Flamengo was eliminated from the Copa Sudamericana and the Copa do Brasil in 2009. So what? That's exactly what a Flamengo fan is thinking when reading this statement. After all, the season was practically perfect for the Gávea club. Six-time Brazilian champion and five-time Rio de Janeiro champion. Need I say more? The Flamengo team made history this year. It took over as the most successful team in Rio de Janeiro's football history and regained its place at the top of Brazil.

\

It all began on January 7th, at the squad presentation for the preseason, which was held at Granja Comary, and only ended almost exactly eleven months later, on December 6th. Check out the special produced by the Flamengo official website team below, a retrospective, month by month, of the entire saga of Flamengo's football throughout this year that will remain in the memory of everyone who followed it and in the history of the 114 years of glory of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo.

\

January - The year 2009 began with fans putting pressure on Flamengo for being eliminated from the Copa Libertadores da América. To achieve its goal of returning to the continental tournament, the club couldn't invest heavily due to cash constraints. The solution was to maintain its youth academy and make few signings. Youngsters Fabrício, Camacho, and Rômulo returned from loan, while Douglas and Willians were signed from Santo André, and Everton Silva arrived from Friburguense.

\

The club's biggest addition was former Botafogo player Zé Roberto, from Schalke 04 in Germany. In addition, coach Cuca, who had previously coached Flamengo in 2005, returned to the club at the beginning of this season. Luizinho, Dininho, Leonardo, Jailton, Fernando, Fernandão, Diego Tardelli, and Caio Junior all left the club. Fabrício had barely arrived when he was loaned out again, this time to Hoffenheim in Germany.

\

In the first game of the year, a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Friburguense at Maracanã, with a goal from Juan. In the second, another hard-fought victory, 2-1, over Bangu in Volta Redonda. Marcelinho Paraíba and Angelim scored. Despite the difficulties, Flamengo started the year on the right foot, with a 100% record in January.

\

February - Carnival month started well for the Gávea team, but it ended in ashes. On the first day of February, another hard-fought victory, 1-0, with a goal from Josiel, over Volta Redonda. Then, finally, a strong performance: 4-1 over Mesquita. Debutant Zé Roberto scored. Everton, Jônatas, and goalkeeper Bruno completed the rout, which gave the impression that Flamengo would finally play the good football everyone had been hoping for.

\

But it was precisely from that point on that the team's performance began to decline. Marcelinho Paraíba and, once again, Zé Roberto would give Flamengo another victory, a 2-1 victory against Macaé, but the following results would be disappointing. Two draws, 2-2 with Boavista and 1-1 with Botafogo, which, despite taking the team to the Guanabara Cup semifinals, raised alarm bells in Gávea.

\

It was all for nothing. In the semifinals, a result that stunned a packed Maracanã stadium. On Carnival Saturday, the one celebrating was modest Resende, who beat Flamengo 3-1 and secured a spot in the GB Cup final, which Botafogo won.

\

March - The cure for elimination from the Guanabra Cup was outlined: winning the Rio Cup. Before that, however, Flamengo still had to make its Copa do Brasil debut. And it did so with flying colors, thrashing Ivinhema 5-0 away from home. The result buoyed coach Cuca's team, which notched two victories in the State Championship: 3-1 at Cabofriense and 4-2 at Duque de Caxias. After that, the team fell again, only drawing 1-1 with Tigres and losing 2-0 to Vasco.

\

After a period of ups and downs, Flamengo returned to winning ways against Madureira, 4-2, with a hat trick from Josiel. Then came revenge against Resende, 4-0, at Engenhão. With another victory, a 1-0 victory over Americano, the team bid farewell to March having qualified for the Taça Rio semifinals and remained in contention for a third consecutive Rio de Janeiro championship. The month also saw signings: Emerson, from the Arab world, and Alex Cruz, a standout from Ivinhema, arrived at Gávea. Marcelinho Paraíba, meanwhile, left the club.

