Legendary idols celebrate the 29th anniversary of the World Cup in grand style.
Adílio, Andrade, Julio Cesar, Junior and Rondinelli represent the golden generation at an event in Barra da Tijuca.
By From the official website team - in
A football player's career is usually short. On average, it doesn't last more than 15 or 20 years. The achievements on the field, however, are eternal. It doesn't matter if it's been 29 days, 29 months, or 29 years. Flamengo's golden generation is one of those teams whose starting lineup fans know by heart and which serves as inspiration to this day. Therefore, every tribute and celebration to these heroes is valid.
Last Monday night, December 13th, was no different. On the day that Flamengo's 1981 Intercontinental Cup title turned 29 years old, a big party at the Hard Rock Café in Barra da Tijuca served to celebrate another year since that unforgettable 3-0 victory over Liverpool in Tokyo. A title that, for maestro Júnior, is still very much alive.
"All of this is still very relevant to us today. It was a great achievement. It wasn't the most difficult, because the Libertadores was very complicated, but it was the most significant. It was the victory of a united group, a professional group, that achieved many things for this club. That's why every December 13th will always be remembered. Hopefully, more titles will come so that other dates can also go down in history," explained the former player.
And it wasn't just the World Cup that was celebrated at the event, which was attended by Adílio, Andrade, Julio Cesar, Junior, Rondinelli, Nélio, Renato, and Gilmar Popoca. Adílio's son, Soni Adílio, a filmmaker, took the opportunity to launch the trailer for a documentary about the generation that, from the Rio de Janeiro state championship title in 1978, won numerous titles up to the Brazilian championship in 1987.
"These celebrations, these tributes, always move me, even more so with this film made by my son and the girls who work with him. I think it even serves as motivation for the younger players, to know how good it feels to know that you made your team the best in the world. For me, the feeling was unique. We were ecstatic, just thinking about everything that represented," said an emotional Adílio, revealing that there are already plans for a big event to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the victory in 2011.
"We're already thinking about holding another event in 2011 to mark the 30th anniversary. It was a very important achievement that marked the lives of many people, and we have to celebrate in style. Seeing old friends again and remembering those moments is always special," he revealed.
Thanks to the Nation – The main tribute of the night, however, came in the form of thanks from the players themselves to the fans. According to the eternal Flamengo idols, everything that was achieved had an extra motivation: the twelfth player.
"Today everyone says they're a Nation. But there's only one Nation: the red-and-black one," summarized Junior, whose words were endorsed by Andrade, who was cheered by the fans present with shouts of "six-time champion."
"I'm very emotional. I confess I didn't expect all this. It's wonderful to always have this affection. And as everyone here has said, our greatest asset was friendship. We're all still friends today, we're always together and, of course, none of this would have been possible without the strength of this Nation, this wonderful fanbase, for whom we ran twice as hard," Tromba concluded.
It's worth remembering that, in 1981, Flamengo won the Campeonato Carioca (Rio de Janeiro State Championship), the Copa Libertadores, and the Intercontinental Cup in just 12 days. From Rondinelli's goal in 1978 until the 1987 Brazilian Championship, among other less significant achievements, they won five state championships, four Brazilian championships, one Copa Libertadores, and one Intercontinental Cup.
Last Monday night, December 13th, was no different. On the day that Flamengo's 1981 Intercontinental Cup title turned 29 years old, a big party at the Hard Rock Café in Barra da Tijuca served to celebrate another year since that unforgettable 3-0 victory over Liverpool in Tokyo. A title that, for maestro Júnior, is still very much alive.
"All of this is still very relevant to us today. It was a great achievement. It wasn't the most difficult, because the Libertadores was very complicated, but it was the most significant. It was the victory of a united group, a professional group, that achieved many things for this club. That's why every December 13th will always be remembered. Hopefully, more titles will come so that other dates can also go down in history," explained the former player.
And it wasn't just the World Cup that was celebrated at the event, which was attended by Adílio, Andrade, Julio Cesar, Junior, Rondinelli, Nélio, Renato, and Gilmar Popoca. Adílio's son, Soni Adílio, a filmmaker, took the opportunity to launch the trailer for a documentary about the generation that, from the Rio de Janeiro state championship title in 1978, won numerous titles up to the Brazilian championship in 1987.
"These celebrations, these tributes, always move me, even more so with this film made by my son and the girls who work with him. I think it even serves as motivation for the younger players, to know how good it feels to know that you made your team the best in the world. For me, the feeling was unique. We were ecstatic, just thinking about everything that represented," said an emotional Adílio, revealing that there are already plans for a big event to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the victory in 2011.
"We're already thinking about holding another event in 2011 to mark the 30th anniversary. It was a very important achievement that marked the lives of many people, and we have to celebrate in style. Seeing old friends again and remembering those moments is always special," he revealed.
Thanks to the Nation – The main tribute of the night, however, came in the form of thanks from the players themselves to the fans. According to the eternal Flamengo idols, everything that was achieved had an extra motivation: the twelfth player.
"Today everyone says they're a Nation. But there's only one Nation: the red-and-black one," summarized Junior, whose words were endorsed by Andrade, who was cheered by the fans present with shouts of "six-time champion."
"I'm very emotional. I confess I didn't expect all this. It's wonderful to always have this affection. And as everyone here has said, our greatest asset was friendship. We're all still friends today, we're always together and, of course, none of this would have been possible without the strength of this Nation, this wonderful fanbase, for whom we ran twice as hard," Tromba concluded.
It's worth remembering that, in 1981, Flamengo won the Campeonato Carioca (Rio de Janeiro State Championship), the Copa Libertadores, and the Intercontinental Cup in just 12 days. From Rondinelli's goal in 1978 until the 1987 Brazilian Championship, among other less significant achievements, they won five state championships, four Brazilian championships, one Copa Libertadores, and one Intercontinental Cup.
Follow Flamengo's official Twitter profile
\Check out the promotions page on Flamengo's Official Website
Check out the video gallery on Flamengo's Official Website
\Check out the photo gallery on Flamengo's Official Website
\Check out the audio gallery on Flamengo's Official Website