Santos
Crest
about the team
On April 14th, 1912, the same day Titanic struck an iceberg, Raimundo Marques, Mário Ferraz de Campos and Argemiro de Souza Júnior, three footballers from a team called Americanos, formed a new club. Having first considered naming the outfit Africa Futebol Clube, Associaçao Esportiva Brasil, and Concordia Futebol Clube, the trio finally christened their baby Santos after the coastal town south of Sao Paulo where they were so proud to live.
Honours
Intercontinental Cup, 1962, 1963; Copa Libertadores 1962, 1963; Campeonato Brasileiro 2002, 2004; Robertao 1968; Taca Brasil 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965; Torneio Rio-Sau Paulo 1959, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1997; Paulista Championship 1935, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1978, 1984, 2006 and 2007; FPF Cup 2004
Finest hours
Between Pele’s debut as a callow 15 year old in 1956 and his first retirement in 1974, Santos came to dominate Brazilian football. Apart from annexing six national titles (five in succession during the early sixties) and eleven Paulistas (the state championship), the club were twice crowned champions of South America. Both those triumphs were followed by historic victories over Europe’s best, Benfica and AC Milan, in the InterContinental Cup, the then world club championship. Nearly half a century after Pele’s arrival, Robinho another teenage wunderkind ended decades of frustration when he inspired a new generation to win the Campeonato Brasileiro in 2002 and 2004.
Folk heroes
For putting the club (he scored 1088 goals in 1114 competitive games) and his country on the world map, Pele is known simply as The King (O Rei). However, the supporting cast during his era of pre-eminence with Santos was stellar. For his performances in goal, Gilmar is judged the club’s finest keeper, Carlos Alberto made football’s Team of the 20th Century, and Clodoaldo is still regarded as one of the best midfield dribblers of all time. Zito, Pepe, Coutinho, and, of course, coach Lula (Luis Alonso Perez) are some of the others whose names are still spoken with reverence. If the greatest generation cast a long shadow, Santos’ re-emergence into the light in the new millenium was achieved by giving home-grown youth its fli ng. Alex, Elano, Diego, and Renato were amongst those who wrote their own names large across the history of the club with their contributions to the 2002 and 2004 Campeonato Brasileiro triumphs. Both wins were hallmarked too by Robinho announcing his arrival as a major force with cameos of audacity, none finer than the enduring moment in the 2002 decider against Corinthians known simply as the step-over.
Fans
The Santistas are die-hard supporters who, after being weaned on a relentless diet of Pele magic (eight goals in one game anyone?) at the intimate Vila Belmiro, had to learn the virtue of patience through the seventies, eighties and nineties. Their frustrations, sometimes expressed by throwing shoes on the field, were finally alleviated by the team of the new millennium, not only winning again but doing so while playing futbol-moleque. Best translated as cheeky schoolboy attacking football. The Santista way.
All-time best XI
(3-5-2) Gilmar, Carlos Alberto, Joel Camargo, Alex, Jair, Clodoaldo, Pepe, Zito, Pele, Robinho, Coutinho
facts
Founded:
1912
Nickname:
Peixe (Fish), Santástico and Alvinegro Praiano (The black and white)
Ground:
Estadio Urbano Caldeira, also known as Vila Belmiro, capacity 20,120
Manager:
Wanderley Luxemburgo
League:
Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A
Top Goal Scorer:
Pele, 1091 goals
Anthem:
Leao Do Mar
Kit:
White
Mascot:
The whale