CR Flamengo facts for kids
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| Full name | Clube de Regatas do Flamengo | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Rubro-Negro (Scarlet and Black) Mengão (Big Mengo) Malvadão (The Evil One) Urubu (Vulture) O Mais Querido (The Most Beloved) |
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| Founded | 17 November 1895 (rowing club) 24 December 1911 (football department) |
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| Stadium | Maracanã New CR Flamengo Stadium (planned) |
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| Stadium capacity |
73,139 77,923 |
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| Stadium coordinates |
22°54′44″S 43°13′49″W / 22.91222°S 43.23028°W | |||
| President | Luiz Eduardo Baptista | |||
| Head coach | Filipe Luís | |||
| League | Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Campeonato Carioca |
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| 2024 2025 |
Série A, 3rd of 20 Carioca, 1st of 12 |
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Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, usually called Flamengo, is a famous Brazilian sports club from Rio de Janeiro. It started as a rowing club in 1895. Later, it became best known for its amazing football team. Flamengo is one of the most popular football clubs in Brazil. It has over 46 million fans, which is a huge number!
Flamengo is one of only two clubs that have never been moved down from Brazil's top football league. Their traditional uniform has red and black striped shirts, white shorts, and red and black striped socks. Since 1950, they have mostly played their home games at the Maracanã Stadium. The vulture became their mascot in 1969. Flamengo is also known for having one of the best youth academies in the world. Many famous Brazilian players, like Zico and Vinícius Júnior, started their careers there.
Contents
- Club History
- Team Image
- Home Stadiums
- Club Rivalries
- Players
- Management Team
- Club Honours
- Records
- Current Board of Directors
- Other Sports at Flamengo
- Images for kids
- See also
Club History
How Flamengo Started (1895–1912)
Flamengo began on November 17, 1895. A group of friends who loved rowing started the club on Flamengo Beach in Rio de Janeiro. They wanted to impress people with their rowing skills. Their first boat, Pherusa, was old and needed fixing. It even got stolen later!
They saved money and bought a new boat called Scyra. On November 17, they officially formed the "Flamengo Rowing Group." A few weeks later, they changed the name to "Clube de Regatas do Flamengo." They decided to celebrate the club's birthday on November 15, which is a national holiday in Brazil.
The football team started later, in 1911. Some players from another club, Fluminense, decided to leave and join Flamengo. This happened because their captain, Alberto Borgerth, was also a rower for Flamengo. On December 24, 1911, Flamengo officially created its football department.
Early Football Years (1912–1933)
Flamengo's first official football game was on May 3, 1912. They won by a huge score of 16–2 against Mangueira! Their first game against their big rival, Fluminense, was on July 7, 1912. Fluminense won that game 3–2. Flamengo finished second in the Rio de Janeiro State Championship that year.
In 1914, Flamengo won its first state championship. They wore a special red, black, and white striped shirt. They won again in 1915, and then in 1920 and 1921, showing they were a strong team.
In 1927, a newspaper held a contest to find "the most beloved club in Brazil." Flamengo won, even though they were still an amateur team. This is how they got the nickname "O mais querido do Brasil" (the most beloved of Brazil). In 1933, the team went on its first trip outside Brazil. After that, Flamengo's football team became professional.
Becoming Professional (1934–1955)
In 1934, José Bastos Padilha became the club president. He helped Flamengo become even more popular. He started a contest for students to create phrases about Flamengo. That's how the famous phrase "uma vez Flamengo, Flamengo até morrer" ("Once you are Flamengo, you are Flamengo 'til you die") was born.
In 1936, Flamengo signed amazing players like Domingos da Guia and Leônidas da Silva. Leônidas later became the top scorer in the 1938 FIFA World Cup while playing for Flamengo. These players made Flamengo even more loved by the public. The club also built a new stadium, the Estádio da Gávea, which opened in 1938.
