What kind of fans are these?
It became the biggest in the world. #hereisdifferent
By Flamengo Communication - in
When Flamengo takes the field, whether on land, sea, or by popular vote, they're in it to win. In 1927, a contest promoted by Salutaris mineral water and the Jornal do Brasil newspaper aimed to elect the "most symphatic club" in Rio de Janeiro.
Fans had to write the name of their favorite team on the label of their water bottle or on the coupon printed in the newspaper and send it completed to the Jornal do Brasil headquarters. The winner would take home the Salutaris Cup and the title of most Symphatic club in Rio de Janeiro.
The campaign resonated with the city and its fans. Vasco fans, most of whom were of Portuguese descent and had greater purchasing power, such as shopkeepers, bakeries, stall owners, and small grocery stores, used every award they received in their establishments to support their club.
They filled bags and bags with labels, hoping to take the title and the cup "home." But with Flamengo, the hole is literally deeper. Knowing this, the red-and-blacks had a plan, a new destination for their rival's votes. To this end, some Flamengo fans positioned themselves near the newspaper's headquarters, and on January 2, 1928, disguised as Vasco da Gama crests, fake mustaches, and imitating a Portuguese accent ("Ora pois pois, Aqui és Vasco da Gama, OPÁ"), Flamengo fans collected votes from merchants that were intended for their rival and dumped them in the newspaper's building's latrines.
Over time, all the toilets became clogged, and they began flushing them down the elevator shaft. At the end of the vote count, Flamengo had 254.850 votes and won the race, which would go down in history as their rival's first runner-up finish against Flamengo. Currently, the Salutaris Cup is on display at Fla Memória, the club's museum, at the Gávea headquarters.
Besides the title of "Most Symphatic," the main team playing at Maracanã, and the nickname "The Most Beloved," Flamengo also holds the record for attendance at inter-club matches. The largest crowd Maracanã stadium ever hosted was for a Flamengo match on December 15, 1963. On that occasion, 194.063 people were present. According to Nelson Rodrigues, "the living left their homes and the dead their graves to watch the greatest Fla-Flu of all time."
That day they were in the stands cheering for Mengão, our King and Maestro, who, to our joy, would soon represent us on the field.
Flamengo's fans are so dedicated that even our mascot was created by them. In its century-long history, Flamengo has had two mascots: Popeye the Sailor and Vulture. The club's first mascot was created in the 40s, in 1942 to be precise. At that time, sports newspapers decided to create characters for a comic strip during the Rio de Janeiro championship. Each of the Rio de Janeiro clubs would be represented by a character chosen by Argentine cartoonist Lorenzo Molas. Flamengo chose Popeye the Sailor. The choice was made due to the strength and courage with which the club could turn around almost impossible situations. Furthermore, both had a strong connection to the sea.
In 1969, a new mascot emerged. Due to the large number of people of African descent and low-income families, opposing fans would taunt Flamengo fans in stadiums with chants of "vultures." What was intended as an offensive nickname ended up becoming the mascot of a nation.
Flamengo hadn't beaten Botafogo in two years, and at the time, the two clubs were playing the most intense rivalry in Rio de Janeiro football. In the stands, Botafogo fans chanted, as usual, that Flamengo was a team of "vultures." Racist joke? That's not the case here. We're proud of our origins, of who we are.
Four friends came up with the idea of taking a vulture to Maracanã Stadium and releasing it during a Classic. Luiz, Romilson, Victor, and Erick embarked on the mission. Residents of Leme (South Zone), the friends decided to try to capture the bird at a landfill located on Praia do Pinto, in Lagoa.
Not finding any vultures there, they went to another landfill, in Caju (North Zone). Arriving there, they also found no vultures, but were informed that in the morning more than a thousand birds were there.
We never give up. And the next morning, with the help of a street cleaner from Flamengo, the friends captured the bird with a sheet. On the way back to the South Zone, the animal managed to free itself from the sheet, forcing the friends to stop the car on Avenida Brasil and get a bag to contain the animal, which fought back with pecks. Once restrained, the animal spent the night in the basement of Romilson's building, as he was leaving for Maracanã with the animal the next day. With the vulture hidden in a flag, the friends managed to enter the stadium without any problems. The initial plan was to release the animal when the teams took the field. But because the teams were late, and the vulture was agitated by the mortars, pecking at those holding it, the launch was brought forward.
Once the animal carrying a Flamengo flag was on the field, the red-and-black fans were ecstatic! And the celebration began, cheering and shouting: "It's a vulture, it's a vulture!" Sure enough, Flamengo won that game 2-1. From that moment on, the game turned around and the vulture became the new mascot.
Ah Flamengo, even those who don't support you hear and sing about your achievements around the world. Countless Brazilian music artists throughout history have paid tribute to the club with songs and lyrics. Wilson Batista, Jorge Ben Jor, Sandra de Sá, Moraes Moreira, João Nogueira, Bebeto, Claudinho e Buchecha, Marcelo D2, among others, were responsible for spreading songs related to the club throughout the country, further increasing our popularity. "Hello Flamengo fans! Big hug!"
Here's a playlist for you that everyone sings around the world:
Tropical Country (Jorge Ben Jor) – “I’m a Flamengo fan and I have a black girl called Teresa”
Fio Maravilha (Jorge Ben Jor) – “Fio Maravilha, make another one for us to see!
Arigatô Flamengo (Bebeto, 1982) – “Tini Shan Shin Gorô Curi Tirá Tigu Nisam, Flamengo defeated.
Samba Rubro-Negro (Wilson Batista) – “Flamengo plays tomorrow, I’m going there”
Red and Black (Claudinho and Buchecha) – “OOOOOO Zigui Zague or Red and Black I am”
Victorious Flamengo (Moraes Moreira) - “Flamengo, I'm your fan, shout of goal, get up, shake the Maracanã!”
Number 10 (Jorge Ben Jor) – “It’s a foul at the edge of the box, guess who’s going to take it”
And the best part is that this game never ends. Whoever wears this mantle knows our origins and the history it carries.
