TBT #22 Lion's memory: Fabrício Bento, the centre-back behind CRÉU

In partnership with

Avaí F.C.

·23 Juli 2026

TBT #22 Lion's memory: Fabrício Bento, the centre-back behind CRÉU

Every Thursday, Avaí Futebol Clube celebrates a former athlete who left a mark on the club’s centennial history. We remember stars who brought us so much joy wearing the blue and white colors.

We have already covered the stories of: #01 ROGÉRIO ÁVILA – HERE #02 CAVALLAZZI – The Golden Boy - HERE #03 FLÁVIO ROBERTO – 1988 champion - HERE #04 JUTI – The goalscoring champion of 1975, HERE, #05 TONINHO QUINTINO – 1973 Santa Catarina State Champion HERE,  #06 NIZETA, four-time Santa Catarina State Champion HERE, #07 ADILSON HELENO – 1988 Santa Catarina State Champion, HERE,  #08 ADOLFINHO – The greatest Santa Catarina goalkeeper of all time HERE, #09 BALDUÍNO – The Little King, Santa Catarina State Champion in 1973 and 1975 HERE, #010 ZENON – Santa Catarina State Champion in 1973 and 1975 HERE, #011 CLÉBER SANTANA – Avaí’s eternal number 88, 2012 Santa Catarina State Champion HERE #012 VENEZA – The best center-back in Avaí’s history, 1975 Santa Catarina State Champion HERE     #013 BELMONTE – Two-time Santa Catarina State Champion (1988 and 1997) and Copa Santa Catarina Champion (1995) HERE   #014 MIRINHO – one of the great idols in Avaí’s history HERE   #015 BIRA LOPES – one of the great midfielders in Avaí’s history HERE #016 FOSSATI – goalkeeper, 1988 Santa Catarina State Champion HERE #017 EMERSON, a goalscoring center-back who made history at Avaí HERE #018 DÃO, forward, Santa Catarina State Champion in 1997 and Brazilian Série C Champion in 1998 HERE #019 FANTICK, local forward, Copa Santa Catarina Champion, 1997 Santa Catarina State Champion, and 1998 Brazilian Série C Champion HERE #020 ROGÉRIO PRATEAT, center-back, 1998 Brazilian Série C Champion HERE #021 SÁVIO, attacking midfielder, 2010 Santa Catarina State Champion HERE

Video OneFootball

In the 22nd edition, we will look back at FABRÍCIO BENTO, the center-back who scored the goal that gave rise to CRÉU. Fabrício Bento da Cunha, or simply Fabrício or Fabricio Cunha, was born on May 1, 1975, in São Paulo-SP. He began his career at Portuguesa-SP and also played for São José-SP, Mogi Mirim, Beitar, Corinthians-AL, Maccabi Ahi Nazareth, Anapolina, Juventude, Cataduvense, and Sendas, where he retired in 2011.

At Avaí, he played as a center-back on three occasions: 1997, 2002, and 2007 / 2008. He made 43 appearances and scored four goals, according to data published in the book AVAÍ F.C. 100 years of stories 1923 – 2023, by Dois Por Quatro Publishing, by authors Adalberto Jorge Klüser, Felipe Matos, and Spyros Apóstolo Diamantaras.

Fabrício also coached Avaí’s first team in 2019, when he led the professional squad in nine matches.

THE CRÉU GOAL In 2008, on March 30, Fabrício scored Avaí’s first goal in the 2-0 win over Figueirense at Scarpelli, in the so-called Match of the Century, thus giving rise to the famous CRÉU. Bebeto scored the second goal, to the delight of the Avaí fans. The match was part of the 8th round of the second stage of that year’s Santa Catarina State Championship. Fabricio’s goal came in the 31st minute, after a cross from star player Marquinhos.

Fabricio Bento scored the first goal in the 2-0 victory in the Match of the Century

Photo: Hermínio Nunes

Photo: James Tavares / Notícias do Dia

Also in 2008, Fabricio earned promotion to the 2009 Série A while wearing the Avaí shirt.

Photo: Frederico Tadeu / Avaí F.C.

HUNG UP HIS BOOTS After hanging up his boots, he began his coaching career at Biguaçu-SC, where he stayed for two seasons, 2011 and 2012. In 2013, he was hired by Avaí, where he worked in every youth category, from the younger levels to the junior team, winning titles in all of them. He was also assistant coach of the professional team, winning the Taça Atlético Nacional de Medellín title (first stage of the 2017 Santa Catarina State Championship).

Fabrício Bento in an interview after winning the 2017 Santa Catarina U-20 title

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. (11/05/2017)

Dr. Rodrigo Capella presents the 2017 Santa Catarina U-20 Champion trophy

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. (11/05/2017)

Fabrício Bento celebrates the title win with his players and coaching staff

Photo: Alceu Atherino / Avaí F.C. (11/05/2017)

RESEARCH SOURCES  –– KLÜSER, Adalberto; MATOS, Felipe. and DIAMANTARAS, Spyros. The Team of Grit – Almanac of 90 Years of Avaí Futebol Clube, 1923-2013.     –– KLÜSER, Adalberto; MATOS, Felipe. and DIAMANTARAS, Spyros. AVAÍ F.C. 100 years of stories 1923 – 2023     – Alceu Atherino photo archive / Avaí F.C. – Avaí Play channel on YouTube; – Troféu Debate channel on YouTube; – Memória Avaiana website;  – Avaí F.C. official website;  – Polidoro Júnior website; – ND Mais website.

PHOTOS OF FABRÍCIO AT AVAÍ