History of Santos FC in Timeline

Santos Futebol Clube is a Brazilian sports club located in Santos, São Paulo. The team competes in the Campeonato Paulista, the state's premier league, and after winning the 2024 title, is now back in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the top tier of Brazilian football.

1902: Football Introduced to Santos in 1902

In 1902, football was introduced to Santos through the Instituto Presbiteriano Mackenzie, leading to the creation of Clube Atlético Internacional and Sport Club Americano.

1906: Began Playing Football for Americano in 1906

In 1906, the narrator started playing football for Americano at the age of 11.

1911: Americano Moved to São Paulo in 1911

In 1911, Americano moved to São Paulo.

April 1912: Formal Birth of the Club in April 1912

On April 14, 1912, Santos Foot-Ball Club was formally created after a 14-hour meeting. Sizino Patuska was appointed as the club's first president.

June 1912: First Practice Match in June 1912

On June 23, 1912, Santos played its first practice match against Thereza, winning 2–1.

1912: Club Foundation in 1912

In 1912, Santos Futebol Clube was founded by Raimundo Marques, Mário Ferraz de Campos, and Argemiro de Souza Júnior due to the city's lack of football representation.

1912: Santos adopted a black and white striped shield

In 1912, Santos adopted a black and white striped shield, with one of the early leather footballs in the middle and a diagonal band with the letters SFBC.

1912: Founded Santos Futebol Clube in 1912

In 1912, the narrator and his cousins founded Santos Futebol Clube after Americano moved to São Paulo.

1913: First Campeonato Paulista in 1913

In 1913, Santos took part in their first Campeonato Paulista, facing an 8-2 defeat against Germânia on June 1st. Despite a victory against Corinthians, high travel costs forced the team to abandon the tournament.

1913: First Ever Title in 1913

In 1913, the Campeonato Santista was first played, and Santos earned their first ever title after winning all six matches.

1913: Crest redesigned with globe and crown

In 1913, the Santos FC crest was redesigned as a badge inside a globe showing longitude and latitude lines as well as the equator.

1914: Friendly Matches in 1914

Due to an internal financial crisis, Santos only played friendly matches in 1914, winning all seven of them.

1915: Temporary crest for União Futebol Clube

During 1915, the club temporarily changed its name to União Futebol Clube and created a temporary crest with a white band that read 'União F.C.' and a black background.

1915: Another Title in 1915

In 1915, Santos changed their name temporarily to União Futebol Clube in order to compete in another city tournament due to budgeting reasons. Even so, Santos still went on to earn another title.

1915: Conflicts over field usage

In 1915, Santos faced conflicts with other city clubs over the use of the "Igreja Coração de Maria" pitch, leading to the search for their own land.

May 1916: Purchase of land in Vila Belmiro approved

On May 31, 1916, a general assembly approved the purchase of land in Vila Belmiro for the construction of Santos' stadium.

October 1916: Inauguration of Vila Belmiro sports park in October 1916

On October 12, 1916, the Vila Belmiro sports park was inaugurated. In the same year, Santos competed in another Campeonato Paulista and finished in a much-improved 5th place.

1917: Santos recognized as a solid team between 1917 and 1926

Between the 1917 and 1926 seasons, Santos was recognized as a solid and talented team, but did not offer a true challenge for the state title, finishing no higher than fourth place.

1925: Globe and crown removed from crest

In 1925, the globe and crown were removed from the Santos FC crest, taking its future form.

1926: Santos recognized as a solid team between 1917 and 1926

Between the 1917 and 1926 seasons, Santos was recognized as a solid and talented team, but did not offer a true challenge for the state title, finishing no higher than fourth place.

1927: Del Vecchio's record tally since Patusca's 53 goals

In 1927, Patusca scored 53 goals, the highest season tally before Emanuele Del Vecchio's 38 goals in 1955

1927: Runners-up in 1927

Santos finished as runners-up in 1927, scoring 100 goals in 16 games, resulting in an incredible rate of 6.25 goals per match. The team was led by Araken Patusca.

