CR Flamengo
Brazilian football team.
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, commonly known as Flamengo, is a professional football club based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The club, founded in 1895 as a rowing club, has become one of the most popular and successful teams in Brazilian football. Flamengo's nickname is "Rubro-Negro" (Scarlet-Black), reflecting their iconic red and black striped shirts. They play their home games at the Maracanã Stadium, which has a capacity of 78,838 spectators.
Flamengo's football department was officially established in 1912, and since then, they have amassed an impressive collection of titles. The club has won the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (Brazilian national league) seven times, with their first victory coming in 1980. They have also claimed the Copa do Brasil (Brazilian Cup) four times and boast a record 38 Campeonato Carioca (Rio de Janeiro state championship) titles.
In continental competitions, Flamengo has achieved significant success. They have won the Copa Libertadores, South America's premier club competition, three times (1981, 2019, and 2022). Their 1981 victory was particularly memorable as it led to their triumph in the Intercontinental Cup, where they defeated Liverpool to be crowned world champions.
The most celebrated period in Flamengo's history came in the early 1980s, led by the legendary Zico. During this "Golden Age," the club won numerous titles, including their first Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup. Zico, often referred to as the "White Pelé," is considered one of the greatest players in the club's history and played a crucial role in establishing Flamengo as a powerhouse in South American football.
Flamengo holds several records in Brazilian football. They are one of only two clubs never to have been relegated from the top division, along with São Paulo. The club also boasts the largest fanbase in Brazil, with an estimated 40 million supporters nationwide, making them one of the most popular clubs in the world.
The club's fiercest rivalries are with the other "Big Four" of Rio de Janeiro: Fluminense, Botafogo, and Vasco da Gama. Matches against these teams, particularly the Fla-Flu derby with Fluminense, are among the most anticipated events in the Brazilian football calendar.
In recent years, Flamengo has experienced a resurgence, reclaiming their position at the top of Brazilian football. Under the management of Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, the club won the domestic double of the Campeonato Brasileiro and Copa Libertadores in 2019, followed by another Libertadores triumph in 2022 under Dorival Júnior.