Ninho do Urubu

Lore & Background

The property was acquired on August 30, 1984 by president George Helal for Cr$300 million, but construction was delayed for many years. On May 21, 2011 under club president Patricia Amorim, the site was authorized for construction. Construction began in 2011 and the club began use of the facilities in mid 2012. Between 2015 and 2016, major additions were implemented including more football pitches, a medical center, and a Center of Excellence in Performance (CEP). The total construction cost is approximately R$30 million, and construction was completed in 2016. The total land area is 140,000 m². On the morning of February 8, 2019, a fire in the living quarters killed ten youth academy players aged 14 to 17 and hospitalized three others.

In Their Own Story

Morning mist often clings to the slopes of Vargem Grande, muffling the distant skyline until the first whistle cuts through the silence. Inside the Ninho do Urubu, the air carries the scent of cut grass and deep heat rub. The corridors echo with the sharp commands of coaches and the rhythmic thud of balls during drills. Here, players live, train, and breathe Flamengo within these walls, separated from the outside world to focus entirely on the pursuit of glory. As the sun breaks through the clouds, illuminating the red-and-black flags snapping in the wind, the atmosphere shifts from quiet preparation to intense focus. This is not just a training ground; it is a crucible where the next generation prepares to carry the weight of history.

Reader's Guide

The complex includes training pitches, a medical center, a Center of Excellence in Performance (CEP), and a press room named after Victorino Chermont, a journalist and Flamengo supporter who died in the LaMia Airlines Flight 2933 crash. During the 2016 Summer Olympics, the facilities were used by the Brazil U23 and Argentina U23 football teams under an agreement between Flamengo and the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee.

Did You Know?

• The press room at Ninho do Urubu is named after Victorino Chermont, a Fox Sports Brazil journalist and Flamengo supporter who died in the LaMia Airlines Flight 2933 crash.
• The fire on February 8, 2019 was caused by a malfunctioning air-conditioning unit that caught fire around 5:00 AM in a temporary living quarters in a newly expanded section of the campus.
• Ten players aged 14 to 17 died in the fire: Athila de Souza Paixão, Arthur Vinícius de Barros da Silva Freitas, Bernardo Pisetta, Christian Esmério Candido, Jorge Eduardo dos Santos Ferreira Sacramento, Pablo Henrique da
• Three players were hospitalized with injuries: Cauan Emanuel Gomes Nunes (14), Francisco Dyogo Bento Alves (15), and Jhonatha Cruz Ventura (15), whose condition was the most severe.