The year 2005 was not an easy one for Flamengo fans. The season began with the team doing preseason training in Volta Redonda. During the preseason, Flamengo participated in a tournament there, winning the first game against Joe Public, but then losing to Volta Redonda, letting the title slip away. Soon after, the Guanabara Cup began, and Flamengo performed poorly, leading to coach Júlio César Leal being replaced by Cuca.

\

In the Rio Cup, Flamengo recovers and makes it to the final after beating Volta Redonda in the semifinals. But in the final, with suspended players, the team fails to overcome Fluminense and ultimately loses its second Rio de Janeiro championship. In the Copa do Brasil, Flamengo faces Ceará and loses the first game, which, combined with other problems, leads the board to fire Cuca, leaving Andrade in charge. Despite the coaching change, Flamengo draws in the second game and is eliminated.

\

During the Brazilian Championship, Flamengo won two titles. The first in a friendly match in Minas Gerais against Tupi, which resulted in the Peace Cup. They then won the Copa Record with a reserve team and youth players. However, in the Brasileirão, the red-and-blacks didn't fare so well. The team's base had talented players like Leonardo Moura, Renato Silva, Junior Baiano, Andre Santos, Jonatas, Diego Souza, Renato... and youngsters like Fellype Gabriel and Vinícius Pacheco, but the team failed to gain momentum and barely avoided relegation.

\

And how they fought. Proof of this is that the team reached the end of the Brasileirão nine rounds from the end of the season in a very delicate position, in the relegation zone, and needing to avoid losing any of their remaining matches. Only a miracle could save the team from Gávea from relegation. To try to emulate this feat, the board acted quickly and brought in coach Joel Santana. It worked. He led the team to six wins and three draws, avoiding relegation and establishing himself as an idol of the Red-Black Nation.

\

The start: Flamengo 2x2 Juventude, Flamengo 2x1 Coritiba, Flamengo 1x0 Palmeiras, Flamengo 3x1 Botafogo, Flamengo 2 x 2 Ponte Preta, Flamengo 3 x 0 Fortaleza, Flamengo 1 x 0 Paraná, Flamengo 0 x0 Goiás and Flamengo 4x1 Paysandu.

\

The game that lifted Flamengo out of the relegation zone was the 1-0 victory over Paraná, which consecrated another new idol: Obina. Until then reviled, the Bahia native came on in the second half of the match against the southern team and scored the winning goal for Flamengo in the 45th minute of the second half, keeping Flamengo in the top flight.

\

Other Sports: In 2005, Flamengo won the Rio de Janeiro Men's Basketball Championship for the 31st time in its history, confirming its status as the tournament's most successful team. After three hard-fought matches against the Rio de Janeiro team, which was the favorite to win the title. Flamengo lost the first match, but with the fantastic support of its fans, it won the second and third matches, proving that the unity of fans and team at Flamengo generates titles, no matter what sport.

\

In Volleyball, Flamengo won the Men's Adult State Championship undefeated. In Olympic Gymnastics, Flamengo won the Brazilian Men's Individual Championship with Victor Rosa, the Brazilian Women's Individual Championship with Daniele Hipolyto, and the Brazilian Team Championship. In Synchronized Swimming, Flamengo won the Brazilian Overall Absolute Championship and the State Overall Absolute Championship.

\

Time of Year: Start of the final nine games of the Brazilian Championship
Character of the Year: Joel Santana
Game of the Year: Flamengo 1 x 0 Paraná, for the Brazilian Championship
Top Scorer of the Year: Renato, with 14 goals

\

To check out all of Flamengo's games in 2005, click here.
For more information about this year, visit this article on Flapedia.