| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Washington Carlos Nunes Rodrigues | ||
| Date of birth | 1 September 1936 | ||
| Place of birth | Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| 1995 | Flamengo | ||
Washington Carlos Nunes Rodrigues (Rio de Janeiro, September 1, 1936), also known as Apolinho is a Brazilian radio sports and football broadcaster of Super Rádio Tupi.[1][2]
Lifelong fan of Flamengo, Apolinho replaced Edinho and took over Flamengo as a manager in September 1995 coaching players like Edmundo, captain Romário and Sávio .[3] He was considered the most popular football radio commentator in Rio de Janeiro at the time and his appointment by chairman Flamengo Kléber Leite came as a surprise as he had never coached a team before.[4][5][6]
Regarding his passage as coach of Flamengo, Apolinho stated:
"I'm not a coach and I've never been, but Flamengo did not invite me, he summoned me. And every time he calls me I go, for Flamengo I do anything, if the goalkeeper gets hurt and needs me on the goal I go there and play, for Flamengo I do any business, if called I'm in, anything, I go."[7]
His first game in charge was against Velez Sarsfield guiding Flamengo to a 3-2 victory in the 1995 Copa Libertadores. [8] Apolinho stayed at the club until the end of the 1995 season, with Flamengo finishing 21st with just 24 points, but avoiding relegation. Joel Santana replaced him in the following season.[citation needed]