Flamengo’s 2006 Copa do Brasil champions, 20 years on from confectioner to coach | OneFootball

It is 20 years since Flamengo defeated Vasco to win the 2006 Copa do Brasil after a bold change of coach. The Rio club are now five-time winners, though they exited the 2026 edition early.

According to Globo.com, the trophy-winning squad have taken varied paths. Several became entrepreneurs or media pundits, former goalkeeper Diego went into confectionery, while stars such as Renato Augusto turned to commentary. Uruguayan Peralta won a cookery reality show and later coached in Uruguay, and manager Ney Franco worked in Jordanian football in 2026.

That 2006 final was the first time a clássico decided the competition. In a troubled period on and off the pitch, Flamengo replaced Waldemar Lemos with Ney Franco before the final, using the World Cup break to reshape the side.

Before the World Cup, Vasco were seen as favourites. After the tournament, Flamengo seized control, winning 2-0 in the first leg and 1-0 in the second to take the title comfortably on aggregate.

Flamengo’s five crowns came in 1990, 2006, 2013, 2022 and 2024, placing them second on the all-time list behind Cruzeiro with six. They cannot draw level in 2026 after going out to Vitória in the fifth phase.

On Sunday they face São Paulo at the Maracanã in the Brasileiro, the same stage where that run to glory was sealed two decades ago.

Source: Globo.com