Rubro-Negro Identity

Flamengo: o mais querido do Brasil (the most beloved of Brazil).

Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, founded on November 17, 1895, began as a rowing club in the Flamengo neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro before establishing its football department in 1912. The club is defined by its traditional uniform: red and black striped shirts with white shorts and matching socks. Since 1969, the vulture (urubu) has served as the official mascot. With more than 46.9 million fans in Brazil—equivalent to 21.9% of the population that supports a team—it stands as the most popular football club in the country. The identity is cemented by the phrase 'uma vez Flamengo, Flamengo até morrer' ('Once you are Flamengo, you are Flamengo 'til you die'), which originated from a school contest organized by president José Bastos Padilha in the 1930s.

Quick Facts

Club name: Clube de Regatas do Flamengo
Founding year: 1895
Colors: Red and Black
Home stadium: Maracanã
Nickname: Rubro-Negro
Global fanbase status: Most popular football club in Brazil

Lore & Background

The club's identity was forged through specific historical milestones, starting with its founding on November 17, 1895, by rowers at Nestor de Barros's manor. On their debut on 6 October 1895 strong winds overturned their used boat, the Pherusa, and the rowers had to be rescued by a fishing boat; the Pherusa was later stolen while under repair, so the group saved for a new boat, the Etoile, renamed Scyra. The transition to football occurred on December 24, 1911, when ten players from Fluminense joined due to a board dispute.

Their first official match on May 3, 1912, resulted in a historic 16–2 victory over Mangueira. The nickname 'o mais querido do Brasil' emerged after a 1927 mail-in contest by the Jornal do Brasil, where Flamengo defeated rivals Vasco da Gama despite having fewer professional players at the time. This popularity surged further during World War II when radio broadcasts allowed fans across Brazil's North and Northeast to follow matches featuring idols like Zizinho and Domingos da Guia.

Reader's Guide

To understand the Rubro-Negro identity, one must recognize its origins in rowing on November 17, 1895, where founders elected Domingos Marques de Azevedo as the first president. The football department was established in December 1911 after a vote against participation failed, leading to their debut match in May 1912. Fans should note that the club's traditional colors—red and black stripes with white shorts—were nicknamed 'papagaio vintém' initially, later evolving into the 'cobra coral' design used from 1914 to 1916.

The identity is deeply rooted in the Maracanã Stadium, where Flamengo has played since 1950, and the Ninho do Urubu training center in Vargem Grande. Supporters are urged to remember that the club never relegated from Brazil's top division, sharing this distinction only with São Paulo. The connection to national heroes like Leônidas da Silva (Golden Boot and Ball winner in 1938) and Zizinho (Golden Ball winner in 1950) remains a central pillar of the fan experience.