1928: Runners-up in 1928

Santos finished as runners-up in 1928.

1929: Runners-up in 1929

Santos finished as runners-up in 1929.

1930: Araken Patusca Participated in the 1930 FIFA World Cup

In 1930, Araken Patusca became the first Santista to participate in a World Cup, playing one match against Yugoslavia as a member of the Brazilian national team.

1931: Feitiço Sets Campeonato Paulista Record

In 1931, Feitiço scored 31 goals in the Campeonato Paulista, setting a one-season record.

1933: Professional Side in 1933

In 1933, the president of Santos publicly declared Santos a professional side for the first time.

1935: Triumph in 1935 Paulistão

Following their triumph in the 1935 Paulistão, many key players of the winning squad left or retired soon afterwards, depleting the club of its veterans.

1935: First Great Success in 1935

In 1935, Santos defeated Corinthians 2–0 to win their first state title ever, thanks to goals by Raul and Araken Patusca. The 10–1 thrashing of Espanha was a highlight of its preseason preparations.

1935: Cury aims to prevent repeat of veteran departures

In 1935, after several veteran departures, Cury set plans and contracts in motion to build upon the moment and provide a capable defense of the state title.

1936: 4th Place Finish in 1936

In 1936, Santos finished in 4th place in their attempt to defend the state title.

1937: Patusca's Departure in 1937

Patusca's departure in 1937 proved to be the closing chapter of his generation and the beginning of dismal campaigns in the Paulista tournament for the following 10 years, finishing no higher than 5th place.

November 1946: Tour into the Brazilian Northern and Northeastern Regions in November 1946

Starting on 29 November 1946, Athié Jorge Cury sanctioned a tour into the Brazilian northern and northeastern regions to face the top teams and give the upcoming generation much needed experience.

February 1947: Tour Ended in February 1947

The tour, led by Antoninho, lasted until 2 February 1947 with Santos obtaining 12 wins and three draws. Caxambu scored 19 goals, and Adolfrise scored 18.

1948: 2nd Place in the 1948 Paulistão

In 1948, Santos managed to finish in 2nd place in the Paulistão, thanks to Antoninho, Pinho and Odair dos Santos.

1949: Santos Futebol Clube do João Pessoa founded

In 1949, Santos Futebol Clube do João Pessoa was founded in João Pessoa in homage to Santos.

1949: Vila Belmiro hosts Copa América match

In 1949, Vila Belmiro was one of the venues of the Copa América.

1950: 3rd Place in the 1950 Paulistão

In 1950, Odair and Antoninho helped the club finish 3rd in the state competition.

1952: Participated in the Torneio Rio - São Paulo in 1952

In 1952, Santos participated in the Torneio Rio – São Paulo for the first time, finishing in third place overall. The arrivals of younger prospects such as Formiga, Manga, Tite, Zito and Vasconcelos coincided with the retirements of Odair.

1953: Antoninho Retires in 1953

Antoninho retires in 1953. Ensuring the club had the quality to maintain its pursuit on the State championship.

1954: Antoninho Became the club's assistant manager and Lula became the club's manager in 1954

Antoninho became the club's assistant manager in 1954 with Lula becoming the club's manager that same year.

1954: Waldemar de Brito wins youth championships

Starting in 1954, Waldemar de Brito, manager of Bauru Atlético Clube's junior squad, won three consecutive São Paulo state youth championships between 1954 and 1956 with Pelé.

1955: Santos already a two-time state champion

In 1955 and 1956 Santos was already a two-time state champion when Pelé debuted in Campeonato Paulista in 1957.

1955: Santos wins Paulistão

In 1955, Santos FC won the Paulistão (Campeonato Paulista) after a 2-1 victory over Taubaté, marking their second state title and the first in 20 years. Emanuele Del Vecchio was the top scorer with 23 goals. The club anthem "Leão do Mar" was created to commemorate this triumph.

