The Noise from Brazil : Flamengo

Are Flamengo the wrong club in the right place for Ronaldinho?

Jon Cotterill — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 09:50:00 GMT

The former FIFA world footballer of the year is back home. Here, TV Globo’s football commentator Jon Cotterill looks at how cash-strapped Brazilian clubs are bringing back the stars

Ronaldinho Gaúcho’s transfer from AC Milan to Brazil’s biggest club, Flamengo, made the headlines all over the world. The club’s website, already geared up to cater for the estimated 38 million Rubro Negro fans, crashed due to the massive demand for news on the player.

The 30-year-old is following in the footsteps of big names such as Ronaldo, Robinho, Roberto Carlos, Adriano, Fred and Elano who have all returned home in recent seasons.

But financing the transfer fee and wages of super stars like Ronaldinho is well beyond the means of any Brazilian club. The attacking midfielder’s move is one more example of the growing trend in the country of sponsors and sports marketing companies stepping in to make a deal possible.

Traffic Sports are paying the bulk of the player’s salary, which is reported to be around £380,000 a month. Before switching to Roma in July 2010, Adriano was believed to be earning a similar amount cobbled together from sponsors Olympikus, Ale and Bozzano.

Sample Ronnie's sheer delight at being unveiled at Flamengo

Brazilian investors have caught on that money can be made from having a famous face on their products and even though Ronaldinho Gaúcho’s career appears to be on a downward spiral, the signing could turn out to be a real cash cow for the moneymen and Flamengo.

As well as the increased revenue, the returning stars have delivered on the pitch and helped their clubs pick up domestic honours. Corinthians won the São Paulo state league (the Paulista) and the Brazilian Cup with Ronaldo in 2009. Flamengo and Adriano won the league the same year. In 2010, Robinho led Santos to the Paulista and the Brazilian Cup, and Fred played a part in Fluminense’s success in the national league.

Flamengo’s coach, Vanderlei Luxemburgo, called Ronaldinho’s arrival ‘the biggest signing ever in Brazilian football’. While the former Real Madrid manager recognizes the 30-year-old’s marketing value to Flamengo, he says that it’s more important that the player leads the club to glory on the field.

After failing to make Brazil’s World Cup squad for South Africa, Ronaldinho believes that playing in his homeland will strengthen his attempts to return to the national squad. Though Gaúcho will be given more time on the ball than he was accustomed to in Europe, he may find the task of getting back on to the international stage harder than he expects. While the medals have come for the returning stars, only Robinho has managed to keep his place with the national team.

Ronaldinho’s fate rests on a club that is once again going through a major rebuild. After winning the league in 2009, Fla survived relegation by the skin of their teeth last year. With five championships to his name, Luxemburgo is the Brasileiro’s most successful coach. However, he hasn’t won the league since 2004 when he was at Santos and his last ‘rebuild’ almost led Atlético Mineiro to disaster in 2010.

Ronaldinho is expected to bolster an attack that produced just 41 goals in 38 games in the league last season. While Flamengo want to win the Rio state championship (the Campeonato Carioca) for local bragging rights, their priority will be the Brazilian Cup as taking the trophy will earn the club a place in next year’s Libertadores.

Can Ronnie contine his involvement with the national team?

After 2010’s debacle, success on the pitch is naturally a big concern for Flamengo. But the Rubro Negro’s are also looking for a quick commercial return on their investment.

Hours after the attacking midfielder put pen to paper on Monday evening, the Rio outfit were selling shirts with Ronaldinho’s name on the back for a princely sum of R$159.90 (£60). However, initial sales have been slow as fans are waiting for the arrival of the 2011 kit that will be launched in February.

Flamengo are keen to repeat the financial success they had with Adriano. In 2009, Fla sold 932,000 items bearing the club’s name – Adriano’s number ten shirt was responsible for 80% of this figure. Replica kits sales were four times higher than in 2008 and at one point, the club claimed they were selling a jersey every 14 seconds. With Ronaldinho on board, Flamengo can expect an even greater turnover.

However, one place where shirt sales will be rock bottom is in the blue, black and white half of Porto Alegre. In the days before he finally signed for Fla, it seemed certain that Ronaldinho was on his way back to his first club, Grêmio. But after embarrassing the tricolor Gaúcho by spurning their offer, the player and his agent (his brother Roberto Assis) have become hate figures at the Estádio Olímpico.