In 1939, Flamengo won the state championship after 12 years. This team became the base for winning three state championships in a row in the 1940s. During World War II, Flamengo's popularity grew across Brazil. People in the North and Northeast could listen to their games on the radio.
From 1942 to 1944, Flamengo won the Rio de Janeiro state title three times in a row. This is called a tricampeonato Carioca. A key player during this time was Zizinho, who was considered the club's first "idol." Flamengo won the state league three more times in a row from 1953 to 1955.
The Zico Era and World Champions (1974–1983)
Flamengo won its 18th state championship in 1978. The next five years were the club's most glorious time. Brazilian stars like Júnior, Adílio, and Tita played alongside the legendary Zico. They won the state championship three times in a row again.
In 1980, Flamengo won its first Brazilian Championship. This allowed them to play in the 1981 Copa Libertadores, a big South American tournament. In the 1981 season, Flamengo made history. They reached the Copa Libertadores final against Cobreloa from Chile. After two tough games, they played a third match in Uruguay. Zico scored two goals, and Flamengo became champions of South America!
This win meant they qualified for the Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo against European Champions' Cup winner Liverpool F.C.. On December 13, 1981, Flamengo, led by Zico, played an incredible game. They beat Liverpool 3–0, with goals from Nunes (two) and Adílio. Flamengo became the first Brazilian World Champions since Pelé's Santos.
The club continued its success, winning another Rio de Janeiro State Championship in 1981 and two more Brazilian Championships in 1982 and 1983. This period is known as Flamengo's "Golden Age."
National Success Continues (1984–1994)
After playing in Italy for two years, Zico returned to Flamengo in 1986 and won his last state championship. In 1987, Zico helped Flamengo win the first edition of the Copa União. This was a special national championship organized by the biggest clubs in Brazil. Flamengo won the Copa União with strong performances from Zico and other stars.
Zico scored 508 goals for Flamengo throughout his career, making him the club's top scorer before he retired in 1990.
Even after Zico left, Flamengo continued to win. They won the Copa do Brasil in 1990. In 1992, Flamengo won its fifth Brazilian Championship, beating Botafogo in the final. Júnior, at 38 years old, was a key player in this victory.
Tough Times and Comebacks (1995–2018)
After 1992, Flamengo faced financial problems. They didn't win as many big trophies, but still managed some important ones. In 1995, for the club's 100th anniversary, they signed famous striker Romário. Even with Romário, they struggled in the league that year. However, in 1996, Flamengo won the state championship without losing a single game!
In 1999, Flamengo won the Copa Mercosur, an international tournament, beating Palmeiras in an exciting final. They also won the state championship against their rivals Vasco. They won the state championship again in 2000 and 2001, completing another tricampeão (three-time champion) run.
After 2001, Flamengo faced more financial difficulties. They almost got relegated from the top league several times, especially in 2002, 2004, and 2005. But they always managed to stay in the top division. In 2006, Flamengo finally won the Copa do Brasil for the first time, beating their rivals Vasco da Gama.
From 2007 to 2009, Flamengo won the state championship three times in a row again, setting a new record for most Carioca titles. In 2009, Flamengo won the Brazilian league title for the first time since 1992, after a dramatic comeback victory in the final game.
In 2011, Flamengo signed superstar Ronaldinho. They won the state championship without losing a game that year. However, they didn't win any other major trophies. In 2012, Ronaldinho left the club.
At the end of 2012, Eduardo Bandeira de Mello became president. His main goal was to improve the club's finances. In 2013, Flamengo won the Copa do Brasil again, their third time winning this important cup. By 2015, Flamengo had significantly reduced its debt and was the most valuable club in Brazil.
In 2017, Flamengo reached two major finals but lost both: the Copa do Brasil and the Copa Sudamericana. In 2018, they had a strong league season, leading for many rounds, but finished second behind Palmeiras. That year, two young players from Flamengo's youth academy, Vinícius Júnior and Lucas Paquetá, were transferred to big European clubs for large amounts of money.
