Flamengo’s Portugal connection, coaches and director bind club to country in recent years | OneFootball

Portugal is central to Flamengo’s modern story, and their Algarve camp highlights that bond. According to Globo.com, they are the only Brazilian club to take an overseas break during the World Cup pause, back in the country for the first time since 1993.

They face Benfica in the Algarve on Saturday, kick-off 15:30 Brasília time, to close the tour. Jorge Jesus left Flamengo to manage the Lisbon side after becoming the club’s most decorated coach.

Before 2019 only Cândido de Oliveira in 1950 and Ernesto dos Santos in 1951 had led the team. Since Jesus, three more Portuguese coaches have followed, with Paulo Sousa and Vítor Pereira not lasting and Leonardo Jardim now in post, a hire Jesus had suggested.

Influence extends upstairs. José Boto arrived at the start of Bap’s administration, brought Alfredo Almeida and is now the president’s trusted football chief, lifting visibility and expectations at home and abroad.

Portuguese journalist Valter Madureira believes Flamengo are still expected in Portugal to contest the league and go far in the Libertadores. He adds that Europe increasingly sees Brazil’s biggest clubs on a par with the elite, financially and on the pitch.

A sizeable Flamengo following is expected, with five buses from Lisbon, five from Porto and others from Braga, Coimbra and Leiria. Founder Patrick Passos says interest has grown with Brazilian immigration and, in 2019, Flamengo at times outdrew Sporting and even rivalled Benfica on TV.

After Saturday’s friendly, Flamengo return to Rio on Sunday to continue preparations for the second half of the season.

Source: Globo.com