC RN (1-0 in Natal and 4-0 at Maracanã), Guarani (5-1 at Maracanã and 0-1 in Campinas), Atlético MG (4-1 at Maracanã and 0-0 at Mineirão), and Ipatinga (1-1 in Minas Gerais and 2-1 at Maracanã). Flamengo reaches the Copa do Brasil finals once again.

\

And this year, for the first time in the competition's history, two teams from the same state would face off in the final. Flamengo and Vasco would face off in the final derby. But the final wouldn't be until after the World Cup. In the Brazilian Championship, the team wasn't achieving the same success as in the Copa do Brasil, so coach Valdemar de Oliveira was fired, and his replacement was the rising star Ney Franco, who had had an excellent Copa do Brasil with modest Ipatinga.

\

Flamengo forgoes some Brazilian Championship matches to prepare for the Copa do Brasil final. During the World Cup break, the team travels to the northeast for a few friendlies. It's in these friendlies that young Renato Augusto emerges. The player, who hadn't played a professional game this year and had watched the Copa do Brasil semifinal from the stands, earns a spot in Ney Franco's starting lineup.

\

And the preparation paid off. Flamengo became two-time Copa do Brasil champions, achieving the historic feat of becoming the first team to win both final matches. The first match of the final was held at the Maracanã on July 19, 2006. The Gávea team's attack worked, Ney Franco's team tactically outmaneuvered the Cruzmaltinos, led by Renato Gaúcho, and with a 2-0 victory, Flamengo secured the trophy.

\

In a packed Maracanã stadium, with the mostly red-and-black fans putting on a show in the stands, Flamengo and Vasco took the field seeking another national title. A title that would be a first for the Cruzmaltinos. For Flamengo fans, it would be their second Brazilian title, repeating the feat of 1990, when Junior's Flamengo defeated Goiás in the final. From the start, coach Ney Franco's 3-6-1 formation proved crucial, giving Flamengo the upper hand for practically the entire match. In the 12th minute of the second half, Renato Augusto crossed, Vasco's defense fumbled, and Obina nearly scored. And it was Obina himself, who had just come on to decide the game. From a well-taken corner kick by Renato Augusto, the ball bounced in the box, and fell clear for a beautiful first-time shot by the Bahia striker. Flamengo 1x0 Vasco, and the red-blacks exploded in the stands.

\

The joy was even greater two minutes later. Léo Moura received the ball alone on the right, advanced, and delivered a perfect cross for center forward Luizão, who headed in the second, putting Flamengo very close to the trophy. And the victory was confirmed a week later. With a goal from full-back Juan, complete with an olé, Flamengo won 1-0, delighting the club's immense fan base across the country. The victory put Flamengo back on top of Brazil and returned them to the Libertadores. The title also served to confirm a fact that had been happening for several years: in finals, Flamengo was always getting the better of Vasco da Gama.

\

Due to their total focus on the Copa do Brasil final, Flamengo found themselves in a precarious position in the Brazilian Championship. But after the euphoria of the title subsided, the team began to recover in the competition, reaching 11th place.

\

Other Sports: Basketball continued its march toward national dominance. In Rio de Janeiro, the team became the dominant force. Flamengo won the Rio Open Men's Basketball Tournament and, with an excellent campaign, with 20 games and 20 wins, earned its second title in the Men's State Basketball Championship. In volleyball, Flamengo's professional team won only the Adult Men's Inter-Regional Tournament.

\

As usual, 2006 was another standout year for the Flamengo Olympic Gymnastics team, winning their second Brazilian Team Championship, along with Danielle Hypólito's victory in the women's individual all-around. Diego Hypólito continues to conquer the world. In 2006, he represented Brazil brilliantly, winning gold medals at several World Championships.

\

In rowing, Flamengo dominates the State Championship, winning the overall, beginner, women's, junior, junior B, lightweight, and master categories. The club also won the Brazilian overall absolute synchronized swimming championship.

\

Time of Year: Winning the Brazilian Cup
Character of the Year: Renato Abreu
Game of the Year: Flamengo 2 x 0 Vasco, first game of the Copa do Brasil final
Top Scorer of the Year: Renato, with 19 goals

\

To check out all of Flamengo's games in 2006, click here.
For more information about this year, visit this article in Flapédia.
Also check out how Flamengo's football was this year here.
Relive the two games of the Copa do Brasil final here e here.