On Pelé's 70th birthday, remember the day he played for Flamengo
"King of football" played with the red and black shirt on April 6, 1979, in a charity friendly match
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
October 23rd is a special day for Flamengo captain Leonardo Moura, who turns 32, but it's also the date that the greatest soccer player in history reaches his seventh decade. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé, turns 70 this Saturday and has become the subject of numerous tributes and special reports around the world.
And Flamengo's official website couldn't be left out. After all, Pelé once played wearing the Sacred Mantle. It's precisely this story that the team Flamengo.Com.Br remembers this very special date. On April 6, 1979, in a friendly benefit match to help victims of the floods that were raging in Minas Gerais at the time, the "King" played alongside Zico at the Maracanã.
At 39, Pelé wore the number 10 jersey, leaving Flamengo with number 9, in the match against Atlético Mineiro, which generated revenue of CR$ 8.781.290,00, with a paying crowd of 139.953. Led by Zico, who scored three times, and winger Júlio César, known as Uri Geller, Flamengo thrashed Galo 5-1. Uri Geller, in fact, remembers that date fondly, as he fulfilled his dream of playing alongside Pelé and was also his roommate.
"My biggest dream was to play with Pelé. I never imagined playing alongside him. Coincidentally, I woke up in the middle of the night and saw someone next to me. When I looked up, it was the black guy sleeping (laughs). It was fantastic. The story of how he got on the team is even funny. Who was Coutinho going to take out of that great team? Then, during training on Thursday, before the game, Adílio went down after taking a blow. It was nothing, but they came in with a cast on his hand and he ended up being left out. I played great games with that team, but this was a special day playing alongside Zico and Pelé," he explained.
The Game - However, Atlético opened the scoring with Marcelo in the 21st minute of the first half. However, the equalizer came quickly. In the 35th minute, Zico put the Red-Blacks a goal ahead; a penalty kick that the midfielder intended to let Pelé take, but the King refused. The thrilling first half was nothing more than that.
But after the break, it was all Flamengo. Just 10 minutes into the second half, Quintino's "Galinho de Quintino" shone again and lived up to his number 9 jersey. Like a true striker, Zico scored the second goal for the Gávea team. And four minutes later, he found the net again, giving Flamengo a 3-1 lead. Pelé was then substituted and received a standing ovation from the immense red-and-black crowd that packed the stadium. In his place came Luisinho, who, 28 minutes into the second half, scored Flamengo's fourth goal.
It was a rout favored by the team led by coach Cláudio Coutinho. And there was more to come. The final straw was top scorer Cláudio Adão, at 39. A celebration ensued for the fans and the red-and-black players alike. According to Andrade, it was an unforgettable day, especially for him, as he was a beginner. It was also an unforgettable day, certainly, for the Red-and-Black Nation and for King Pelé, who said it was a great pleasure to honor the club's jersey and play alongside Zico.
Credits
Flamengo 5 x 1 Atlético-MG
06/04/1979 - Maracanã - Rio de Janeiro
Public: 139.953
Income: CR$ 8.781.290,00
Goals: Marcelo (CAM) 21'/1st half, Zico 35'/1st half, 10'/2nd half and 14'/2nd half, Luisinho 28'/2nd half and Cláudio Adão 39'/2nd half
Flamengo: Cantarelli, Toninho, Rondinelli (Nelson), Manguito and Junior; Andrade, Carpeggiani (Ramirez) and Zico; Tita, Pelé (Luisinho) and Julio Cesar (Reinaldo). Technical: Claudio Coutinho.
Athletic-MG: João Leite, Alves, Osmar, Luizinho and Hilton Bruniz; Cerezo, Marcelo (Carlinhos) and Paulo Isidoro; Serginho (Pedrinho), Dario and Ziza (Vilmar). Technical: Procopio Cardoso.
And Flamengo's official website couldn't be left out. After all, Pelé once played wearing the Sacred Mantle. It's precisely this story that the team Flamengo.Com.Br remembers this very special date. On April 6, 1979, in a friendly benefit match to help victims of the floods that were raging in Minas Gerais at the time, the "King" played alongside Zico at the Maracanã.
At 39, Pelé wore the number 10 jersey, leaving Flamengo with number 9, in the match against Atlético Mineiro, which generated revenue of CR$ 8.781.290,00, with a paying crowd of 139.953. Led by Zico, who scored three times, and winger Júlio César, known as Uri Geller, Flamengo thrashed Galo 5-1. Uri Geller, in fact, remembers that date fondly, as he fulfilled his dream of playing alongside Pelé and was also his roommate.
"My biggest dream was to play with Pelé. I never imagined playing alongside him. Coincidentally, I woke up in the middle of the night and saw someone next to me. When I looked up, it was the black guy sleeping (laughs). It was fantastic. The story of how he got on the team is even funny. Who was Coutinho going to take out of that great team? Then, during training on Thursday, before the game, Adílio went down after taking a blow. It was nothing, but they came in with a cast on his hand and he ended up being left out. I played great games with that team, but this was a special day playing alongside Zico and Pelé," he explained.
The Game - However, Atlético opened the scoring with Marcelo in the 21st minute of the first half. However, the equalizer came quickly. In the 35th minute, Zico put the Red-Blacks a goal ahead; a penalty kick that the midfielder intended to let Pelé take, but the King refused. The thrilling first half was nothing more than that.
But after the break, it was all Flamengo. Just 10 minutes into the second half, Quintino's "Galinho de Quintino" shone again and lived up to his number 9 jersey. Like a true striker, Zico scored the second goal for the Gávea team. And four minutes later, he found the net again, giving Flamengo a 3-1 lead. Pelé was then substituted and received a standing ovation from the immense red-and-black crowd that packed the stadium. In his place came Luisinho, who, 28 minutes into the second half, scored Flamengo's fourth goal.
It was a rout favored by the team led by coach Cláudio Coutinho. And there was more to come. The final straw was top scorer Cláudio Adão, at 39. A celebration ensued for the fans and the red-and-black players alike. According to Andrade, it was an unforgettable day, especially for him, as he was a beginner. It was also an unforgettable day, certainly, for the Red-and-Black Nation and for King Pelé, who said it was a great pleasure to honor the club's jersey and play alongside Zico.
Credits
Flamengo 5 x 1 Atlético-MG
06/04/1979 - Maracanã - Rio de Janeiro
Public: 139.953
Income: CR$ 8.781.290,00
Goals: Marcelo (CAM) 21'/1st half, Zico 35'/1st half, 10'/2nd half and 14'/2nd half, Luisinho 28'/2nd half and Cláudio Adão 39'/2nd half
Flamengo: Cantarelli, Toninho, Rondinelli (Nelson), Manguito and Junior; Andrade, Carpeggiani (Ramirez) and Zico; Tita, Pelé (Luisinho) and Julio Cesar (Reinaldo). Technical: Claudio Coutinho.
Athletic-MG: João Leite, Alves, Osmar, Luizinho and Hilton Bruniz; Cerezo, Marcelo (Carlinhos) and Paulo Isidoro; Serginho (Pedrinho), Dario and Ziza (Vilmar). Technical: Procopio Cardoso.
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