Santos Futebol Clube, commonly referred to as Santos FC or simply Santos, is one of the most iconic and successful football clubs in Brazil. Founded in 1912, the club is based in Santos, São Paulo, Brazil, and plays its home matches at the famous Vila Belmiro Stadium, which has a seating capacity of over 16,000.
Santos FC has a rich history, boasting 8 Brazilian Serie A titles, 3 Copa Libertadores titles, and numerous other domestic and international trophies. The club enjoyed its most successful era in the 1960s, under the leadership of manager Lula, when it was home to the legendary player Pelé.
Known for its attacking style of play, the club has nurtured some of football’s greatest talents, including Pelé, Robinho, Neymar, and Pepe. Despite recent challenges and inconsistent performances, Santos FC remains one of Brazil’s most valuable football clubs, with a global fan base and a rich tradition that continues to influence Brazilian and world football.
Santos FC is one of the most popular football clubs in Brazil, with one of the highest average home attendances in the country. The club states that its worldwide fan base includes more than 200 officially recognised branches of the Santos FC Supporters Club, in at least 24 countries. The club takes advantage of this support through its worldwide summer tours. Accountancy firm and sports industry consultants Deloitte estimate that Santos FC has 20 million fans worldwide. The club has a significant social media following, with millions of followers on Facebook as of July 2023. A 2014 study showed that Santos FC had the loudest fans in the Brasileirão Série A.
Santos FC was formed in 1912 as Santos Foot-Ball Club by three sports enthusiasts from Santos. The team initially played games against local clubs and other football teams, but on 15 September 1912, they competed in their first recorded match; wearing white, they defeated Santos Athletic Club 3–2.
In 1956, the arrival of Pelé, who is often regarded as the greatest football player of all time, led to a period of great success for Santos FC. Pelé led the team to numerous league victories and helped the club to win the Copa Libertadores twice. In 1962 and 1963, Santos FC also won the Intercontinental Cup, with Pelé being the star player of the team.
After Pelé's departure in 1974, Santos FC faced a period of challenges. Despite this, the club managed to win the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A in 2002 and 2004, and the Copa Libertadores again in 2011. However, the club has struggled to consistently compete for titles in recent years. Despite these challenges, Santos FC remains one of the most prestigious and respected clubs in Brazilian football, with a rich history and a large, passionate fan base.
Originally funded by the Rio Santos Railway Company, Santos FC became a limited company in 1912 and sold shares to local supporters for 2$ via an application form. In 1922, majority ownership passed to four local businessmen who invested 1000$ to save the club from bankruptcy, including future club president Sílvio Fernandes Lopes. After his death in 1937, the club faced bankruptcy yet again but was saved in December 1941 by Carlos Alberto Silva, who assumed control of the club after an investment of 4,000$. Silva promoted his son, Luís, to the board in 1948, but died three years later; the Silva family retained ownership of the club through Carlos's wife, Maria, but the position of chairman passed to former player Sérgio Echigo.
Promoted to the board a few days after the Ilha Porchat Club fire disaster, Marcelo Teixeira, a friend of Pelé, began acquiring shares in the club; for an investment of approximately 80,000$, he accumulated a 54 per cent shareholding and took control in January 1994. When Maria Silva died in January 2001, her shares passed to Luís Silva, who sold a percentage of his shares to Marcelo Teixeira's son, Thiago, in 2008; Thiago Teixeira went on to become chairman upon his father's death in 2010. Media tycoon Edir Macedo attempted to buy the club in 2014, but did not meet Teixeira's asking price. In 2019, chairman Thiago Teixeira attempted to sell the club to Carlos Wizard Martins for 40 million$, but the sale fell through and Martins joined the board of directors instead.
Santos FC is one of the most successful clubs in Brazil in terms of trophies won. The club's first major trophy was the Paulista Championship, which they won in 1935. In 1961, they won their first Campeonato Brasileiro Série A title, and went on to win the same competition eight times in total. Their total of 22 Campeonato Paulista titles is a record. Those titles have meant the club has appeared multiple times in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, winning it eight times in total.
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Worldwide
Santos FC: Detailed historical overview, notable players, and trophy record. https://www.santosfc.com.br/en/history/
Santos FC: Information about fan base and social media presence. https://www.deloitte.com/football-money-league-2023
Santos FC: Insight into ownership history and financial details. https://www.forbes.com/teams/santos-fc/
Santos FC: Comprehensive list of domestic, continental, and worldwide titles won. https://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/archive/brazil2011/clubs/club=1903418/index.html
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