Flamengo Codexery

Ninho do Urubu

The training ground and youth headquarters of Flamengo, site of a tragic fire in 2019.

The Centro de Treinamento George Helal (George Helal Training Center), commonly known as Ninho do Urubu, is the training ground and youth team headquarters of Brazilian football club Flamengo. It is located in the Vargem Grande neighborhood, in the Southwest Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Quick Facts

Location
Vargem Grande, Rio de Janeiro
Primary function
Training Center & Academy Headquarters
Predecessor facility
Centro de Treinamento da Gávea
Status
Active (Current Home of Flamengo)
Key feature
Multiple professional-grade football pitches

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.

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.

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