Santos Futebol Clube

Santos Futebol Clube is a Brazilian football team from Santos, São Paulo state, Brazil.

History

The Golden Years

The club enjoyed its peak in the sixties, when Pelé, Coutinho, Pepe and others made it the greatest Brazilian team ever. The club's popularity was enormous nationwide.

Related Topics:
Pelé - Coutinho - Pepe

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In his golden years, it won 9 state championships, two Libertadores Cups, 6 (out of 10) Brazil Cups and played exhibition games worldwide showing the best Brazilian-style football at its moment of glory.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Unfortunately, however, the end of the club's golden age coincides with the creation of the Brazilian Championship, which it would take 30 years to win.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Stopping War

It is really true that the club's popularity was so great that it could halt a war so that people could watch it play. The mythical event (which many dismiss as an urban legend) occurred in 1969 in the Congo. The Kinshasa (the former Belgian Congo) and the Brazzaville (the former French Congo) governments were engaged in a war when Santos arrived at the Kinshasa airport heading to Brazzaville, where it would play against the Congo National Team.

Related Topics:
Kinshasa - Brazzaville

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Instead of sending them away, the Kinshasa government gently produced a brief truce, escorted them to the border and back in safety. After playing their previously arranged match (19/1/1969), the team returned to Kinshasa (again escorted by the militia) and met Congolese president, who told them that they would only be allowed leave if they played against a local team.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On January 21 1969 Santos played against a quickly-assembled Congolese juvenile national team and won by 2x0. The Congolese president wanted a revanche and, on January 23 1969 Santos played against Kinshasa Leopards, "losing" by 3x2. After that, they were allowed to take off.

Related Topics:
January 21 - 1969 - January 23

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the meantime the war had been in a halt in both sides of the border, but it started over as soon as their plane left.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Santos After Pelé

The end of the golden age also coincides with the retirement of Pelé from professional soccer, in 1972, after a low-profile participation in the first Brazilian Championship.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

From 1972 onwards Santos only won one important honour, the 1984 São Paulo state championship. It was also the runner-up in the Brazilian championships of 1983 (won by Flamengo) and 1995 (won by Botafogo), both finals having extremely contested rulings by officials but since the late eighties the club was seen as decadent and many believed its glory days were over.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Recent Years

The "resurrection" of Santos started when Pelé approached the club and used his reputation and contacts to attract sponsors and investors. The club would undergo a long process of reabilitation, including the renewal of its stadium (which had for years been the worst playing field in Brazil), the hiring of important players and, most important of all, a strong investment in infrastructure (training fields, medical and physiotherapical facilities) and formation of players.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This rehabilitation policy proved effective and the club was soon replenished with numerous young talented players (among them Robinho, Diego, Elano, Léo, William and Renato). In 2002 Santos were national champions for the first time since 1968, and in 2004 won the league again. The club has also done well in most tournaments it takes part and is currently seen as a major favourite for the current league.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~