Palmeiras were equally enraged. After announcing that they had met all of Ronaldinho’s financial demands, they too were snubbed. Both club directors and coach, Luis Felipe Scolari, continue to vent their anger at Ronaldinho and his brother.

Fans flock to see Ronaldinho - but will they all buy new shirts...?

Clearly, the pair have done themselves no favours in the way they handled the transfer and it’s a near certainty that Ronaldinho will be ‘injured’ for the away ties at Grêmio and Palmeiras.

Signing Ronaldinho was a feather in the cap for Flamengo and for Brazilian football in general. But there are questions over the player’s motives for returning home when he has the ability to be mixing it with the best in Europe.

His critics argue that the midfielder peaked five years ago and that he’s been on a steady decline ever since. Ronaldinho has stated that his principal reasons for going home are to win domestic silverware and to re-establish himself with the national side in time for the World Cup in 2014. But from a purely footballing perspective was Flamengo the right choice? With Ronaldinho’s predilection for the nightlife, many suspect that it could be the case that Fla is the wrong club in the right place.

While Brazil coach Mano Menezes thinks it’s an advantage that the player is back, he didn’t go as far as saying that Ronaldinho would be in the squad for the friendly versus France on February 9th.

The playmaker has plenty of time to get his form back. But he’ll be 34 when the World Cup comes around and Ronaldinho will have to be in top shape if he’s to stand any chance of helping Brazil lift the trophy in their own backyard.

How to go from champs to chumps in the space of a year

Jon Cotterill — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 11:34:00 GMT

Flamengo, Brazil’s biggest club and current league champions, are facing the humiliation of becoming the first side to win the Brasileiro and go down the following season. Brazilian TV commentator Jon Cotterill looks at what’s gone wrong...

Eleven months ago, Flamengo were lifting Brazil’s national league championship, the Campeonato Brasileiro. Now the holders have three games to save themselves from making a dramatic and spectacular switch from heroes to zeros.

Flamengo are one of the most successful and glamorous clubs in Brazil. Huge stars such as Junior, Zico, Bebeto and Romário all wore the famous red and black jersey and it’s estimated that the Rio outfit has 33 to 40 million fans across the country.

According to many Fla supporters, that statistic makes their team the biggest in the world. And if the numbers are correct, it could mean oceans of tears will be shed when this season’s Campeonato Brasileiro comes to an end on December 5.

Less than a year ago, the glory days were back as Flamengo lifted their sixth league title. Now, the Rubro Negros (Red and Blacks) are just three points above the relegation zone with three games remaining.

If Fla do go down, they will join the growing list of Brazilian giants to have crashed out of the First Division in recent times. Since 2000, Palmeiras, Grêmio, Atlético Mineiro, Botafogo and Vasco have all had a spell in Série B.

What’s special about Flamengo’s case is that no reigning league champion has been relegated from the top flight, although Corinthians did come close. With the likes of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano in the squad, the Musketeers won the Brasileiro in 2005. Two seasons later, they were in the Second Division.

Flamengo are desperate to avoid the this unwated piece of history. But what got them into this pickle in the first place?

In many ways, winning the league in 2009 papered over the cracks of Fla’s set up. Poor infrastructure, under-investment, a lack of long-term planning, managerial in-fighting leading to a change of president, and severe debt have all contributed to the club’s current predicament.

But failing to build on last year’s success and making some very poor footballing decisions in 2010 is what could ultimately cost Flamengo most.

The biggest mistakes were made on the coaching and playing fronts. After handing the club their first Brasileiro since 1992, coach Andrade failed to deliver the Rio state championship. Fla also struggled early on in the Libertadores, but made it out of the group stage.

Instead of showing faith in the coach that had led them to the league only four month previously, Andrade was shown the door in April. His replacement was junior team coach, Rógerio Lourenço. With no experience of handling a senior side, Lourenço did well to last four months before getting the chop.

By this time, former Flamengo and Brazil star, Zico, had been made director of football. Instead of going for a big name manager, he opted for another relatively inexperienced coach, Paulo Silas – a man who had just been fired after a calamitous spell at Grêmio. Silas survived just six weeks. Zico was accused of transfer irregularities by a fellow director and soon followed Silas out of the door.

In early October, Vanderlei Luxemburgo was brought in. With five titles to his name, Luxemburgo is the most successful coach in the Brasileiro history. However, the 58-year-old arrived on the back of a disastrous time at Atlético Mineiro in which he had left the Belo Horizonte side in the relegation zone.

