Founding of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo (1895)
O mais querido do Brasil
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, more commonly referred to as simply Flamengo, is a Brazilian multi-sports club based in Rio de Janeiro, in the neighborhood of Gávea. It was founded in and named after the Flamengo neighborhood in 1895, and is best known for its professional football team.
- Founders
- Nineteen students from Colégio Andrews
- Football Debut Year
- 1913
Lore & Background
Flamengo was founded on 17 November 1895, by a group of rowers gathered at club member Nestor de Barros's manor on Flamengo Beach in Rio de Janeiro. The group founded the Grupo de Regatas do Flamengo and elected its first board and president. The name was changed a few weeks later to Clube de Regatas do Flamengo. The club did not play its first official football match until 1912. The football department was established on 24 December 1911, after a group of ten dissatisfied players from Fluminense broke away and joined Flamengo.
In Their Own Story
The oars sliced through the calm waters of Guanabara Bay, rhythmic splashes echoing against Gávea's stone embankments. Eight students from Colégio Andrews pushed forward in unison, lungs burning but eyes fixed on the horizon. They were forging a legacy with every stroke. As the sun dipped low, casting long shadows over the bay, their shared ambition was silent but palpable: this small team would one day unite millions under a single red and black banner.
Reader's Guide
Flamengo's traditional uniform features red and black striped shirts with white shorts, and red and black striped socks. The club has typically played its home matches in the Maracanã Stadium since its completion in 1950. Since 1969, the vulture (urubu) has been the mascot. The club's training center, Ninho do Urubu, is located in Vargem Grande, Rio de Janeiro. Flamengo is Brazil's richest and most valuable football club with an annual revenue of R$1.2 billion and a valuation of over R$5,096 billion.
Did You Know?
- Flamengo is one of two clubs to have never been relegated from Brazil's top division, along with São Paulo.
- Flamengo has more than 46.9 million fans, equivalent to 21.9% of the population that supports a team in Brazil.
- Flamengo is the non-European football club with the most followers on social media, with 65 million followers across all platforms as of 2 December 2025.
- Four out of the ten top scorers for Brazil have been Flamengo players at one point in their careers.
- Flamengo's youth academy has developed Brazilian internationals such as Zico, Vinícius Júnior, and Mário Zagallo.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Clube de Regatas do Flamengo established?
The club began its legacy in 1895 along the shores of Guanabara Bay at Rua do Catete. This founding occurred before any football goals were ever scored in Rio.
Who founded the original rowing team?
Nineteen students from Colégio Andrews came together to create this aquatic organization. They prioritized rowing discipline over soccer during those early years.
Was football part of the club from day one?
No, Flamengo started strictly as a dedicated rowing team rather than a football giant. The sport was not added to their repertoire until 1913.
What impact did the rowing foundation have on the club?
This aquatic beginning built the essential community spirit and discipline needed for future success. Those early values eventually fueled a global revolution in football.
How many years passed before Flamengo played soccer?
The team waited eighteen years after its 1895 founding to make its official football debut in 1913. This gap highlights the club's deep roots in rowing history.
More in Club History & Eras
Elsewhere in the Flamengo universe
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