During the 1990s, a young man from Pernambuco wore the Sacred Mantle and was important in several red-black victories. Iranildo, who turns 17.10 this Friday (38), arrived in Gávea in 1996, where he remained until the year 2000, earning the respect and admiration of the Red-Black Nation.

"Chuchu", as he was affectionately nicknamed during his time at Flamengo, won two Rio Cups (1996; 2000), one Guanabara Cup (1999), three Carioca Championships (1996; 1999 and 2000), one World Champions Cup (1997), as well as one Mercosul Cup (1999). "What most marked my time at Flamengo was not a title, but wearing the Sacred Mantle. Wearing that number 10 jersey, which once belonged to Zico, was a childhood dream, when I was still in the backlands of Pernambuco. Today, I try to tell my children what it's like to walk into a packed Maracanã stadium shouting your name, but it's very difficult to express. I remember one of my birthdays in 1998, when my daughter Yasmim had just been born, and the entire crowd sang happy birthday to me. It was a very emotional birthday," said Iranildo.

For the midfielder, playing for the "Mais Querido" (Most Beloved) has been the greatest achievement of his career. A key player at every club he's played for, he makes no secret of the fact that his greatest love is truly the Rubro-Negro. "To this day, I walk down the street and Flamengo fans still come up to me. At the club, I gradually gained my place, and I'm immensely happy to have made a name for myself there. I made great friends at Gávea who taught me a lot, like Júnior and Romário, of whom I was a huge fan. I'm a Flamengo fan, and this club represents everything in my career. As Vanderlei Luxemburgo said recently: Flamengo doesn't call me up, it's a summons. To this day, I feel like it was all a dream," concluded the birthday boy.