New Glory (2019–Present)
2019 Season: A Historic Year
On February 8, 2019, a sad event happened at Flamengo's training center, the Ninho do Urubu. A fire broke out, and ten young academy players, aged 14 to 17, lost their lives. Three others were injured. The cause was a faulty air-conditioning unit. The club and fans remember these "Garotos do Ninho" (Vulture's Kids) with special songs during home games.
Despite this tragedy, the 2019 season became the most successful in Flamengo's football history. The club signed new players like Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Bruno Henrique, and Gabriel Barbosa. After a change in coaches, Portuguese manager Jorge Jesus took over. He brought in more European-based players like Rafinha and Filipe Luís.
Flamengo reached its first Copa Libertadores final since 1981. On November 23, 2019, in Peru, they played against River Plate. Flamengo was losing 0–1 in the final minutes, but Gabriel Barbosa scored two quick goals to win the game 2–1!
Less than 24 hours later, Flamengo also became champions of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (Brazilian League). This meant Flamengo won their state championship, the Brazilian League, and the Copa Libertadores all in the same season! Only Pelé's Santos team had done this before in 1962. Flamengo broke many records in the Brazilian League that year, including most points and most goals scored.
Flamengo then played in the FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar. They reached the final but lost 0–1 to Liverpool.
Recent Success (2020–Present)
In 2020, Flamengo continued its winning streak. They won the Supercopa do Brasil, the Recopa Sudamericana, and the Campeonato Carioca. Manager Jorge Jesus left in July 2020, and Rogério Ceni took over in November. Ceni led Flamengo to win a second consecutive Brazilian Championship in 2020.
In 2021, Flamengo won its third consecutive Campeonato Carioca. They also reached the Copa Libertadores Final again but lost to Palmeiras in extra time.
In 2022, under new manager Dorival Júnior, Flamengo had another wave of glory. They won the Copa do Brasil for the fourth time. Later that month, on October 29, 2022, Flamengo won their second Copa Libertadores in four years, and third overall, by beating Athletico Paranaense 1–0 in the final.
In 2023, Flamengo finished third in the FIFA Club World Cup. They also reached the Copa do Brasil final but were runners-up. In 2024, Flamengo won the Campeonato Carioca and the Copa do Brasil again.
Team Image
Club Crest
Flamengo's crest has changed a little over the years. The main part is the "CRF" monogram, which stands for "Clube de Regatas do Flamengo." This monogram is usually seen on the football team's shirts.
Since 2005, the club uses a gold star above the "CRF" monogram on their shirts. This gold star celebrates their Intercontinental Cup championship in 1981, which made them world champions.
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Team Uniforms
When Flamengo started in 1895, their colors were blue and gold. But they didn't win much, and the blue and gold fabric was expensive. So, after one year, they changed to the red and black colors we see today.
In 1912, the football team wore shirts with red and black quarters, nicknamed "papagaio de vintém" (kite). But this shirt was thought to bring bad luck. In 1913, they changed to red and black horizontal stripes with thin white bands, called "cobra coral" (coral snake). They won their first state championship in 1914 with this uniform. The white bands were removed in 1916. That's when the classic red and black striped shirt with white shorts and red-black socks was born.
In 1938, Flamengo started using a white away uniform for night games. This made them pioneers in Brazil for having a second uniform. Flamengo still mostly wears red and black striped shirts with white shorts as their main uniform.
          Traditional primary uniform
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 Traditional secondary uniform
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     2015 "papagaio de vintém" kit
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  2010 blue and gold alternative kit
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Scarlet-Black Nation
Flamengo has been the most supported club in Brazil for a long time, with over 40 million fans. These fans are known as Nação Rubro-Negra (Scarlet-Black Nation).
The first organized fan group in Brazil, Charanga Rubro-Negra, started for Flamengo in 1942. Many other fan groups have formed since then. In 2007, Flamengo supporters were even declared a part of Rio de Janeiro's cultural heritage.