June 1956: Pelé signs with Santos

In June 1956, Santos finalized the contract with a 15-year-old Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé, who was brought over to Vila Belmiro by Waldemar de Brito.

1956: Pelé Joins Santos

In 1956, Pelé began playing for Santos, making 1106 first-team appearances until 1974.

1957: Pelé's debut in Campeonato Paulista

In 1957, Pelé made his debut in the Campeonato Paulista, with Santos already being a two-time state champion (1955/56).

1958: Pelé Surpasses Feitiço's Record

In 1958, Pelé surpassed Feitiço's 1931 record by scoring 58 goals in the Campeonato Paulista, which still stands as the record.

1958: Santos wins third state title

In 1958, Santos won their third state title, scoring 143 goals in 38 games, averaging 3.76 per game. Pelé set a record by scoring 58 goals. Brazil won the World Cup in Sweden, with Santos players Zito, Pelé and Pepe.

1959: Santos wins Rio-São Paulo Tournament

In 1959, Santos won the Rio-São Paulo Tournament, beating Vasco 3-0 in the final, with two goals by 16-year-old Coutinho.

1961: First Season of Consecutive Titles

In 1961, Santos began a streak of winning the most seasons in a row, which lasted from 1961 to 1965.

1962: Quadruple Championship Win in 1962

In 1962, Os Santásticos completed a quadruple win, securing the Campeonato Paulista, the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the Copa Libertadores, and the European/South American Cup.

1962: Intercontinental Cup title

In 1962, Santos FC won one of its Intercontinental Cup titles.

1962: Treble Winning Season

In 1962, Santos won the Paulista, Taça Brasil, and the Copa Libertadores.

1962: Vila Belmiro hosts Copa Libertadores final

In 1962, Vila Belmiro hosted the Copa Libertadores final.

1962: Santos side chosen as best team of all time

In 1962, a poll in the magazine El Gráfico saw experts from South America and Europe choose the Santos side of 1962/63 as the best team of all time.

1962: Santos players form the basis of the Brazilian World Cup side

In 1962, players from Santos and Botafogo formed the basis of the Brazilian World Cup side in Chile.

1963: Intercontinental Cup title

In 1963, Santos FC won one of its Intercontinental Cup titles.

1963: Highest Home Attendance

In 1963, the highest home attendance for a Santos match was recorded at 132,728, during the Intercontinental Cup.

1963: Copa Libertadores Champions (Undefeated)

Santos won the Copa Libertadores in 1963, becoming the first Brazilian side to win the title without losing a single match.

1964: Peak capacity at Vila Belmiro

In 1964, Vila Belmiro reached its peak capacity of 32,989 during a match between Santos and Corinthians.

1965: Fifth Season of Consecutive Titles

In 1965, Santos concluded a streak of winning the most seasons in a row, a record of 5, which began in 1961.

1966: Santos does not participate in Libertadores

In 1966, Santos did not participate in the Copa Libertadores due to pressure from the CBD (Brazilian Sport Confederation), which did not want the team to risk their star players in unsafe stadiums in South America.

1967: Santos does not participate in Libertadores

In 1967, Santos did not participate in the Copa Libertadores due to pressure from the CBD (Brazilian Sport Confederation), which did not want the team to risk their star players in unsafe stadiums in South America.

1969: Santos Football Music by Gilberto Mendes

In 1969, Gilberto Mendes wrote Santos Football Music, which included audience interaction and a radio broadcast of a Santos FC game.

1969: Santos does not participate in Libertadores

In 1969, Santos did not participate in the Copa Libertadores due to pressure from the CBD (Brazilian Sport Confederation), which did not want the team to risk their star players in unsafe stadiums in South America.

1970: Santos players form the basis of the Brazilian World Cup side

In 1970, players from Santos and Botafogo formed the basis of the Brazilian World Cup side in Mexico.

1973: Santos Futebol Clube do Macapá founded

In 1973, Santos Futebol Clube do Macapá was founded in Macapá in homage to Santos.

