Washington Carlos Nunes Rodrigues (1 September 1936 – 15 May 2024), also known as Apolinho, was a Brazilian radio football color commentator, who was notable for working for Super Rádio Tupi. He received the nickname Apolinho (English: Little Apolo) due to his coverage of the man's landing on the Moon with Apollo missions.[1][2]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Washington Carlos Nunes Rodrigues | ||
| Date of birth | 1 September 1936 | ||
| Place of birth | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | ||
| Date of death | 15 May 2024 (aged 87) | ||
| Place of death | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| 1995 | Flamengo | ||
Coaching career
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 tenure as coach of Flamengo, Apolinho stated:
"I'm not a coach and I've never been, but Flamengo did not invite me, they summoned me. And every time they calls me I will go, for Flamengo I would do anything, if the goalkeeper gets hurt and they need me on the goal I will go there and play, for Flamengo I would do anything, if called I'm in, anything they want, I will go."[7]
His first game in charge was against Vélez 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 24 points, but avoiding relegation. Joel Santana replaced him in the following season.[citation needed]
Death
Rodrigues died in Rio de Janeiro on 15 May 2024, at the age of 87.[9]