Academy Bred: Flamengo's Technical Staff Built in-house

Raul, Leandro, Marinho, Mozer and Júnior. Andrade, Adílio and Zico. Tita, Nunes and Lico. This was the XI that captured the greatest prize in Flamengo's history, the FIFA Club World Championship in 1981. Of the 11 starters, eight had been developed at the Gávea academy. It was a source of such pride that the club coined its famous slogan: "Flamengo builds champions at home."

Nearly 45 years after that memorable day in Tokyo, it can be confirmed that the Rubro-Negro does indeed develop technical staff at home as well. A prime example is the partnership of senior team physical trainers Arthur Peixoto, 43, and Carlos Bezerra Júnior—known as Juninho—38. But they are far from alone.

Arthur is, by definition, an academy product of the Gávea. He arrived as a child to play futsal for the U-10 squad, splitting his time between the court and the pitch before hanging up his boots early. He studied Physical Education and the natural next step was joining Ninho, Flamengo's youth development programme.

Arthur Peixoto (primeiro à direita) no Sub-10 do Flamengo. Foto: Arquivo Pessoal.

He began as an intern with the U-15 fitness staff in 2007. Within two years he was formally hired, though initially assigned to the U-10/11 category. His path took him through every youth level until he reached the senior setup.

"At U-11, I worked with Vinícius Júnior and Bernardo Ferrari—now known as Bruno Rosa—who spent considerable time at Chelsea. I remember they both trialled on the same day," Arthur recalled. "Later, at U-13, I was conditioning Paquetá, and now we're working together again at senior level."

Juninho also harboured ambitions to be a player. He came through the youth systems of América and Grêmio, but at 22 realised a different path beckoned. He studied Physical Education and joined Flamengo in 2015 as a U-20 intern.

By the following year, he was contracted and promoted to manage the U-12 category. He never stopped climbing. He worked through every academy grade before joining the senior staff in 2024 as third-choice fitness coach alongside Diogo Linhares and Arthur Peixoto. When Linhares departed, Juninho stepped up to second.

"When I reached the senior level, I reunited with goalkeeper coach Thiago Eller, as well as Arthur and physiotherapist Leniyan—I'd worked with all three at U-17," Juninho explained. "That continuity really helped my transition. Each category has its own demands, but the professional level is something else entirely."

Juninho com a taça de campeão carioca Sub-13 em 2016. Foto: Arquivo Pessoal.

Arthur's career extends beyond Flamengo's walls. He spent time in Chinese football with Guangzhou Evergrande and represented the Brazilian U-17 national team, winning the U-17 World Cup in 2019 alongside players like Lázaro and Daniel Cabral. "In 2023, I stepped up to the senior set-up when Vítor Pereira arrived. I became the club's primary fitness coach in the permanent coaching staff."

When Leonardo Jardim took charge in the first half of 2026, Arthur was elevated to head of physical conditioning for the senior squad.