Santos, talents creator
[photo=pele_pepe.JPG id=91 align=right]Santos FC were established on the 14th of April 1912, by 3 sportsmen of the City (Raymundo Marques, Mário Ferraz De Campos and Argemiro de Souza Júnior) they met in the headquarters of the Club Concord to create a new soccer team. During the historic meeting many names were suggested for the new club: Concórdia, Euterpe ou Brasil Atlético. But no could agree until Edmundo Jorge Araújo came up with "Santos Football Club".
Their first game was on the 15th of September that same year. Santos beat Santos Athletic Club 3-0. However, reseracher Guillermo Go"mez Guarche, believes that their first game actually occurred on the 23rd of June of 1912 against the local side Thereza Team. But, the official club historian, Francisco Mendes Fernandes, disagree’s describing this game as nothing more than a training session, without official result. Either way Santos won their first game as they defeated Thereza Team 2-1, with goals from Anacleto Ferramenta and Geraule Ribeiro.
In the "official" first game on the 15th of September, their adversary Santos Athletic Club, was better known at the time as the ‘Clube dos Ingleses’ or Club of the English, today they are one of the most traditional sports clubs of the City, but no longer play football. Their first official goal in the history of the club was scored by Arnaldo Silveira.
In the beginning of 1913, Santos received an invitation from the São Paulo Football League to play in the state championship. This was their first official competition. Their debut happened on the 1st of June, agaisnt Germânia. The result, however, was not something they prefer not to remember losing 8 – 1. Santos played with Durval Damasceno, Sebastião Arantes, Sydnei Simonsen; Geraule Ribeiro, Ambrósio Silva & José Pereira da Silva; Adolfo Millon, Nilo Arruda, Anacleto Ferramenta, Harold Cross & Arnaldo Silveira. Three weeks later, on the 22nd of June, Santos won their first Championship game against a team who would become its greatest rival, Corinthians. Santos won 6-3 in a full Parque São Jorge.
In 1913, they also played in the Campeonato Santista de Futebol tournament for the first time, along with América, Escolástica Rosa and Atlético. The Alvinegro (the black & white’s) were crowned champions, with six victories in six games, 35 goals for and only seven against. This was the first championship in the history of the club.
[photo=treino.JPG id=91 align=left]Since their very first years Santos got in a habit of winning, as much in local games as international. Their first São Paulo Championship title happened in 1935, after having suffered a decline in form for two years, due to the change to professionalism with in the sport. In 1955, after 20 years without being champion, Santos came back to win titles, being successful in Taubaté with the team with many great players: Manga, Hélvio & Feijó; Ramiro, Formiga & Urubatão; Tite, Negri, Álvaro, Del Vecchio & Pepe.
In the following year, Valdemar de Brito would invite a 15 year old boy to the club named Pelé. Who would change the club forever. Turning Santos into one of the world’s most famous teams. Pelé would practically reinvent football and Santos would show it to the world, enchanting supporter with their magical style. With an awesome attacking side spear headed by: Dorval, Mengávio, Coutinho, Pelé and Pepe. It was in this period, Santos were twice Interclub champions of the world (1962/1963), twice Taça Libertadores da América (1962/1963), among others glories.
After the Age of Pelé, Santos Football Club continued its winning way. In 1978 it again formed a champion team. Meninos da Vila or Village boys as they were nicknamed won the São Paulo Championship of 1978. Juari, Pita, Ailton had been distinguished at the time among others.
After this they continued winning titles, São Paulo champions in 1984 and the Conmebol Cup of 1998. But, in 2002, year when the club completed 90 years, Santos conquered for the seventh time, the main prize the Campeonato Brasileiro (Brazilian Championship). The team was, basically, formed inside of the Belmiro Village. The Boys of the Village were attracting attention from all over the world with stars Diego and Robinho. In the following year, with the kept base, they finished second in the Copa do Libertadores and the Brazilian Championship.
In 2004, they won two important titles, one with its main team the another with its B team created in this year. The B team, coached by Márcio Fernandes, was champion of the São Paulo Federacy of Soccer and guaranteed entry to the club in the Brazil Cup. And the main team won the Brazilian Championship again, under the coaching of ex-international manager Vanderlei Luxemburg and with Robinho, Elano, Ricardinho and Léo playing. As the case in recent years a wealth of talent has now left the club and they have struggled to replace them quick. Santos currently sit just outside of a Copa do Libertadores birth.
Recommended links:
The Santos card
The Santos pictures taken at the time of our travel to Brazil
The Santos official site
