Fluminense is paying tribute to its alumnus, the legendary Real Madrid defender. The Xerém stadium, where Marcelo's career began, will be renamed after him. The ceremony will take place on September 5 and will be attended not only by the player himself, but also by his family and friends.

Stadium to honour legendary Marcelo

Fluminense have decided to honour their alumnus by naming the stadium in Xerém after him. From now on, the venue, where the youth teams play, will be called Estadio Marcelo Vieira. The official renaming ceremony will take place on September 5, and in addition to the footballer himself, the event will be attended by his loved ones, friends and the club's youth and women's teams.

The changes to the stadium include more than just its name. In recent weeks, it has undergone numerous upgrades, including new structures and visual identity. The graffiti in the stands, designed by visual artists Marcelo Menta and JC, depicts the highlights of the player's career - from his first steps at Xerém, to his triumphs at Real Madrid, to his return to Fluminense.

© Alexandre Magno Barreto Berwanger

This is where Marcelo started: training centre …

Centro de Treinamento Vale das Laranjeiras, popularly known as CT de Xerém, is a training complex belonging to Fluminense Football Club, located in Xerém, near Rio de Janeiro. It was built in 1983 at the initiative of the club's then president, Sylvio Kelly dos Santos. The facility is dedicated to youth football teams.

CT Vale das Laranjeiras houses six training pitches as well as administrative facilities and the Telê Santana Hotel, which is used to accommodate young footballers. The facility has undergone upgrades and the youngsters who train there have access to programmes including medical, psychological and social care, as well as sports, technical and tactical activities. CT has become one of the most highly regarded training centres in Brazil.

... and stadium

Estádio Manoel Schwartz, popularly known as Estádio de Laranjeiras, is the historic stadium of Fluminense Football Club in Rio de Janeiro. It was built in 1919 and originally had a capacity of up to 18,000 spectators. Its name honours Manoel Schwartz, former president of the club. The venue played an important role in the development of Brazilian football, as it hosted the first match of the Brazilian national team.

The stadium has witnessed many historic moments, such as two Copa América titles and several state championships. The Brazilian national team also made its debut in this stadium, winning against Chile. In 1922, its capacity was increased to 25,000 seats, making it one of the most important stadiums in the country at the time.

The stadium in 1919

In 2004, the stadium was officially named Estádio Manoel Schwartz in honour of the former president of Fluminense. Unfortunately, it has not been used for professional matches since 2003 because it does not meet the safety requirements of Brazilian regulations.

Currently, the stadium is used for matches of youth and women's teams, as well as for social and cultural events. It is also the club's headquarters, although its capacity has been limited to 6,000 seats for safety reasons.