Flamengo matches at the Maracanã Stadium have seen huge crowds. The biggest attendance for a football match between clubs in the world was a derby between Flamengo and Fluminense in 1963, with 194,603 spectators!
Club Mascot
Flamengo's first mascot was Popeye the Sailor Man in the 1940s. But he wasn't very popular.
In the 1960s, rival fans started calling Flamengo fans urubus (vultures). This was meant to be an insult. But on May 31, 1969, a Flamengo fan brought a real vulture to a game against Botafogo. The vulture landed on the field, and the crowd cheered, "It's a vulture, it's a vulture!" Flamengo won the game, and the vulture became the new, beloved mascot. Later, a cartoonist named Henfil drew the vulture in a friendly way, making it even more popular.
In 2000, the mascot got an official design and a name, Samuca, but fans still just call him Urubu (Vulture).
Club Anthem
Flamengo has two anthems. The official one, "Hymno Rubro-Negro", was created in 1920. The more popular one, written by Lamartine Babo, is the one most fans sing. Its famous line is "Uma vez Flamengo, sempre Flamengo" (Once you are Flamengo, always Flamengo).
Home Stadiums
Estádio da Gávea
Flamengo's official home stadium is the Estádio da Gávea, opened in 1938. It's named after José Bastos Padilha, a former president. Even though the main team doesn't play there anymore, it's still the club's main office. It's also used for youth and women's team matches and as a training ground.
Maracanã Stadium
The Maracanã is a very famous stadium built for the 1950 FIFA World Cup. It's the main home for the four biggest clubs in Rio de Janeiro, including Flamengo. In 1963, over 194,000 people watched a game between Flamengo and Fluminense there, a world record for club matches!
The stadium has been renovated several times. For the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, it underwent a major reconstruction. Flamengo often has to pay to use the stadium, but in 2019, Flamengo and Fluminense started managing the stadium together, which helps them get more from match days.
Ilha do Urubu
In 2017, Flamengo played its home games at the Estádio Luso Brasileiro, which fans nicknamed Ilha do Urubu (Vulture's Island). The stadium was updated to hold 20,500 fans. Flamengo played there for a while but later returned to the Maracanã.
New Stadium Plans
In December 2024, Flamengo shared plans for a new, modern stadium. It will hold 80,000 people and be built in the Gasômetro area. This new stadium is expected to be the largest in Brazil when it's finished, possibly by November 2029. It will have special features like a stand for passionate fans and huge LED screens.
Club Rivalries
Flamengo vs. Botafogo
The match between Flamengo and Botafogo is called the Clássico da Rivaldade (Rivalry Classic). It's a traditional derby in Rio de Janeiro. The rivalry started in 1913. Flamengo's vulture mascot actually came from this rivalry. Botafogo fans used to call Flamengo fans "vultures" as an insult, but Flamengo fans turned it into a symbol of pride.
Flamengo vs. Fluminense
The Fla-Flu is a very famous derby between Flamengo and Fluminense. It's also known as the Clássico das Multidões (Derby of the Crowds). This rivalry began in 1911 when some Fluminense players left to start Flamengo's football team. Fluminense won the first Fla-Flu game 3–2.
Over time, Flamengo became known as the team for working-class fans across Brazil, while Fluminense was more linked to the richer class in Rio. The Fla-Flu holds the world record for attendance in club games, with 194,603 spectators in 1963. Flamengo and Fluminense are the most successful teams in the Campeonato Carioca, with Flamengo having 39 titles and Fluminense 34. Since 2012, the Fla-Flu has been recognized as an important cultural heritage of Rio de Janeiro.
Flamengo vs. Vasco da Gama
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The Clássico dos Milhões (Derby of Millions) is the rivalry between Flamengo and Vasco da Gama. It's considered one of the biggest rivalries in Brazilian football. The name comes from the fact that both clubs have huge fan bases in Rio de Janeiro. The first football match between them was in 1923.
