Fluminense

INTRODUCTION

With the arrival of FM24, I would like to do something I had never done before and that is to start a game in Brazil, cradle of jewels and of the best players that the history of soccer has ever produced. For that reason, I spent a couple of hours trying to find an interesting team, a task that of course was not easy because Brazilian soccer has quite a few teams to choose from with different attractions. I was considering challenges such as Flamengo and their All-stars, Palmeiras, Santos and Atlético Mineiro with their great youth, making a contender like Paranense, Bragantino, Botafogo or Fortaleza great, giving more international presence to Sao Paulo or Corinthians, placing Cuiabá, Goiás, América Mineiro, Coritiba or Bahia as consolidated teams or returning Gremio, Vasco da Gama, Internacional or Cruzeiro to greatness. But there was a team that had an excellent squad, without neglecting its youth, that year after year is a serious candidate for everything in Brazil, that has gone through years without continental importance and that has been gradually losing its position as a Brazilian great. This team deserves to be taken into account again. I am talking about none other than... a team from Rio de Janeiro that in recent times has seen the advanced growth of its backyard rival, Flamengo, and has not been able to demonstrate the level it has in its history. So the challenge I have chosen is Fluminense.

Fluminense is a Brazilian soccer club founded in 1902 by Oscar Cox, a young man of British origin who introduced soccer to Rio de Janeiro. Its name comes from the Latin Flumen, meaning river, and its colors are green, white and maroon. Fluminense was a pioneer in building the first concrete stadium in Latin America, the Laranjeiras Stadium, and in receiving the Olympic Cup, the International Olympic Committee's most prestigious award. Among its idols are Preguinho, the scorer of Brazil's first World Cup goal, Rivellino, Romerito, Romário and Conca. Fluminense has won the Brazilian Championship four times, the Brazilian Cup once, the First League Cup once and the Carioca Championship 33 times. It was also runner-up in the Copa Sudamericana in 2009. Fluminense is one of Rio de Janeiro's big four, along with Flamengo, Botafogo and Vasco da Gama, and has one of the most loyal and passionate fans in the country.

We promise to give our all for the Rio club and give it the place it deserves. We will have fun and aim to make Fluminense, our Fluminense, one of the best clubs in Brazil and the Americas.

FLUMINENSE

Fluminense is a club with more than a century of tradition and glory in Brazilian soccer. It was born from the passion of a young Englishman who wanted to spread the sport he loved in his new land. From its beginnings, it stood out for its elegant and offensive style, and for its loyal and demanding fans. Fluminense was the first Carioca champion, the first Brazilian champion and the first South American club to receive Olympic recognition. Throughout its history, it has had great figures who have left their mark on world soccer, such as Preguinho, Rivellino, Romerito, Romário and Conca. Fluminense has won four national titles, one national cup, one regional cup and 33 state titles, in addition to being continental runner-up. Fluminense is one of Rio de Janeiro's big four, and has a historical rivalry with Flamengo, with whom it disputes the Fla-Flu classic, considered one of the most important in the world. Fluminense is a club that represents the essence of Brazilian soccer and seeks to continue making history at the local and international level.

RIO DE JANEIRO

Rio de Janeiro is a Brazilian city located in the southeast of the country, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the second most populated city in Brazil, after Sao Paulo, and the third in Latin America, after Mexico and Buenos Aires. Rio de Janeiro is known for its natural beauty, its culture, its carnival and its beaches, such as Copacabana and Ipanema. Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Brazil from 1763 until 1960, when it moved to Brasilia. During that period, it was the scene of important historical events, such as the arrival of the Portuguese royal family in 1808, Brazil's independence in 1822, the abolition of slavery in 1888 and the proclamation of the republic in 1889. Rio de Janeiro has also hosted major sporting events, such as the 2007 Pan American Games, the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games. Rio de Janeiro is a city that combines modernity with tradition, diversity with identity, and joy with nostalgia. It is a city that enchants its visitors and makes its inhabitants proud. Rio de Janeiro is, without a doubt, the wonderful city.