1973: Santos wins championship

In 1973, Santos was champion, still with Pelé in the team.

1974: Pelé's Last Game

In 1974, Pelé played his last game for Santos, after making 1106 first-team appearances since 1956.

1978: Santos wins championship

In 1978, Santos was champion, driven by the Meninos da Vila: Pita, Juary, João Paulo and Nilton Batata.

1979: First kit manufacturer

Since 1979, Santos has had 38 different sponsors, with Rainha being the club's first kit manufacturer.

1980: Bob Marley Plays Practice Match with Santos

In 1980, Bob Marley, along with Bob Marley & The Wailers, played a practice match with Santos, with Bob Marley wearing the Santos uniform.

1980: Santos becomes vice-champion of the São Paulo state championship

In 1980, Santos became the vice-champion of the São Paulo state championship.

1981: Appearance in Escape to Victory

In 1981, Pelé appeared, alongside other footballers of the 1960s and 1970s, with Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone, in the film Escape to Victory, about an attempted escape from a World War II German POW Camp.

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1984: Santos wins the Paulista Championship

In 1984, Santos won the Paulista Championship for the first time until 2006.

1993: Serginho hired by Santos

In 1993, Serginho was hired by President Milton Teixeira to compete in the Brazilian Championship, becoming the top scorer with 22 goals and leading the team to the runner-up slot.

1993: "Santos FC Soccer Academy Japan" creation

Since its creation in 1993, "Santos FC Soccer Academy Japan" has grown in popularity.

1995: Santos faces Botafogo in national Championship

In 1995, Santos faced Botafogo in the final of the national Championship, but could not beat the team from Rio de Janeiro.

1995: Danielle Zangrando Wins Bronze at World Judo Championships

In 1995, Santos fan Danielle Zangrando won a bronze judo medalist at the World Judo Championships.

1997: Santos wins Rio – São Paulo Tournament

In 1997, Santos won the Rio – São Paulo Tournament.

January 1998: Reaching 10,000 Goals in January 1998

On January 20, 1998, Santos became the first team in the world to reach 10,000 goals in football history.

January 1998: New illumination system installed at Vila Belmiro

On January 27, 1998, a new illumination system was installed at Vila Belmiro, with an illumination level of 1200 lux, exceeding FIFA's minimum recommendation.

1998: Santos wins Copa CONMEBOL

In 1998, Santos won the Copa CONMEBOL.

2000: Santos places 18th in the national league

In 2000, Santos had a runner-up finish in the state championship and an 18th place in the national league.

2001: Santos places 15th in the national league

In 2001, Santos had a semi-final loss in the state championship and a 15th place in the national league.

2002: Santos Futebol Clube de Angola founded

In 2002, Santos Futebol Clube de Angola was founded in Viana, Angola in homage to Santos.

2002: Santos focuses on youth squads

In 2002, Santos focused on their youth squads due to a severe financial crisis, promoting players like Alex, Robinho, and Diego.

2003: Santos finishes second in Brazilian national championship

In 2003, Santos finished in second position in the first ever Brazilian national championship without a post-season play-off.

October 2005: Inauguration of Centro de Treinamento Rei Pelé

In October 2005, the Centro de Treinamento Rei Pelé was inaugurated in the Jabaquara neighborhood.

2005: Santos drops to 11th place after match manipulation

In 2005, Santos dropped to 11th place after the discovery that referee Edilson Pereira de Carvalho participated in manipulating results, leading to the replaying of matches and affecting Santos' final position.

2005: Remodeling of the crest

In 2005, the Santos FC crest went through a remodeling.

August 2006: Inauguration of Centro de Treinamento Meninos da Vila

In August 2006, the Centro de Treinamento Meninos da Vila was inaugurated in the Saboó neighborhood.

2006: Santos wins Paulista Championship and secures spot in Copa Libertadores

In 2006, Santos finished fourth in Brazil, securing a spot in the Copa Libertadores, and won the Paulista Championship for the first time since 1984.