From 1972 to 2001, this rivalry was very intense. Flamengo and Vasco often played against each other in state championship finals. Famous players like Zico for Flamengo and Roberto Dinamite for Vasco were key figures in this rivalry. Many great players, like Bebeto and Romário, even played for both teams during their careers.
Flamengo vs. Atlético Mineiro
Flamengo also has a rivalry with Atlético Mineiro from Minas Gerais. This rivalry grew in the 1980s because of many exciting and sometimes controversial games between the two clubs in national and international tournaments.
Players
First Team Squad
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Retired Numbers
- 12 –
Club Supporters – This number is dedicated to the amazing rubro-negro fans, who are considered the 12th player on the field!
Management Team
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Coaching staff | |
| Head coach | Filipe Luís |
| Assistant head coach |  Iván Palanco |
| Assistant head coach | Márcio de Moraes Torres |
| Assistant head coach | Rodrigo Caio |
| Goalkeepers trainer | Rogério Maia |
| Goalkeepers trainer | Thiago Eller |
| Performance analyst | Wellington Sales |
| Performance analyst | Eduardo Coimbra |
| Performance analyst | Arthur Souza |
| Performance analyst | Victor Saad |
| Head of scouting |  Andrii Fedchenkov |
| Medical staff | |
| Health and high performance manager | Fernando Sassaki |
| Fitness coach | Diogo Linhares |
| Fitness coach | Arthur Peixoto |
| Fitness coach | Júnior Bezerra |
| Doctor | Marcelo Soares |
| Doctor | Fernando Bassan |
| Physiotherapist | Laniyan Neves |
Club Honours
Flamengo has won many important trophies throughout its history!
Official Tournaments
| Worldwide | ||
|---|---|---|
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Intercontinental Cup | 1 | 1981 |
| Continental (South America) | ||
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Copa Libertadores | 3 | 1981, 2019, 2022 |
| Recopa Sudamericana | 1 | 2020 |
| Copa Mercosur | 1s | 1999 |
| Copa de Oro | 1s | 1996 |
| National (Brazil) | ||
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Campeonato Brasileiro Série A | 7 | 1980, 1982, 1983, 1992, 2009, 2019, 2020 |
| Copa União | 1 | 1987 |
| Copa do Brasil | 5 | 1990, 2006, 2013, 2022, 2024 |
| Supercopa do Brasil | 3 | 2020, 2021, 2025 |
| Copa dos Campeões | 1s | 2001 |
| Inter-state (Brazil) | ||
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Torneio Rio–São Paulo | 1 | 1961(1) |
| State (Rio de Janeiro) | ||
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
| Campeonato Carioca | 39 | 1914, 1915, 1920, 1921, 1925, 1927, 1939, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1963, 1965, 1972, 1974, 1978, 1979 (Special), 1979, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025 |
| Copa Rio | 1 | 1991 |
- record
- s shared record
(1) In 1940, the competition was stopped with Flamengo and Fluminense in the lead. The clubs and newspapers at the time considered them the champions, and Flamengo still counts this title as one of its achievements.
Youth Team Honours
Flamengo's youth teams have also won many important titles, showing how strong their academy is:
- U20 Intercontinental Cup (1): 2024
- U-20 Copa Libertadores (2): 2024, 2025
- Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20 (2): 2019, 2023
- Supercopa do Brasil Sub-20 (1): 2019
- Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-17 (2): 2019, 2021
- Copa do Brasil Sub-17 (2): 2018, 2021
- Supercopa do Brasil Sub-17 (1): 2021
- Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior (4): 1990, 2011, 2016, 2018
Records
CONMEBOL Club Ranking
Flamengo is one of the top football clubs in South America, according to CONMEBOL's ranking.
