Santos FC Relegation Shock: A Historic Blow to Pelé's Beloved Club
Santos FC, a revered Brazilian football club, faced an unprecedented blow as they suffered relegation after 111 years For passionate fans, Santos is more than just a team; it holds a sacred place, akin to a second religion
Like many football enthusiasts in Brazil, fans of Santos FC consider their club to be almost as important as a second religion.
Santos FC, one of the most esteemed teams in South America and the club where the Brazilian legend Pelé spent the majority of his career, endured an almost unthinkable fate last week.
Santos experienced relegation to Serie B for the first time in its 111-year history. After the final whistle, emotions ran high in the Vila Belmiro stadium as tearful fans filled the stands, expressing a mix of sadness, devastation, and anger.
Brazil's Edson Arantes Do Nascimento, also known as Pele, rejoices in the triumph following Brazil's win in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, where they defeated Italy at Estadio Azteca on 21 June in Mexico City.
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What made Pelé so great
Items were thrown onto the pitch by attendees and there were conflicts with law enforcement, as several vehicles were set ablaze in São Paulo.
Former Santos player Pepe, who scored 403 goals for the club, second only to Pelé, expressed disbelief at the team's relegation to Serie B after playing 741 matches for them.
Pepe, at 88 years old, reflected on the multitude of emotions his heart has felt, expressing both the good and the bad. Speaking on Instagram, he admitted that witnessing the potential downfall of the Peixe in the Brazilian championship was an undoubtedly somber moment, and yet, the thought of the team actually going down never crossed his mind - almost as if the football gods were looking out for them despite the ups and downs.
Santos was in 15th place as they headed into their final game of the season at home to Fortaleza Esporte Clube, a mid-table team with no stakes. There were only about a 10% chance of Santos being relegated pre-match, according to Brazilian journalist and Santos fan Anthony Wells.
Santos' 2-1 home defeat, along with wins for Bahia and Vasco, sealed the Peixe's fate for Serie B next season.
"It’s almost like it’s not even happening, you know?" Wells said to CNN. "I've had nightmares. I woke up this morning and thought to myself: Is this really my reality? Did that actually happen?"
"For Santos supporters, its just pure heartbreak and it happened in the worst possible way because they were confident that they were able to avoid relegation."
A number of vehicles were destroyed across São Paulo following Santos' relegation.
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The Santos relegation occurring less than a year after Pelé's death "adds to the pain," Wells stated, making it "even more heartbreaking." The Vila Belmiro stadium, where Santos suffered their devastating defeat, also served as the final resting place for Pelé's coffin, drawing in thousands of Brazilians who came to pay their respects.
The stadium was also home to Pelé for 18 seasons, where he scored a record 288 goals during his extraordinary career. Despite Santos fans being aware of the possibility of relegation, Wells expressed hope that the club and its players could alleviate the pain by staying in the top flight and bringing joy to the fans.
"After the second goal from Fortaleza, the situation took a turn for the worse," Wells lamented. "It only made the pain even more intense, especially considering that no one anticipated this relegation. All they had to do was win at home. That's it. And they couldn't even manage that."
"And many Santos supporters are saying: Thank God Pelé didnt see Santos relegated to the Serie B because he does not deserve that."
Workers clean up around the stadium following Santos' relegation.
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The glorious era of Pelé and Pepe, which brought six Brazilian championships and two Copa Libertadores titles, now seems like a distant memory. However, as Pepe emphasizes, restructuring will be crucial for Santos' revival.
"It's important to remember that SANTOS is a big club," Pepe stated. "Now, it's time to acknowledge the inconsistent season and learn from our mistakes so that we can rebuild and make a comeback in Serie A next year. A disappointing season resulting in relegation will not tarnish the illustrious history we've created."
Santos fans are reeling from the relegation, knowing that the signs of trouble had been evident for years but the club failed to take action. Despite a couple of midtable finishes in 2021 and 2022, the club was on the brink of relegation in the São Paulo state league multiple times, indicating deeper issues.
Andrés Rueda, the president of Santos club, faced significant fan dissatisfaction during his tenure starting in 2021. However, his term came to an end on Saturday with the re-election of Marcelo Teixeira to the post.
Pelé's coffin was displayed at Santos' Vila Belmiro stadium.
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Upon his return as president, Teixeira's initial action was to retire Pelé's iconic No. 10 jersey until Santos achieves promotion back to Serie A. He emphasized that the club will reclaim its place in the top division, but until then, they will not wear their prestigious shirt. Additionally, the club is facing a substantial $142 million debt, as reported by the Athletic, a financial predicament that will be further worsened by competing in a less renowned division.
(Caption) Miami, Florida: This is a head and shoulders portrait of Pele, the soccer sensation from New York Cosmos, standing on the field wearing the New York Cosmos uniform. In the background, the crowd is visible.
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Santos' academy has historically been a reliable source of talent for its first team and for selling abroad, but it has lost some of its former luster. "I'll support Santos no matter what, even if we don't score, even if the stadium is quiet, even if our luck runs out," Rodrygo tweeted on X, formerly known as Twitter, after Thursday's game.
"I will always be a Santos fan, no matter how difficult or lengthy the journey may be. Santos is in my heart and soul, in my cheers and applause!"
According to Wells, a quick return to the first division is not guaranteed, as many Serie B clubs have long-term plans to move up and others have already fluctuated between promotion and relegation multiple times.
Wells cites the cases of Vasco and Cruzeiro, who spent several seasons in Serie B before earning promotion, as examples. He warns that Santos will need to make significant changes to their finances, squad, coaching staff, and senior management in order to succeed in Brazil's second tier.
"Wells emphasized the importance of everyone being in sync."
Following the loss to Fortaleza, Brazilian commentator Juca Kfouri stated: "Santos relegation will have a major impact on Brazilian football in 2023."
While relegation will remain an inedible stain on the clubs history, Santos has a long way to go before the start of next season to ensure its stay in Serie B is only a fleeting one.