Initially, the move restored confidence and Flamengo won two out of their first three matches under the former Real Madrid coach. But in the five games since the Rio club have drawn three and lost two, including a 4-1 thumping by Atlético Mineiro last week, and have now slipped back into trouble.

At the end of 2009, Fla boasted a squad that included Adriano, Aírton, Everton, Zé Roberto, Bruno Mezenga and Bruno Fernandes. While the first five left at the end of their contracts, goalkeeper and former captain, Bruno Fernandes, is missing for an altogether more grizzly reason.

The 25-year-old always had something of a bad boy image, but that didn’t make it any less of a shock when in July he was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the disappearance and possible murder of former girlfriend Eliza Samudio. Samudio’s body has not been found and it is believed that she was chopped up and fed to dogs owned by one of Fernandes’ accomplices.

Early this year, Fla had benefitted from the experienced forward duo of Adriano and Vágner Love. But after the club’s exit from the Libertadores, the stars were on their way and scoring became a problem.

Lesser names were drafted in as replacements - and Val Baiano, Cristian Borja, Leandro Amaral all struggled in front of goal. Halfway through the season, Fla finally reached for the cheque book to bring in ex Fenerbahçe man, Deivid de Souza, and former Olympiakos striker, Diogo Santo, but the signings have proved ineffective.

Deivid has hit the net four times, Diogo just once. Fla have now scored just 38 times in 35 matches - only Grêmio Prudente (37) and Guarani (32) have scored fewer goals.

As well as the problems up front, Flamengo failed to refresh an aging side that has suffered due to the rigours of a tough Brazilian season that started way back in January.

Léo Moura, Ronaldo Angelim, Maldonado, Renato and former World Cup winner and Manchester United midfielder Kléberson are all in their thirties. Midfielder Petkovic, who was inspirational last season, is now 38, but remains the club’s top scorer with five goals.

To add to these woes, keeper Marcelo Lomba appears to have lost confidence at a crucial time and has not kept a clean sheet in five outings.

As things stand, Fla are in 14th on 40 points. Then come Atlético Mineiro and Vitória both on 39, with the current bottom four made up of Avaí (37), Guarani (37), and Goiás (32) and the already relegated Grêmio Prudente, who went down last weekend. Three more sides will follow them into Série B.

Though their current situation looks perilous, the Rubro Negro’s fate is in their hands. On Saturday, they’re at home to Guarani. The Campinas side have not won in ten matches and have won just once on their travels (1-0 at Vasco).

Three points at the weekend is essential but still may not be enough. In their penultimate game, Fla are in Rio against a Cruzeiro team pushing for the league title, and on the final day are away at Santos.

The boys from the Vila Belmiro have already qualified for the Libertadores. Flamengo’s survival may depend on the mood of Neymar and co, who are more than capable of taking Brazil’s biggest club to the cleaners and condemning them to Série B.

Corinthians look to Ronaldo to keep Libertadores dream alive

Celso de Campos Jr — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:24:00 GMT

Ladies and gentleman, the Copa Libertadores, South America’s own Champions League, has entered its playoff phase this week and, as it is standard procedure in such life-defining events, we take the dusty crystal ball out of the cabinet to reveal, with undisputed exclusivity (which is more than can be said for the accuracy), the teams which will emerge as winners.

So get ready to call your bookie… And be prepared to be the first fan to make FourFourTwo’s rich list at the end of the year.

Corinthians (BRA) v Flamengo (BRA)

It’s the ultimate heavy weight clash, and I’m not talking about Ronaldo and Adriano...

The two most supported clubs in Brazil (more than 60 million fans in total) face off in the most anticipated clash of the year.

Adriano’s penalty was enough to give Flamengo a 1-0 lead after last night’s first leg, but Ronaldo, despite not being as hot as last year, is still capable of rising to such an occaision.

THE NOISE FROM BRAZIL VERDICT: Corinthians to overcome the deficit and progress, with Ronaldo scoring.

São Paulo (BRA) v Universitario (PER)

Hoping to relive the continental glory of 2005, São Paulo built one of the best rosters in Brazil this year by signing, among others, Marcelinho Paraiba, Cicinho, Cleber Santana and Alex Silva to join ranks with Hernanes, Washington and co.