\

April - The month of lies began with a classic: Fla vs. Flu. In the debut of Sheik Emerson, hired to bolster the Flamengo attack as Josiel's loan contract expired, the match ended in a 1-1 draw that felt like a Flamengo victory at the Maracanã. Emerson, who arrived at the club swearing his love, scored the goal and quickly won the hearts of the fans.

\

Flamengo finished the month undefeated, securing a third consecutive Campeonato Carioca title. After drawing with Fluminense in the final round of the Taça Rio qualifying round, Flamengo met their rivals again in the competition's semifinals and, this time, prevailed. With a goal from Juan, they defeated Fluminense 1-0 and secured a spot in the second round of the Campeonato Carioca against Botafogo. Prior to that, the team defeated Remo 2-0 in the Copa do Brasil.

\

Then it was time to decide the Taça Rio. A victory would have secured Botafogo the state title. But, as usual in the last two years, when the two teams faced each other in the finals, the red and black teams had the upper hand. This time, even a Botafogo fan helped Flamengo. Defender Emerson scored the winning own goal that sent Flamengo to the state final, which began the following week.

\

In the first game of the finals, a 2-2 draw. There was also a draw in the first game of the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil, when Flamengo drew 0-0 with Fortaleza.

\

May - It was the month of dominance. On the 3rd, Flamengo and Botafogo faced off again to decide the Campeonato Carioca title. In a thrilling match, another 2-2 draw, another penalty shootout, and another victory for Flamengo. It was the club's fifth three-peat, its 31st state title, and its place as the most successful team in the competition's history.

\

Everything that followed that month was a massive hangover. Even more so after the announcement of the retirement of the three-time champion's captain, defender Fabio Luciano, who hung up his boots after winning the title. Even so, the team beat Fortaleza 3-0 and advanced in the Copa do Brasil. Later, in the Brazilian Championship opener, they played better but were defeated by Cruzeiro 2-0. They tied with Inter in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals (0-0) and repeated the result against Avaí in the Brazilian Championship.

\

On the 20th, they were eliminated by the Gaúchos in the final whistle. The team put up a tough fight against the Colorados, who were playing some of the best football in Brazil at the time, but conceded a goal from former Flamengo player Andrezinho in the 43th minute and was eliminated from the Copa do Brasil. They then went on to beat Santo André and Atlético Paranaense 2-1 in the Brasileirão.

\

May still held a surprise for Flamengo: the return of a great idol. Adriano, the Emperor, was back. Seven years after leaving Gávea, the striker terminated his contract with Inter Milan and returned to Brazil in search of happiness, which he could only find at the club of his heart. Therefore, he signed with the Rubro-Negro and would prove instrumental in the team's campaign from then on.

\

June - A short and disappointing month, despite the Emperor. Flamengo played only four games, all in the Brasileirão, and won only one. Granted, this one was a huge 4-0 rout of Internacional, with a show from newly signed Adriano. But the losses were regrettable: an incredible 4-2 comeback by Sport and a 5-0 rout by Coritiba, both teams that, curiously, were relegated at the end of the year. Furthermore, there was a 0-0 draw against Fluminense. The poor record claimed two victims: Josiel and Jônatas were released shortly after the loss to Coritiba.

\

July - The good times returned to Gávea at the end of July. Coincidentally or not, right after Cuca's departure, the team once again played strong football. Coincidentally or not, under Andrade's leadership, the team proved its worth. Still with Cuca at the helm, Flamengo defeated Vitória 2-1 at Engenhão, the match that marked Ibson's farewell. Linked to Porto, he had to return to his hometown club and ended up on loan to Russian football.

\

After his departure, Flamengo took a while to find its feet. They drew 2-2 with São Paulo at Morumbi Stadium, lost 2-1 to Palmeiras at Maracanã Stadium, and then drew 2-2 with Botafogo and 1-1 with Barueri. This last result was the final straw for the board, which decided to fire Cuca. Shortly after, the Flamengo leadership itself, led by Kleber Leite and Plínio Serpa Pinto, decided to step down, making way for Marcos Braz.

\

The new vice president of football kept interim Andrade in charge. It worked, and Flamengo won again. And soon after, they achieved an unprecedented and historic result: a 2-1 victory over Santos at Vila Belmiro. After that, they beat Atlético Mineiro 3-1.