MARACANA

The Maracanã is Brazil's most famous soccer stadium and one of the most emblematic in the world. Its official name is Estadio Jornalista Mário Filho, in honor of the journalist who promoted its construction. The Maracana was inaugurated in 1950, on the occasion of the World Cup, and reached a capacity of almost 200 thousand spectators, being the largest stadium in the world at the time. The Maracana has witnessed historic soccer moments, such as the Maracanazo, when Uruguay beat Brazil in the 1950 World Cup final, Pelé's thousandth goal in 1969, or the 2014 World Cup final, when Germany beat Argentina. The Maracanã has also hosted other sporting events, such as the 2007 Pan American Games and the 2016 Olympic Games, and musical shows, such as concerts by Frank Sinatra, Madonna, Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones. The Maracana is a symbol of Brazil's soccer passion and culture, and a must-see for lovers of the beautiful game.

Historical players

• Fred: Fred was an epoch-making striker at Fluminense, the Brazilian team he joined in 2009 from Olympique Lyon. During his seven seasons with the club, he scored 172 goals in 288 games, making him the third highest scorer in Flu's history. Fred played as a center-forward, and was characterized by his power, finishing and opportunism. He was the leader of the team that won two Serie A titles in 2010 and 2012, and was also the top scorer of the Copa Libertadores 2023, which Fluminense won for the first time in its history. Fred played for the Brazilian national team in two World Cups, in 2006 and 2014, and won the Confederations Cup in 2013, being the scorer of the tournament. In 2016, Fred left for Atlético Mineiro, where he continued to score goals until his retirement in 2020.

• Paulo César Lima: Paulo César Lima, better known as Caju, was a versatile player who played for Fluminense in two different stages, being one of the idols of the club's history. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was a symbol of Brazilian soccer in the 1970s, with his elegant, technical and creative style. Caju made his debut with Fluminense in 1972, playing as a left winger or playmaker. With Flu, he won the Carioca Championship in 1973 and 1975, and the Rio-São Paulo Tournament in 1976. In 1977, he was transferred to Gremio, where he won the Campeonato Gaúcho and the Copa Libertadores. In 1979, he returned to Fluminense, where he was part of the team known as the "Tricolor Machine", together with other stars such as Rivelino, Doval and Pintinho. With Flu, he won the Carioca Championship again in 1980, and was also runner-up in the Copa Libertadores in 1981. Caju also played for the Brazilian national team in four World Cups, in 1966, 1970, 1974 and 1978, being champion in 1970. He retired from professional soccer in 1984, after playing for several teams in Brazil and Europe.

• Castilho: Castilho was a goalkeeper who played for Fluminense for 18 years, being the player with the most games in the history of the Brazilian club. Castilho was born in Rio de Janeiro on November 27, 1927 and started his career at América, where he only played one game. In 1947, he moved to Fluminense, where he became a goalkeeping legend. Castilho defended Flu's goal in 697 official matches, an absolute club record. He won the Carioca Championship eight times, the Rio-São Paulo Tournament three times and the Rio Cup, a former intercontinental championship, once. Castilho also played for the Brazilian national team in two World Cups, in 1954 and 1958, being champion in 1958. Castilho was famous for his bravery and dedication, even playing with his little finger amputated after a fracture. He retired from professional soccer in 1965, at the age of 38, and is currently considered the best goalkeeper in the history of Fluminense.

Goals

• Consolidate Fluminense as a traditional team in the Copa Libertadores.
• Form one of the best Youth Development systems in Brazil
• Lead Fluminense to win its first continental title

Policies

• Sign players from Latin American leagues.
• Sign players consolidated in Europe to serve as project leaders.
• Always have 3 leaders in the locker room to help maintain and promote identity.

KEY PLAYER

WONDERKID

Love it, I like doing the research on a team when first taking the job on FM. I’m determined to move around on my current save but have kept to Europe so far, would quite like to venture to Brazil in a few seasons’ time 🇧🇷