Santos Football Club, an institution synonymous with the legendary Pele’s legacy, experienced a heart-wrenching moment in their 111-year history as they faced relegation for the first time, marking a grim chapter in their footballing saga.
The team’s historic fate was sealed in a crushing 2-1 home defeat against Fortaleza during their final league encounter of the season. This defeat consigned Santos to the second division, a fate they’d never encountered in over a century of existence.
Amidst the illustrious names like Pele and Neymar who once graced the club’s colors, Santos concluded their lackluster season in 17th place, gathering a total of 43 points. Their narrowly missed escape from relegation lingered at just one point behind Bahia, who secured their safety with a resounding 4-1 victory over Atletico Mineiro.
In stark contrast, they fell a substantial 27 points short of the reigning league champions, Palmeiras.
Surprisingly, the Luis Suarez-inspired Gremio claimed a commendable second place with 68 points, bolstered by a stunning brace from the Uruguayan forward in their triumphant 3-2 conquest over Fluminense.
The poignant blow of Santos’ relegation strikes close to the one-year anniversary of Pele’s passing on December 29, 2022, a sorrowful reminder of the club’s current predicament.
This setback underscores a series of economic and athletic challenges that have plagued Santos in recent years.
Their demotion now leaves Flamengo and Sao Paulo as the sole Brazilian clubs to have never experienced relegation, further emphasizing the gravity of Santos’ descent from their historical pedestal.
