Galinho, who is the club’s technical director, lifts the cup to the euphoria of the supporters and places it in the net, excited. Double champion: Fla and Kashima
Zico ended up becoming one of the big protagonists of Kashima Antlers winning the Japanese title. This Saturday (12/06), in the final round of the competition, after beating Yokohama Marinos 2-1, the team reached 76 points — one more than Kashiwa Reysol, who also won in the last round (1 in Machida) — winning the Japanese trophy for the ninth time and ending a nine-year fast. Kashima’s nine titles: 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2016 and 2025.
At the time of the ceremony, as the players raised the Silver Salute, fans began to request Galinho’s presence to also lift the trophy. Zico, who is the club’s technical director and who followed the match from the stands, was clapped and applauded every time his image appeared on the screen. With such idolatry, he was then called upon to share the stage with the champions. The crowd descended (Jico, Jico, Jico, that’s how they shout). So, less than a week after celebrating Flamengo’s ninth title, the idol celebrated another remarkable feat, this time with the Japanese club. We can say that he is a double champion. A detail: Kashima, like Flamengo, is Rubro-Nègre.
Speak, Chicken!
Excited, Zico posted on his social networks:
“What a wonderful week God has given me. Two achievements as Flamengo ambassador and, here in Japan, the ninth Japanese title. If we add up the 2025 titles, there are 9. This time, a title with 40 thousand present. Congratulations to the president and coach of the Oniki club, who won his fifth title (four in Frontale), to the players and, in particular, to the fans, who, once again, were tireless in helping the team. Thank you, God, for giving me these happy moments of football, which I love so much.”
Zico and his connection with Kashima Antlers
The connection between Zico and Kashima is deep and historic. In 1991, he came out of retirement to champion the team for three seasons, winning one of the country’s domestic tournaments in 1993. With the creation of the J-League in 1995, the club once again turned to its biggest idol. So, in 1996, Zico took on the role of sporting director and then became coach, captaining the Antlers for four years (1998 to 2002) and winning titles in 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2001. After leaving the club, he returned in 2018 as technical director – a role in which he celebrated this achievement in 2025.
In total, Zico was directly involved in six of Kashima’s nine titles.
How Kashima won his ninth title
Kashima had to win to avoid having to count on a fall from Kashiwa Reysol – and they accomplished their mission. The team opened the scoring in the 20th minute, when Léo Ceará took advantage of a cross after a mix-up in the area and, despite scoring from close range, struck a precise volley from the penalty spot.
In the second half, in the 11th minute, the crowd exploded when the striker scored again, this time with a header from a cross coming from the right. Yokohama Marinos still reduced the gap at the end thanks to a magnificent goal from Jun Amano, but it was not enough to stop the party. Eneachampion.
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