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  River Plate |
9106.8 |
| 2 | Palmeiras |
9012.6 |
| 3 | Boca Juniors |
8305.2 |
| 4 | Flamengo |
7923.3 |
| 5 |  Peñarol |
5868.9 |
Current Board of Directors
| Office | Name |
|---|---|
| President | Luiz Eduardo Baptista |
| Vice-president | Flávio Willeman |
| Vice-president of administration | Ricardo Campelo Trevia de Almeida |
| Vice-president of communications and marketing | Gustavo Carvalho de Oliveira |
| Vice-president of Olympic sports | Guilherme de Lima Kroll |
| Vice-president of finance | Rodrigo Tostes Solon de Pontes |
| Vice-president of Fla-Gávea | Getúlio Brasil Nunes |
| Vice-president of football | Marcos Teixeira Braz |
| Vice-president of the presidential cabinet | Marcelo Conti Baltazar |
| Vice-president of heritage | Artur Rocha Neto |
| Vice-president of historic heritage | Luis Fernando Fadigas de Almeida |
| Vice-president of planning | Bernardo Amaral do Amaral |
| Vice-president of external relations | Adalberto Ribeiro da Silva Neto |
| Vice-president of rowing | Raul Bagattini |
| Vice-president of the general secretary | Paulo Cesar dos Santos Pereira Filho |
| Vice-president of information technology | Alexandre de Souza Pinto |
Other Sports at Flamengo
Flamengo is a multi-sport club, meaning it has teams in many different sports, not just football!
Men's Basketball
Flamengo's basketball team is one of the most successful in Brazil. They have won six Brazilian Championships and a record 44 Rio de Janeiro State Championships. In 2014, Flamengo won the League of the Americas without losing a single game. This led them to play in the Intercontinental Cup, where they became world champions! Flamengo is one of the few clubs to win Intercontinental Cups in both football and basketball.
Women's Football
The Flamengo women's football team was re-established in 2015. In their first season, they won the state championship. In 2016, they won the Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino, becoming the only club outside São Paulo state to win it since it started in 2013. They have won the state championship every year from 2015 to 2019, and again in 2021, 2023, and 2024.
Women's Basketball
Flamengo's women's basketball team also has a rich history. They won back-to-back Brazilian championships in 1954 and 1955, and again in 1964 and 1965. In 1966, they won the Inter-club Basketball World Championship, led by the great player Angelina.
Rowing
Rowing was the very first sport at Flamengo, starting in 1895. The club quickly became successful in rowing, winning many championships. This success made the club famous even before the football team was formed. Flamengo has won 45 Carioca state titles in rowing.
Water Polo
Water polo is the second oldest sport at Flamengo. The team played its first game in 1913. Flamengo's water polo team won its first Rio de Janeiro championship in 1985 and then won nine in a row! They also won the South American Club Championship. A women's water polo team was started in 1987 and also won state and national titles.
American Football
In 2013, Flamengo started an American football team, partnering with the Rio de Janeiro Emperors. The team is called the Flamengo Emperors and plays in the BFA (Brasil Futebol Americano) league.
Tennis
Flamengo started playing tennis championships in 1916 and won three Rio championships soon after. The club built its own tennis courts in 1963. A famous tennis player from Flamengo is Thomas Koch.
E-sports
In 2017, Flamengo entered the world of e-sports. They started with a League of Legends team and later a PES team. Flamengo has a special "gaming office" in São Paulo for its e-sports teams.
Other Sports
Flamengo also has departments for many other sports, including:
- Artistic gymnastics
- Auto racing
- Beach soccer
- Bocce
- CP football (football for players with cerebral palsy)
- Futsal (indoor football)
- Indoor soccer
- Judo
- Swimming
- Synchronized swimming
- Volleyball
Images for kids
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The recently formed football team before a match vs. Paissandu, 1912
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The Flamengo team of 1914, when the club won its first Carioca championship
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Flamengo's team, 1934. National Archives of Brazil
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Adriano celebrating a goal for Flamengo. In 2009 he finished as joint top-scorer in Série A with 19 goals.
See also
In Spanish: Clube de Regatas do Flamengo para niños
