Best moment of my life

I guess some of you know that, but I'm a Flamengo supporter here in Brazil, and yesterday I experienced something that I've been waiting since I was a kid, and that I honestly never thought I would see happening. Yesterday, Flamengo were Brazilian champions again after 17 years and I was there, at the Maracanã.



Flamengo are the club with most supporters in the country (estimated fan base of around 35 million fans), but faced some of their most difficult times this decade. We became a joke fighting against relegation for years, something you dont expect from one of the biggest clubs in Brazil. I really thought we were going to play the second division, specially in 2005, when we were bottom of the league for a few weeks. Fortunately we didnt, and things got better in 2007, when we finished 3rd after an amazing recover - coming from the relegation zone to qualify for Libertadores (South America's "champions league"), and last year we finished 5th.

This year, no one believed us for the title and we had some difficult times in the start of the competition, but since the legendary Andrade (one of the best players we had in the 80's) was appointed our manager, it's been unforgettable. Palmeiras, Inter, São Paulo... all of them had the title in their hands, but they slipt and we were there to take it from them. We only reached the top with 1 week left to the end of the league.

Yesterday, all we needed as a simple win against Gremio at home (with around 90 thousand fans at the Maracanã), and many thought it would be easy, but it wasnt. They scored first, and I must admit I was in panic (cause this meant Internacional would be the champions if they won their game), but then both our center backs scored and we came back to win the title. 2-1.

It was the best game I've ever been to - not for the quality of the play, but for everything it means. I'm part of a generation of Flamengo fans who were getting used to the mediocrity. After such a long time fighting against relegation, we were happy with too little. Too little for the history of Flamengo.

Being on the top of the country again means everything now. It was the best moment of my life, and the tears in my eyes were the happiest I ever cried.

Sorry for the ridiculously long post about something no one here really care. I just wanted to share. And just in case anyone want to watch the goals, here they are: http://video.globo.com/Videos/Player/Esportes/0,,GIM1171796-7824-OS+GOLS+DE+FLAMENGO+X+GREMIO+PELA+RODADA+DO+BRASILEIRA,00.html

Adriano (playing for Fla) was joint top scored of the league, by the way

Those celebrations look maniacal. I can only imagine how it would of felt to be there!

Well done to the club and fans of Flamengo!

I don't have any knowledge of the Brazilian League, or the teams really, but that doesn't really matter I don't think.

As Liverpool fans who have waited even longer for the title to come home, everyone here can relate to you, Diego.

I'm made up for you, sounds like a wonderful occasion, can't wait to be celebrating that very same feeling with everyone on this foum when we win the league, hopefully sooner rather than later!

Viva Flamengo and their supporters.

I don't have any knowledge of the Brazilian League, or the teams really, but that doesn't really matter I don't think.

As Liverpool fans who have waited even longer for the title to come home, everyone here can relate to you, Diego.

I'm made up for you, sounds like a wonderful occasion, can't wait to be celebrating that very same feeling with everyone on this foum when we win the league, hopefully sooner rather than later!

Exactly mate... maybe that's why I've always had a strong connection with Liverpool, since I started to follow English football.

Flamengo used to be the biggest champions of the league in Brazil, with 5 titles. In the last 3 years, São Paulo won the league 3 times in a row which made them the team with most league titles (6). It hurted a lot cause I didn't think we were going to win the league again any time soon... I was afraid they were going to win many more before us, and to someone who grew up saying with pride "we rule the country", to see São Paulo in front of us was sad. Now we have won our sixth title and are up there again. Hopefully number 7 will come sooner than I expect! It's pretty much the same situation of Liverpool, except for the fact the Mancs haven't won 19 - and hopefully wont!

I also can't wait to see Liverpool winning the league... I'll certainly be drunk as F**k somewhere in Rio, when it happens! It's just sad in some way cause I've been a Liverpool fan for many years now and I never thought I would see Flamengo winning the league before Liverpool... Liverpool were much closer during recent years. But our time will come soon, I have faith about that

As I said, Fla winning the league was the best moment to me, but Istanbul is still a close second in my football life - the difference with Flamengo is how unexpected it was, and obviously for the fact I was there and it's the club from my beloved city, the club of family... I think some might understand.

(Sorry, my english sucks  )

Totally made up for you mate! Gonna look up some highlights now to see what it was like, hopefully we will be in that position soon as well!

Well in!

Well done Flamengo

Although I did see this yesterday on the news that while all those celebrations were going on, this was also happening

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtvXwogeArU

Well in Diego mate.

A nice little story for all out fickle supporters out there, you guys were not in it from the start and only grabbed top spot with a week to go.

Congratulations, Flamengo!

While you was celebrating your title, I still can wait until the football club which I support wins the title. And that could be a long time because they play in the second division. 

That just sounds fantastic.

I just hope that I can say the same one day (hopefully sooner rather than later) about Liverpool.

Is right Flamengo, well done.

We can certainly sympathise with a wait that long. :

Well done Flamengo

Although I did see this yesterday on the news that while all those celebrations were going on, this was also happening

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtvXwogeArU

Yeah, it was a huge shame. This year we had one of the most exciting championships of the decade, and it was a shame to see such thing happening in the last day of the competition.  At least it seems most of those people who invaded the pitch are in jail and the club was finned around R$ 600,000 and wont be able to play at home for their next 30 games.

If you were there when they became champions again after a long time then i suggest you get yourself on a flight to England

If you were there when they became champions again after a long time then I suggest you get yourself on a flight to England

That's one of my dreams I'll go to Anfield one day for sure, but as it could take a few years, I wouldn't mind if Liverpool won the EPL before!