After 23 Years Fluminense Wins a National Title

By: Bruno Romani | June 6th, 2007

Fluminense visited Figueirense in Floripa and won by 1-0, through Roger.

Fluminense is the Champions. Fluminense is in the 2008 edition of Copa Libertadores.

Update:

23 years.

Time in which the Cold-War ended, Brazil brought to an end military rule, Brazilian national currency changed at least 5 times, the internet emerged, September 11th happened, John Paul II died, Michael Jackson went from being a sympathetic Black kid to a white weirdo crazy for kids, Ayrton Senna went from being a young promising talent to a dead-hero. After all this time, past all these events, two frustrating losses in 1992 and 2005 and three relegations, Fluminense finally won a national title.

An entire generation of Fluminense fans lost its virginity before watching their club winning something important. They’re not the only ones. Renato Gaúcho, polemic ex-forward, excluded from the 1986 World Cup for indiscipline by Telê Santana, lost his virginity as a coach tonight. Famous for quotes like “When I throw parties at my apartment even the Christ (in reference to the famous statue in Rio) closes his eyes,” and remembered by Fluminense fans for the goal he scored with his belly that gave the club the state league of 1995, Renato becomes part of history of the club as a coach now. Coincidence or not, that state league was the last title of his career and Fluminense is the first club Renato coached.

Destiny wanted that. The goal of the title came through a man that just went to the match because defender Luiz Alberto got injured the day before. With 3 minutes into the game, Roger, the number 4, made history. He stopped the ball on his chest and, as if he were a striker, calmly hit the ball to the back of the net.

Figueirense, who was also seeking to lose its virginity at the national stage, grew. And put a lot of pressure. Mário Sérgio, also polemic and Renato’s ex-teammate, had never won a title in his career, and made subs still in the first-half. Fluminense was pushed against its defensive line, and each ball, each header, made fans from both clubs breathless. It was hard to think that Fluminense could, once again in the tournament, win away from home. The box of miracles happened too often for Fluminense, and fans are suspicious of that, especially after 23 years.

In the second-half, more pressure. But Figueirense, as a good virgin, started to show signs that it would have an early ejaculation. In a good counter-attack, Alex Dias did his usual thing: great-play followed by missing an easy goal. Arouca and Carlos Alberto also had their chances. With so many chances to score the second-goal missed, fears of a tie started to emerge. Figueirense played the last 15 in total despair, suffocating, trying to put another year on Fluminense’s back. At the 37th mark, Fernando Henrique, keeper named like an ex-President, became king by saving the last chance the home team had.

5 more minutes for 23 years come to an end. They passed like centuries, and Fluminense fans, sort of shyly, started to sing a chant that was initially made as a form to pay tribute to Pope John Paul II when he visited Brazil in 1981. Faith. Every wait comes to an end.

Fluminense: Champions of the Copa do Brasil 2007.

Renato cried a lot. He could not speak. Just like his friend and colleague in the hall of polemic players Romário, time made Renato a sensitive guy. Last year, coaching Vasco, he lost this same tournament in the finals against Flamengo. Now his time has arrived. Fluminense is big again. The club will finally comeback to the Libertadores.

23 years.