Inspired by Andrade and Carlinhos, with several players who passed through his hands in the youth ranks now in the professional ranks and a remarkable stint with the Brazilian U-20 team, Rogério Lourenço is increasingly establishing himself in the world of football, now on a different level. After ending his career as a defender, he continues to pursue his dream of becoming a top coach in Brazil.

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Rogério's career development is remarkable. Having worked on the sidelines for six years, Captain Furacão, a Brazilian champion with Flamengo in 1992, is now Andrade's assistant coach on the professional football coaching staff for the 2010 season. With the board's backing, he also continues to manage the youth team and is seen as a great link between the Flamengo youth academy and the first team.

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In an exclusive interview with Flamengo's official website, Rogério discussed the opportunity, discussed his future, praised coach Andrade's work, and named players he believes could join the main squad in the future. Check out the full interview below:

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Official Website Team: How do you see this, your first opportunity to be part of a professional technical committee?
Rogerio Lourenço: I'm very pleased with this opportunity. It's a great experience to be able to interact with the players and the Flamengo professional coaching staff, especially after last year's Brazilian title. I want to make the most of my time here and also be able to contribute with my experience. I'd like to thank the football department, Professor Isaias Tinoco, and Marcos Braz for their support. They gave me complete freedom to be Andrade's assistant, but also to continue in my role as coach of the Brazilian U-20 team, which is very important to me.

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Official Website Team: How does it feel to see, in Flamengo's Brazilian champion group, several players who were developed by you in the youth academy?
Rogerio Lourenço: It's gratifying to see players who were once under your supervision at the youth level now in the professional ranks, but I'm not one of those who likes to say I brought a player to the table. No, I think the good work is done by all the youth coaches, who are of great quality and competence. From futsal onwards, even in the pre-youth age group, the boys are very well trained.

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Official Website Team: Can you be considered a link between the base and the professional?
Rogerio Lourenço: I believe it's only natural for the professional committee to consult me ​​on youth team matters, given my time in the junior ranks and also with the Brazilian U-20 national team. However, it's not a formal arrangement, especially since Andrade knows all the youth players well and always follows the work being done there. It's important to value this integration between the youth and professional teams, something Flamengo has always done.

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Official Website Team: Following this line of youth football, who do you believe, from the current generation of juniors, could soon stand out in the professional team?
Rogerio Lourenço: Many of this generation currently in the juniors have worked with me, and I think some players have what it takes to be considered for the professional ranks. Among them are Galhardo, Jorbison, and Diego Maurício, whom I even took with me to a tournament with the U-20 national team earlier this year. These are players with a lot of potential, but they still need development.

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Official Website Team: What do you think about the current training of youth players? Do you believe many athletes end up being promoted prematurely?
Rogerio Lourenço: In today's football, players are increasingly promoted to the professional ranks at a younger age, but I believe the more time they can spend in the youth academy, the better. The work is differentiated, with attention paid to aspects that the senior team doesn't have much time to work on, such as fundamentals. It's not that the player needs to be promoted already prepared, but rather with a solid foundation. A Flamengo youth player can't be at the club without being prepared to play in the professional ranks. They're not necessarily ready, but rather prepared, willing, and aware of the pressure they'll be under and the work they'll have to do. I always say that youth players are professionals under 20, and that's the reality of football today.

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Official Site Team: How does your experience as a player help you now that you're on the other side?
Rogerio Lourenço: My experience as a player has helped me a lot. I played as a defender, where I have excellent field vision. It's a position where you need to be mindful and pay attention to your teammates' positioning. I've also always been captain, so I've had a leadership spirit from an early age, which helps me. I've always worked on great teams with great coaches, and I've always sought to learn the best of each team and shape my personality, incorporating that into my thinking.

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Official Website Team: So, is your idea really to pursue a career as a coach?
Rogerio Lourenço: I'm 39 years old, I've been a coach for six years, and I know I still have a lot to learn, but I'm definitely thinking about continuing my career as a manager of a professional team.

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Official Website Team: Andrade is a coach who also played for the club, grew up here, and has achieved success both as an athlete and as a coach. Is he a good role model for you?
Rogerio Lourenço: Andrade is a highly qualified person and professional. He grew up here at Flamengo, is a winner, won the Brazilian championship in his first year as coach, and is a great inspiration to me. It's a privilege to work with him, just as it was with Carlinhos, another coach I look up to. He coached me at the youth level and at the professional level, and is another example of a former player who became a coach and succeeded.