Ex-Flamengo man, Copinha winner with Paquetá joins Serie C club

In partnership with

Coluna do Fla

·24 March 2026

Ex-Flamengo man, Copinha winner with Paquetá joins Serie C club

Right Back from the 2016 Copinha Team, Thiago Ennes is the New Signing for Santa Cruz

The world of football is full of varied stories. Ten years ago, Flamengo won the Copinha, with Lucas Paquetá and Thiago Ennes standing out. The midfielder returned to Mengão as a star and was even considered for the World Cup. Meanwhile, the right back has just been announced by Santa Cruz, from Série C of the Brasileirão.

— This is the opportunity of my life. When my agent called me, I felt like a child, anxious to come. I really liked the environment. I’m a player who pushes himself a lot on the field, with a lot of strength. The fans can be sure I will give my all — said Thiago Ennes.

OneFootball Videos

— I really wanted to come back here. I return more experienced, with a different mindset. I saw that the squad also has many players ready to have a great year. We have to take advantage of playing at home, where we are strong, to get results — added the former Flamengo player, referring to his previous stints at another Recife club, Náutico, in 2018 and 2022.

SO, WHAT IS THIAGO ENNES’ GOAL AT SANTA CRUZ?

Last year, Thiago Ennes played for Caxias, which led Série C the whole season, but in the final quadrangular, failed to secure promotion. Now, the right back hopes for a different ending, wearing the shirt of Pernambuco’s Santa Cruz, recently promoted from D to the Third Division.

— If I wasn’t aware of the size of the challenge, I wouldn’t be here. That’s normal. It’s a big club. I’m more experienced now and the fans will see that on the field. I’m sure we can have a great year and put Santa Cruz back in Série B — he said.

— In recent years, I’ve always come close in the quadrangular. I think my time has come. I’m training well, integrated. I’m not here just passing through, I want to make my mark in history. If God put me here, it wasn’t for nothing — Ennes concluded.

AFTER ALL, DO YOU REMEMBER?

On January 25, 2016, Flamengo and Corinthians faced off in the Copinha final at Pacaembu. The São Paulo team quickly took a 2-0 lead, but Mengão fought back to 2-2. In the penalty shootout, Lucas Paquetá and Thiago Ennes converted their kicks, and o Mais Querido took home the trophy.

Despite the Copinha title, Ennes never got a chance with the main Flamengo team. Still under contract with Mengão in 2017, the right back was loaned to União Madeira (POR) and Cuiabá. Later, the player signed with Náutico.

From 2019 onwards, his contract with Flamengo ended, and the athlete played for several clubs, such as São Bernardo, Confiança, Remo, Santo André, Sampaio Corrêa, Paysandu, Campinense, Londrina, and Caxias. Currently, Thiago Ennes is 30 years old.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.