2006: Fourth Most Popular Club in Brazil

In early 2006, according to a survey conducted by Institute DataFolha, Santos was the fourth most popular football club in Brazil, preferred by 4% of the Brazilian population, representing approximately 10 million fans.

2007: Danielle Zangrando Wins Gold at Pan American Games

In 2007, Santos fan Danielle Zangrando won a gold judo medalist at the Pan American Games.

2007: Santos wins the title

In 2007, Santos won the title through a second leg victory and led the team to second place in the national championship, 15 points behind champion São Paulo.

2008: Cuca previously worked at Santos

Cuca had previously worked at the Santos team in 2008 before returning in 2018.

2008: Santos avoids relegation and plays Copa Libertadores

In 2008, Santos avoided relegation thanks to a comeback in the last few games and played Copa Libertadores, enduring until the quarter-finals where they were beaten by America (Mexico).

2008: Expansion to Cairo, Egypt

In 2008, Santos expanded its brand to Cairo, Egypt.

2009: Neymar and Paulo Henrique Ganso join Santos

In 2009, Neymar and Paulo Henrique Ganso joined the professional team, forming a strong bond and leading the team in subsequent years.

2010: Santos wins Campeonato Paulista and Copa do Brasil

In 2010, Santos, led by Neymar and Paulo Henrique Ganso, won the Campeonato Paulista and Copa do Brasil, known for their irreverent game style and dancing celebrations.

2010: Vila Belmiro hosts Copa do Brasil final

In 2010, Vila Belmiro hosted a Copa do Brasil final.

2011: Borges' Record-Breaking Season

In 2011, Borges set the record for the most Brasileirão goals scored in one season for Santos, with 23 goals.

2011: Economic Powerhouse and Valued Squad

In 2011, Santos had an annual turnover of US$45.1m (€31.5m) and became one of the most valuable clubs, worth over $86.7m (€60.6m). Also in 2011, Santos' squad became the most valued in South America, worth over €82m. Borges also holds the record for the most Brasileirão goals scored in one season for the club with 23 goals.

2011: Santos wins Campeonato Paulista and Copa Libertadores

In 2011, Santos won the Campeonato Paulista and Copa Libertadores, with players like Neymar, Ganso, Elano, Alan Kardec and Ibson. They finished second in the FIFA Club World Cup, losing to Barcelona.

2011: Copa Libertadores Champions

Santos won the Copa Libertadores in 2011, marking one of their three total wins of the competition.

2012: Santos Featured in Pro Evolution Soccer 2012

In 2012, Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer, a secondary sponsor of the official Copa Libertadores video game, featured Santos in the video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2012. This marked the first time that the club was featured in a video game.

2012: Revenue of Over $114 Million in 2012

In 2012, Santos generated an annual turnover of over $114 million, making it Brazil's fourth-richest sports club.

2012: Santos wins State Championships (Paulistão) and the Recopa

In 2012, Santos won the State Championships (Paulistão) against Guarani and the Recopa against Universidad de Chile. Key players like Ganso, Borges, and Elano departed the team.

2012: Release of Santos 100 Anos de Futebol Arte

In 2012, the film Santos 100 Anos de Futebol Arte was released, documenting the club's trajectory during its 100 years of history.

2013: End of the latest Santástico era

2013 marked the end of the latest Santástico era, with Santos finishing as runner-up in Paulistão and the departure of key figures like Neymar and coach Muricy Ramalho. Santos ended the 2013 season in seventh place.

2013: Pelé Becomes Global Ambassador

In 2013, Santos signed Pelé to a contract, agreeing to make him its global ambassador.

2013: Ranked 2nd Most Valuable Club in 2013

In 2013, Santos was ranked as the 2nd most valuable club in Brazil and South America, and 38th globally, with a value exceeding $65 million according to Brand Finance.