But it just didn’t click, and coach Ricardo Gomes has had a hard time controlling the team both tactically and in terms of discipline. Yet they’re going to have enough to get past Universitario, Peru’s most popular team.

The Peruvians did well in the first phase, for a Peruvian side that is, knocking out Lanus of Argentina and finishing the group stage undefeated, taking two wins and four draws from the six matches. They’ll remember it fondly.

THE NOISE FROM BRAZIL VERDICT: São Paulo

Universidad de Chile (CHI) v Alianza Lima (PER)

Another side to emerge from the group stages unbeaten were Chilean outfir Universidad de Chile, who earned three wins and three draws, showing glimpses of fine football in the matches against Flamengo and also in the all-Chilean battles with Universidad Catolica.

The trump cards in coach Pelusso’s pack are skilled midfield Montillo and giant centre forward Olivera.

Alianza Lima’s presence in the playoff stage has to be credited to lady luck: they drew one of the weakest groups of the tournament, with minnows Bolivar and Juan Aurich.

Even so, they managed to surprise defending champion Estudiantes, hammering the Argentinians 4-1 in their second match. Expect them to put up a fight against the Chileans too.

THE NOISE FROM BRAZIL VERDICT: Universidad de Chile

Nacional (URU) v Cruzeiro (BRA)

The only clash between two former Libertadores winners promises to be one of the closest meetings of the round.

Nacional made the semis last year; and once again they’ve come up strong to fiercely defend the honor Uruguayan football.

Coach Eduardo Acevedo already spiced up the rivalry by claiming Cruzeiro’s defense is slow and that the Brazilian side’s history doesn’t match his side’s.

Runner-up in 2009, Cruzeiro kept the same base, in which nutter forward Kleber, the tournament top scorer with seven goals, stands out. This year, however, the team has alternated fantastic exhibitions – like the 3-0 rout of Velez – with sloppy performances, like the draw against borderline amateur Deportivo Italia (the only point the Venezuelans scored in the whole tournament).

THE NOISE FROM BRAZIL VERDICT: Cruzeiro

Internacional (BRA) v Banfield (ARG)

In the only Brazil-Argentina clash of the round, the best defense of the tournament (Internacional, with just two goals conceded) will take on the best attack (Banfield, who have scored 13 goals so far).

It was the attack that triumphed in the first leg, with the Argentineans taking a 3-1 lead into the second leg.

Coached by the Uruguayan Jorge Fossatti, who’s yet to justify his appointment, the Brazilians rely on their Argentinian trio (keeper Pato Abbonzanzieri and midfielders Guinazu and D’Alessandro) to triumph.

THE NOISE FROM BRAZIL VERDICT: Banfield

Velez Sarsfield (ARG) v C.D. Guadalajara (MEX)

I’d have bet on Velez if by the time I wrote this piece the Mexicans had not rolled over the Argentinians 3-0 in Guadalajara, on Tuesday.

Please note that five regular Chivas’ starters did not play – they’re already practicing with the Mexican National Team for the World Cup. Wow. (Should we fear the Sombrero Army that much in South Africa?)

THE NOISE FROM BRAZIL VERDICT: Chivas (kind of easy, now)

Estudiantes (ARG) v San Luis (MEX)

Another battle that already kicked off – but this time the Argentineans jumped ahead, as expected.

The defending Libertadores champions cruised to a 1-0 win in Mexico and will just practice back home in the second leg, waiting for the next opponent.

THE NOISE FROM BRAZIL VERDICT: Estudiantes

Libertad (PAR) v Once Caldas (COL)

Libertad became a powerhouse in Paraguay in the last decade, winning six titles and stealing the show from local giants Olimpia and Cerro Porteño.

They have even pulled out some great Libertadores performances – in 2006, they reach the semis.

This season, Libertad has a younger team, which had a fine tournament start, topping Group 4 with 12 points from a possible 18.

But their first true challenge will be presented by perennial underdogs Once Caldas, who starred in one of the Copa Libertadores’ greatest all-time upsets in the final of 2004 whey they beat Boca Juniors on penalties.

Dayro Moreno, one of the aces of that team, is back to Manizales. Now coached by Juan Carlos Osorio, the Colombians seemed to have found that old black magic again – they only lost the group leadership to favorite São Paulo on the last game, selling hard a 1-0 away defeat.

My guess is they will still trick at least one giant this year.

THE NOISE FROM BRAZIL VERDICT: Once Caldas