Ever wondered where Fluminense’s magic is made? Right here at Centro de Treinamento Carlos Jos Castilho dreams are forged. It is more than just a training ground. It’s a symbol of Fluminense’s ambition.
Welcome to the Centro de Treinamento Carlos Jos Castilho. This is the heart of Fluminense Football Club. This is where the players prepare. This is where champions are made. Inaugurated on July 21 2016 it marked the club’s 114th anniversary. Since November 2016 the first team has trained here. They left their old training ground at Laranjeiras. The new facility offered better conditions.
The Centro de Treinamento Carlos Jos Castilho spans 40000 square meters. It boasts three full sized pitches. These are exclusively for the professional team. The club’s youth academy has its own training center. It is located in Xerém in Duque de Caxias.
The journey to build this center was long. It began in the 1980s. Silvio Kelly’s administration first proposed it. But the project stalled for years. In 2011 Muricy Ramalho resigned. He cited the lack of proper training facilities.
In 2012 the city offered land for the training center. It was located behind the SESC school in Barra da Tijuca. Initially the center was to be named after Celso Barros. However plans changed.
Other clubs like Botafogo and Vasco da Gama also received land. But they lost the concession due to lack of investment. Flamengo already had land. They received a promise of compensation from the city.
Construction finally began on June 18 2015. Pedro Antonio provided the initial funding. The first grass was planted on December 22 2015.
The Danish Olympic football team trained here first. This was during the 2016 Summer Olympics. On October 11 2016 the Fluminense first team began training here.
Pedro Antonio Ribeiro da Silva’s efforts were recognized. The training center was named after him on October 29 2016. Later on September 30 2019 the name changed. It became Centro de Treinamento Carlos Jos Castilho.
Carlos Jos Castilho was a club icon. He holds the record for most appearances. He played goalkeeper in 698 games. He is remembered for his dedication. He amputated a finger to avoid missing games.
In 2019 the club completed a road to Avenida Ayrton Senna. It was named Oscar Cox. A new press room was opened. It was named after Paulo Julio Clement. He was a Fluminense fan who died in the Chapecoense plane crash.
During the Copa América 2019 several national teams used the facility. These included Qatar Peru Uruguay and Argentina. Lionel Scaloni praised the pitch. He called it the best in Brazil.
The Centro de Treinamento Carlos Jos Castilho continues to evolve. It provides top facilities for players. It symbolizes Fluminense’s commitment to progress. This is more than a training ground. It’s a foundation for future success.