Fluminense
Fluminense Football Club
Confederação Brasileira de Futebol - CBF
Data de fundação: 07/21/1902
Apelidos: Tricolor, Flu, Fluzão
Cidade: Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Site oficial: www.fluminense.com.br
História:
The Fluminense Football Club was established on July 21, 1902, with Oscar Alfredo Cox being the key figure in its founding. After completing his studies in Switzerland, the young man returned to Brazil and, inspired by the sport he had come to love in Europe, organized matches in Rio de Janeiro in 1901 and later in São Paulo. Encouraged by the success of these excursions, he and 19 other associates founded Fluminense, the first Rio de Janeiro association dedicated to football.
A testament to this pioneering spirit is that the club became the first state champion in 1906. With victories in the following three editions, they became the four-time state champions, a feat matched only by Botafogo in the 1930s. After the 1911 title, internal turmoil at Fluminense led to the departure of nine players who helped create a football section at Clube de Regatas Flamengo. Until 2000, Fluminense won 28 state championships, earning them the honorary title of Rio de Janeiro State Champion of the 20th century. Up to 2016, Fluminense also claimed the state championship title on three occasions (2002, 2005, and 2012).
The 1949 Olympic Cup:
However, Fluminense's achievements extended beyond the boundaries of Rio de Janeiro and even internationally. In 1949, the International Olympic Committee awarded the club the Olympic Cup (Cup of Honor) for being a model of sports organization for the entire world. Fluminense is the only multi-sport club to receive this honor, considered the highest in the world of sports. The title is typically awarded to groups associated with the organization of the Olympic Games but has also been granted to amateur clubs, schools, sports newspapers, and national administrations.
The title is granted by the IOC after a rigorous and detailed examination of the dossiers presented by candidate clubs. To receive this honor, the club must be an example of administrative organization and successful in sports, social, artistic, and civic aspects. It must be a paragon of perfection throughout an entire year, chosen as the best among institutions worldwide.
The Olympic Cup (Coupe Olympique) was established in 1906 by Pierre Frédy, Baron de Coubertin, the creator of the modern Olympic Games. In 1919, the Brazilian Sports Confederation (Confederação Brasileira de Desportos) embarked on a campaign to host the 3rd South American Football Championship, the first international event of its kind to be held in Brazil. However, a unique problem arose: there was no stadium in the country suitable for hosting the games. Fluminense, responding to the call from CBD officials, took on the challenge and the responsibility of building the Laranjeiras Stadium, inaugurating it on the scheduled start date of the championship (May 11-29, 1919), enabling the completion of all matches, which culminated in the brilliant victory of the Brazilian team over Uruguay, with a legendary goal by Arthur Friedenreich.
Shortly after the South American Championship, Fluminense was approached by the national sports entities' leaders, who intended to organize the Latin American Olympic Games in 1922 to celebrate the first centenary of Brazil's Independence. They faced a challenge, though, as there was no suitable venue for the event in the country. Once again, the Rio club took on the task of hosting and organizing the event, expanding the Laranjeiras Stadium, where the Latin American Olympic Games of 1922 were held, during the presidency of Arnaldo Guinle, who is now the club's patron. Participants included Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Mexico, as well as detachments from the navies of the United States, England, and Japan, which paraded in the opening ceremony.
Another international achievement by Fluminense was winning the 1952 Rio Cup, at a time when the population was still mourning the loss of the 1950 FIFA World Cup, which took place at the Maracanã Stadium. This competition is a precursor to the FIFA Club World Cup.
On a national level, Fluminense won its first title in 1970. The second Campeonato Brasileiro title was secured in 1984, under the leadership of Romerito, a Paraguayan midfielder. However, Fluminense experienced its worst years in the following decade, being relegated to the third division. The turn of the century seemed to breathe new life into Fluminense, which returned to the top tier of Brazilian football and also made strong performances in the Copa do Brasil, finishing as runners-up in 2005 and winning the title in 2007. This title earned them qualification for the 2008 Copa Libertadores, where they reached the final but were defeated in a penalty shootout by LDU from Ecuador.
In 2009, the famous "Time dos Guerreiros" (Warriors' Team) defied the odds, as mathematics had predicted a 99% chance of relegation, but with a strong finish, they secured their place in Serie A. They also reached the final of the Copa Sudamericana but were again defeated by the Ecuadorian team. In 2010, Fluminense won their third Campeonato Brasileiro title. Just like in 1984, a foreign player was the standout in the victory: Argentinean Conca holds a special place in the hearts of the "pó de arroz" (rice powder) fans – the origin of the nickname dates back to 1914 when Fluminense signed the mixed-race player Carlos Alberto, who played with rice powder spread on his body to try to lighten his skin color. In 2012, the club claimed their 4th national championship title with an impeccable campaign, featuring the striker Fred and goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri. They secured the title with three rounds to spare.
Today, Fluminense is known as "Tricolor" or "Tricolor das Laranjeiras." However, the club's original uniform was gray and white. Due to difficulties in obtaining gray fabric, a General Assembly held in 1904 decided on the current colors. As a result, the "pó-de-arroz" players typically wear jerseys with vertical stripes in grená, green, and white.
In 2023, the club achieved its greatest glory, winning the Copa Libertadores of America by defeating Boca Juniors (ARG) 2-1 in the final, which took place at the Maracanã.