September 2014: Oswaldo de Oliveira released, Enderson Moreira hired

In September 2014, Oswaldo de Oliveira was released by the Santos board, and Enderson Moreira was hired as his replacement the next day.

December 2014: Modesto Roma Júnior elected president, financial troubles

In December 2014, Modesto Roma Júnior was elected the new president of Santos FC. The club also faced financial difficulties from the previous management, leading to legal actions from players due to unpaid wages.

2014: Pelé's Lifetime Contract Extension

In 2014, Santos extended Pelé's contract to a lifetime contract, continuing to use his image in its marketing campaigns.

2014: Santos hires Oswaldo de Oliveira

In 2014, after letting go of interim manager Claudinei Oliveira, Santos hired Oswaldo de Oliveira to begin as the new manager.

2015: Marcelo Fernandes appointed manager, Dorival Júnior returns

In 2015, Marcelo Fernandes was appointed manager and won the Paulistão. Later in the year, Dorival Júnior returned to the club and led the team to the Copa do Brasil finals and back into the G-4.

2015: Elano and Ricardo Oliveira return, Damião loaned out

In 2015, free agents Elano and Ricardo Oliveira returned to Santos with low wages due to the club's financial problems, and Leandro Damião was loaned out.

2016: Santos wins Paulistão, achieves first place in Brasileirão

In 2016, Dorival remained in charge of Santos, winning the Paulistão and achieving first place in the Brasileirão for one week after eight years.

December 2017: José Carlos Peres elected as the new president

On December 9, 2017, José Carlos Peres was elected as the new president of Santos FC.

2017: Dorival sacked, Levir Culpi appointed and dismissed

During the 2017 campaign, Dorival was sacked and Levir Culpi was appointed. However, after the club's elimination from the Copa Libertadores and due to poor form, Levir Culpi was also dismissed.

July 2018: Jair Ventura leaves, Cuca takes over

In July 2018, Jair Ventura left Santos after being in the relegation zone, and Cuca took over as manager, leading the club to a 10th position.

2019: Jorge Sampaoli hired, mixed results

In 2019, Santos hired Jorge Sampaoli as manager, leading the club to second position in the league, but failing to achieve success in other competitions.

December 2020: Andrés Rueda elected president

On December 12, 2020, Andrés Rueda was elected as president of Santos FC for the 2021-2023 term, marking the club's first online voting.

2020: Managerial changes and presidential issues

In 2020, Jesualdo Ferreira was signed as manager but later sacked. Cuca returned, and president José Carlos Peres was removed from his role.

2020: Santos reaches Copa Libertadores final

Santos reached the final of the 2020 Copa Libertadores in January 2021.

January 2021: Santos reaches Copa Libertadores final

In January 2021, Santos reached the final of the 2020 Copa Libertadores but lost to Palmeiras.

April 2021: Holan resigns

In April 2021, Ariel Holan resigned after a poor campaign in the Campeonato Paulista.

2021: Rueda's presidential term

Andrés Rueda's presidential term began in 2021.

February 2022: Carille sacked, Fabián Bustos appointed

In February 2022, Fábio Carille was sacked, and Fabián Bustos was appointed as manager.

December 27, 2022: Crown added to crest in honor of Pelé

On December 27, 2022, Santos FC added a crown to the crest in honor of Pelé, positioned above the crest between the two stars referring to the Intercontinental Cup titles.

December 2023: Santos relegated, Marcelo Teixeira elected president

On December 9, 2023, Marcelo Teixeira was elected the new president of Santos, returning to the role after 14 years. Santos was relegated to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B for the first time in their history.

2023: Rueda's presidential term

Andrés Rueda's presidential term ended in 2023.

2024: Carille returns, Série B title, sacked before final match

In 2024, Carille returned as head coach, leading Santos to the Campeonato Paulista finals and winning the Série B title. He was sacked before the campaign's final match.

2024: Winning the 2024 Série B title

In 2024, Santos FC won the Série B title, earning them a spot in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the top flight of the Brazilian football league system.