From Lapa lad to icon, why Fluminense v Corinthians is Silvio Santos derby | OneFootball

The history of Brazilian football is, essentially, a narrative of myths, idols, and cultural constructs that transcend the four lines of the pitch. Among the figures who shaped the public perception of the sport in the 20th century, few have the significance of Senor Abravanel, Silvio Santos. The death of the country’s greatest broadcaster, on August 17, 2024, officially established a new name in the pantheon of the nation’s great rivalries: the Silvio Santos Derby, played between Fluminense and Corinthians. 

The term ‘Silvio Santos Derby’ did not come from a marketing campaign planned over years, but from one of those coincidences that fate reserves only for giants. On the exact day Brazil said goodbye to Silvio Santos, the 2024 Brazilian Championship schedule had Fluminense and Corinthians facing off at the Maracanã. The presenter’s death in the early hours of that Saturday turned the match into an event of collective catharsis.

Fluminense and Corinthians pay tribute to Silvio Santos with a banner before the clash (Photo: Thiago Ribeiro/AGIF)

The legitimization of the name took place both organically and institutionally at the same time. While social media was flooded with memories of the presenter from fans of both teams, the official Brasileirão profile and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) named the duel after the broadcaster. The nickname became established through the idea that, regardless of the result, Silvio Santos would come out victorious, because the two institutions represented the two crucial phases of his life: his formative youth in Rio de Janeiro and his business consolidation in São Paulo.

For Fluminense, the derby carries a symbolism of emotional primacy. Silvio Santos was, above all, a man from Rio, a Tricolor at heart who, although he adopted Corinthians as his “second team” or team of affection in São Paulo, never hid that his first references of idols and club passion were born in Laranjeiras.

Fluminense in Lapa and the making of Senor Abravanel

Senor Abravanel was born on December 12, 1930, on Travessa dos Arcos, in the Lapa neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. Lapa in the 1930s and 1940s was the epicenter of the bohemian, cultural, and social life of what was then the capital of the Republic. It was in this environment, breathing the air of a city bubbling between samba and football, that young Senor developed his affection for Fluminense Football Club.

Choosing Fluminense was not merely an aesthetic matter; in those decades, the club represented the height of organization and prestige in Brazilian sport. The Tricolor from Laranjeiras was the team of the elites, but also the team that enchanted the masses with the technical sophistication of its play. For a young man of humble origins who worked as a street vendor and already showed a sharp perception of what “spectacle” meant, Fluminense was the grandest showcase in Brazilian football.

The influence of his childhood in Rio de Janeiro was decisive in making Silvio Santos keep, even decades after moving to São Paulo in 1954, a vivid memory of the Tricolor squad. 

Fluminense’s golden era (1930-1940)

The period when Silvio Santos was a young supporter in Rio’s stands coincides with one of the most victorious and technically brilliant phases in Fluminense’s history. The club dominated the Rio championship with a three-peat (1936-1937-1938) and subsequent titles in 1940 and 1941.

The idols Silvio Santos admired were artists on the pitch. Among them, Tim, Hércules, and Romeu Pellicciari stood out. These players were cultural icons of the time, comparable to the radio stars Silvio loved listening to.

Photo: FFC Disclosure

Silvio’s relationship with this phase of the club is that of a supporter who saw football become professionalized and Fluminense become the standard-bearer of this new era.

Corinthians and the “transplant” of the soul

Silvio Santos’s move to São Paulo in 1954 marked the beginning of his rise as the biggest communications entrepreneur in Brazil. To win over the São Paulo public, Silvio understood that he needed to speak the language of the local people, and no language is more fluid in São Paulo than that of Corinthians.

His connection with Corinthians, however, was not just a marketing strategy; it became a real emotional bond, although of a different nature from his Tricolor passion. While Fluminense was the club of memory and childhood, Corinthians was the club of adult life, daily coexistence, and connection with his audience.

The great turning point in this relationship was the carnival march “Transplante de Corinthiano,” popularly known as “Coração Corinthiano,” recorded by Silvio in 1968. The song, composed by Manoel Ferreira, Ruth Amaral, and Gentil Junior, captured the spirit of an era. Corinthians was going through a title drought of nearly 23 years and, at the same time, the world was witnessing the first human heart transplant. The lyric “Doctor, I’m not mistaken, my heart is Corinthian” became an anthem of resilience.

Carnival march (with Silvio Santos) – Transplante Corinthiano

SBT as a “Corinthian network” and the commercial relationship

Over the decades, SBT cemented in the popular imagination the image of a television network with a strong Corinthians appeal. This was due not only to the declared preferences of many of its professionals, but also to strategic commercial partnerships. Tele Sena, one of the crown jewels of the Silvio Santos Group, sponsored Corinthians at crucial moments, such as the 2009 Copa do Brasil title and again in 2023.

Corinthians fans always saw Silvio Santos as one of their own, a “sufferer” who, despite his success, maintained the simplicity and joy that are trademarks of the club. For the Corinthians supporter, Silvio was the voice that validated their love for the club on Sunday variety shows.

Legitimization of the derby

The idea that Silvio Santos had two clubs, Fluminense in Rio and Corinthians in São Paulo, was never seen as betrayal or contradiction, but as a symbol of national unity. In a country marked by rivalries, Silvio united the Arcos da Lapa with Parque São Jorge.

This duality helped legitimize the name Silvio Santos Derby. This was not about a “fair-weather fan,” but about a personality so vast that a single jersey could not contain it. Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the two driving forces of Brazil, were represented within the same figure. By naming Fluminense x Corinthians after him, Brazilian football recognized that Silvio was a heritage belonging to both, but whose emotional roots were undeniably planted in Laranjeiras.

The Silvio Santos Derby taking place this Wednesday (01) is a celebration of a legacy of joy, resilience, and love for football.

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