Zico flies Flamengo nest after four months

Brazilian legend Zico said Friday he had resigned as footballing executive of top side Flamengo just four months after taking the reins of his former club, citing poor relations with officials.

“I believe that I cannot achieve right now what I wanted to for Flamengo. I have put many people’s backs up since my arrival,” said the former Brazil international who scored more than 500 goals for the club in two spells.

“I hope you will understand,” Zico told fans, explaining he had poor relations with some of the club’s officials, who he regretted he was “unable to debate” with and who, he added, did “not have the club’s interests at heart.”

Zico, who won 72 caps for Brazil and starred in their 1982 World Cup side beaten by eventual champions Italy, insisted that “Flamengo, represented by these people today died in my heart. They act as if they own the club.”

Flamengo are one of Brazil’s best supported clubs and won the title for the sixth time last season. Zico inspired them moreover to their finest hour, a 1981 Intercontinental Cup win over European champions Liverpool in 1981.

But after 26 rounds of this season they lie just 15th in the league table.

The club have also made headlines for the wrong reasons with goalkeeper Bruno suspected of involvement in the disappearance and assumed murder of his former partner Eliza Samudio.