\

August - A month of restructuring. Flamengo struggled to find a replacement for Ibson and another for Fabio Luciano, had many players with injury problems, and had to scramble to recruit. David, Álvaro, and Maldonado arrived to fix the defense. Denis Marques and Gil were signed for the attack. Little by little, the team began to find its feet and began to get going.

\

The team suffered three losses in August, against Grêmio (4-1), Cruzeiro (2-1), and Avaí (3-0). Even so, Andrade was kept on as manager. Everyone recognized the potential of the group, which was struggling with injury and suspension absences. They gave the squad and coaching staff a vote of confidence, and the team rebounded. They beat Goiás (3-2), Corinthians (1-0), and Santo André (3-0), in addition to drawing with Náutico (1-1). In the Copa Sudamericana, the team faced rival Fluminense and was eliminated on away goals.

\

September - Just like July, it was a short month, but this time, a victorious one. There were four matches, with two wins and two draws. The team defeated Sport and Coritiba 3-0 and drew 0-0 with Atlético Paranaense and Internacional. These results have already helped the team climb the league table. This was Dejan Petkovic's month. The foreigner finally showed his true colors, earning more opportunities, and assumed the role of conductor and leader of the group, playing a key role in the campaign.

\

October - This was the month of the surge. Flamengo entered October with a five-game unbeaten streak (the four in September plus the win over Santo André in the last game of August) and quickly racked up another five. They beat Fluminense 2-0, drew 3-3 with Vitória, and then achieved two results that excited the team and the coaching staff, as well as, of course, the fans.

\

Andrade's team faced São Paulo and Palmeiras, second and third place, respectively. The goal of reaching the top four was already set, and good results against these two teams would be crucial, but very difficult. They came through with grit: 2-1 over the Tricolor and 2-0 over the Alviverde. There, Flamengo was certain they were capable of competing for the title. They then beat Botafogo 1-0.

\

The marathon of games and victories ended up tiring the team, which lost to Barueri, 2-0, in São Paulo, but recovered quickly and closed October with a 1-0 victory over Santos, at Maracanã, which guaranteed them a place among the top four in the Brasileirão.

\

November - The certainty that the sixth title was a dream much closer to reality than anyone imagined came in November. The momentum continued and proved that the stumble against Barueri was merely a coincidence. Flamengo never lost again in the championship. In November, they played four more games, two more wins and two draws. One of them nearly ruined everything.

\

In the first game of the month, another head-to-head match, this time against Atlético Mineiro at Mineirão Stadium. Just like against São Paulo and Palmeiras, Flamengo was the underdog. However, they dominated the match from start to finish and won emphatically: 3-1, securing third place. Then, a 2-0 away victory over Náutico, Flamengo finished second. Then came the fateful match against Goiás.

\

A packed Maracanã stadium, fans celebrating the world's largest mosaic, São Paulo defeated by Botafogo and needing just one win to take the lead. But it didn't come. The team was held to a 0-0 draw, and the São Paulo fans were grateful. But only briefly. The following week, the same Goiás team defeated Tricolor 4-2 in Goiânia, and Mengão beat Corinthians 2-0 in São Paulo, taking first place in the Brazilian Championship with one round remaining.

\

December - To close the year with a flourish, Flamengo needed just one match to make December the most important month of the season. On Sunday, the 6th, they hosted Grêmio at Maracanã to seal their sixth national championship. The team defeated the Gauchos 2-1, with goals from defenders David and Ronaldo Angelim, and won the Brazilian Championship after a long 17-year wait.

\

Numbers

\

Wins: 34
Losses: 12
Draws: 20
Goals for: 109
Goals against: 69
Top scorer: Adriano (19 goals)

\

Placement in each championship played: Carioca (champion), Copa do Brasil (quarter-finals), Copa Sul Americana (Brazilian club stage) and Brasileiro (champion).
Memorable moment: Winning the Brazilian Championship after 17 years without winning the competition
Moment to forget: The 3-1 defeat to Resende at Maracanã, in the semi-final of the Guanabara Cup.