Xtra Time Web Desk: Santos FC, home to the legendary Pele, faced a shocking relegation from Brazil’s top-tier Brasileiro Serie A on Thursday. The club’s historic 111-year run without relegation came to an end as they finished 17th in the points table, just a point away from safety. Santos suffered their 17th loss of the season in a 1-2 defeat against Fortaleza. The club, boasting eight Serie A titles, fell short of avoiding relegation by one point, finishing behind 16th-placed Bahia.
Following the century old club’s relegation disgruntled fans expressed their frustration by setting fire to the car belonging to Steven Mendoza, a former Chennaiyin FC forward and current player for Santos. This incident occurred in the aftermath of Santos’ unprecedented relegation from the top-flight Brazilian football league, marking the first time in the club’s illustrious history. Mendoza, who initially gained recognition as one of the youngest foreign players in the Indian Super League with Chennaiyin FC in 2014, showcased his talent by scoring an impressive 17 goals in 25 appearances for the club. His journey continued with stints at Amiens SC before ultimately landing him at Santos for the 22-23 season, which unfortunately coincided with the unexpected downturn for the club.
Notably, Santos, along with Sao Paolo and Flamengo, had never been relegated from the top league until this unexpected setback. Legendary Pele, who spent 19 years at Santos and scored 569 goals, played a pivotal role in the club’s initial six Serie A titles. Other notable players like Neymar and Rodrygo also began their careers at Santos.
In contrast, Palmeiras successfully defended their title with a 1-1 draw against Cruzeiro, finishing two points ahead of Gremio. Palmeiras now holds a record 12 Brasileiro Serie A titles. Goias, Coritiba, and America MG were also relegated, while Atletico Mineiro and Flamengo secured direct qualification to the Copa Libertadores group stages by finishing third and fourth, respectively. The season marked the end of an era for Santos and a triumphant repeat for Palmeiras.