For Zico, the training center is the first step towards repeating great glories.
Elected man of the match in the 1981 World Cup final, Zico says that infrastructure is fundamental.
By From the official website team - in
Almost three decades have passed, but for those who had the pleasure of witnessing the golden age of Flamengo football, it seems like it was yesterday. The brilliant plays of Zico and company are still vivid in the memory of Flamengo fans, who on this December 13th celebrate the 29th anniversary of the 1981 Intercontinental Cup victory. And for new achievements of this magnitude to come, the recipe is given by Zico himself.
In an exclusive interview with Flamengo's official website, Zico sees the consolidation of a structure behind the football team as a fundamental piece for the formation of new winning generations. The eternal number 10 of Gávea, who supports the "Red-Black Forever" project and will own brick number 10, in addition to having secured other bricks for his entire family., sees the completion of the works at the training center as a major step towards that.
"I think the possibilities increase. All those who have been world champions have structured themselves to compete on equal terms with the Europeans. Those who won world titles really invested. They not only formed a great team, but also had the structure, with conditions for the professionals, and that's what we want to see at Flamengo," he said.
Having come up through Flamengo's youth system, like much of the group that won the Campeonato Carioca, the Copa Libertadores, and the Intercontinental Cup in '81 in less than two weeks, Zico says that harmony and trust between players and club is another factor that makes all the difference.
"We believed in the club. We wanted to stay at the club and we liked the club. It was a generation that the club also believed in, and that partnership worked. That's the big difference. In fact, in that team, there were three generations from the youth academy that formed a group. In the match against Liverpool, if I'm not mistaken, eight of the eleven starters were from the youth academy," he recalled.
The only thing missing was the Nation - A Flamengo fan since childhood, Zico remembers that decision as special. Experiencing the thrill of making Flamengo the greatest club in the world was a unique sensation for the "Little Rooster" (Zico's nickname). However, according to him, something was missing: the massive presence of the Nation (Flamengo's fanbase). After all, on the other side of the world, it was difficult to know about the celebration happening in Brazil after the 3-0 thrashing of Liverpool.
"That day, we wanted to be here in Brazil cheering. That's what we wanted. We had no idea what was happening here, especially because things weren't like they are today, where information travels so fast. We couldn't really celebrate much there. It was all very cold. We knew the magnitude of that title, but the emotion makes all the difference, being with the fans, and that was something we missed. But it was a great source of pride. For me, as a fan, participating in the greatest achievement in the club's history is unforgettable," observed the Flamengo idol, who believes that the new format for the Club World Cup is also valid.
"I think it's fair. The major continents are still privileged because they play one less game, but I think it's important to give this opportunity to everyone," he added.
In an exclusive interview with Flamengo's official website, Zico sees the consolidation of a structure behind the football team as a fundamental piece for the formation of new winning generations. The eternal number 10 of Gávea, who supports the "Red-Black Forever" project and will own brick number 10, in addition to having secured other bricks for his entire family., sees the completion of the works at the training center as a major step towards that.
"I think the possibilities increase. All those who have been world champions have structured themselves to compete on equal terms with the Europeans. Those who won world titles really invested. They not only formed a great team, but also had the structure, with conditions for the professionals, and that's what we want to see at Flamengo," he said.
Having come up through Flamengo's youth system, like much of the group that won the Campeonato Carioca, the Copa Libertadores, and the Intercontinental Cup in '81 in less than two weeks, Zico says that harmony and trust between players and club is another factor that makes all the difference.
"We believed in the club. We wanted to stay at the club and we liked the club. It was a generation that the club also believed in, and that partnership worked. That's the big difference. In fact, in that team, there were three generations from the youth academy that formed a group. In the match against Liverpool, if I'm not mistaken, eight of the eleven starters were from the youth academy," he recalled.
The only thing missing was the Nation - A Flamengo fan since childhood, Zico remembers that decision as special. Experiencing the thrill of making Flamengo the greatest club in the world was a unique sensation for the "Little Rooster" (Zico's nickname). However, according to him, something was missing: the massive presence of the Nation (Flamengo's fanbase). After all, on the other side of the world, it was difficult to know about the celebration happening in Brazil after the 3-0 thrashing of Liverpool.
"That day, we wanted to be here in Brazil cheering. That's what we wanted. We had no idea what was happening here, especially because things weren't like they are today, where information travels so fast. We couldn't really celebrate much there. It was all very cold. We knew the magnitude of that title, but the emotion makes all the difference, being with the fans, and that was something we missed. But it was a great source of pride. For me, as a fan, participating in the greatest achievement in the club's history is unforgettable," observed the Flamengo idol, who believes that the new format for the Club World Cup is also valid.
"I think it's fair. The major continents are still privileged because they play one less game, but I think it's important to give this opportunity to everyone," he added.
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