de Janeiro for a season of friendly matches, including Botafogo. In the city, two Uruguayan directors appeared running ahead of their players to the middle of the field wearing tall, luxurious top hats ("cartola" in Portuguese), which originated the term. Another version states that it was the Botafogo officials who dressed up in tails and top hats to welcome the Uruguayans, to imitate the politicians of the Old Republic. In the 1920s, Botafogo's best result was 3rd place in the 1928 Carioca Championship. In 1923, the team was almost relegated: After finishing the competition in 8th and last place, Botafogo had to play a knockout match against Villa Isabel, B Division champion, to define who would play in the first division the following year. With a 3–1 victory at Estádio das Laranjeiras, Botafogo remained in the A Division. This period was also marked by a series of internal problems. In 1924, manager Oldemar Amaral Murtinho left the club, which led to the departure of striker Nilo, his nephew, and one of Botafogo's greatest idols, to rival Fluminense. The player only returned to Botafogo in 1927, two years after his uncle became the club's president. Nilo was the top scorer in that year's championship. 1930s: The four-time champion Early in the decade, led by strikers Nilo and Carvalho Leite, Botafogo won the 1930 Carioca Championship. In 1931, they placed 4th in the State Championship and won the Rio-São Paulo State Champions Cup after beating Corinthians with a score of 7–1 in the return match, with four goals by Nilo. In 1932, it became champion with two rounds to spare, after defeating Bonsucesso Futebol Clube 5–4. Starting in 1933, two different leagues organized the Carioca Championship: The Metropolitan Football League Association (AMEA), responsible for the championship until then, and the Liga Carioca de Football (LCF), the result of a split promoted by the clubs that sought to professionalize football. Botafogo refused to change leagues and remained in the tournament organized by AMEA, being champions in 1933 and 1934. In 1935, AMEA disbanded and was incorporated by the newly created Metropolitan Sports Federation (FMD). In the first championship promoted by the new league, Botafogo once again took the title, becoming four-time champions and the first professional state champions recognized by the Brazilian Sports Confederation. In this last conquest, the team's highlight was Leônidas da Silva, an idol of rival Flamengo, who defended Botafogo