 | |||
| Full name | Santos Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The People's Team | ||
| Founded | 1982 | ||
| Ground | Poplar Avenue, Thornton, Cape Town | ||
| Capacity | 1,000 | ||
| Chairman | Goolam Allie | ||
| League | ABC Motsepe League | ||
| 2023–24 | 4th Stream A | ||
| Website | https://www.santosfc.co.za/ | ||
Santos Football Club or simply Santos is a South African professional soccer club based in the Lansdowne, [1] a suburb of the city of Cape Town. It plays in the SAFA Second Division. [2]
The club was established in Heideveld on the Cape Flats in 1982 and was originally known as Lightbodys Santos FC, after its sponsor. During apartheid, it was renowned for the insistence on non-racial inclusivity, hence its nickname "The People's Team".
They played in the Federation Professional League (FPL), the only truly non-racial football body in the country from 1982 to 1990. They won the championship in 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1990 before joining the National Soccer League.
The PSL era began in 1996, with Santos earning promotion to the Premiership for the 1997–98 season. Santos tasted their first success in the new format of the league in 2001–02 when they surprisingly won the title under the mentorship of Gordon Igesund. This side featured players like Edries Burton, Andre Arendse, Musa Otieno and the club's all-time top goalscorer Jean-Marc Ithier. With the title win Santos became the first – and to date the only – team that was not a founder-member of the PSL Premiership to win the league.
They were also crowned Bob Save Super Bowl winners in 2001 and BP Top 8 winners in 2002.
Santos were relegated from the Premiership at the end of the 2011–12 season for the first time in the club's history. After finishing 15th in the league they entered the 2011–12 PSL Playoff Tournament where they were pitted against Chippa United and Thanda Royal Zulu. Heading into their final playoff game Santos needed a win over Chippa United to maintain their Premiership status but they were defeated 4–3 and subsequently relegated, with Chippa United taking their place in the PSL. [3]
Santos were relegated from the National First Division at the end of the 2016–17 season. The club now plays in the Western Cape ABC Motsepe League.
David Bright (2008–09)
Roald Poulsen (2004)
Jean-Marc Ithier (2007–08)
Mart Nooij (2012)
Clive Barker (2000–01, 2005) Gordon Igesund (2001–02) Roger De Sa (2005–07) Boebie Solomons (2003–04, 2009–11)
Muhsin Ertugral (2003) Edries Burton 409 Jean-Marc Ithier 70
Musa Otieno Cassiem Mohamed 44 (1993) Duncan Crowie 19 (1991)The South African Premiership, officially referred to as the Betway Premiership for sponsorship purposes, and commonly referred to as the PSL after the governing body, is the premier men's professional soccer league and the highest division in the league system of South Africa, organised since 1996.
Moroka Swallows Football Club is a South African professional football club based in Soweto, Johannesburg, in the Gauteng province.
Jomo Cosmos are a South African professional association football club based in Johannesburg that plays in the ABC Motsepe League. The club is owned and coached by South African football legend Jomo Sono.
Lamontville Golden Arrows F.C. are a South African soccer club based in Durban that plays in the Premiership.
Musa Otieno is a Kenyan former footballer.
Abubakaar "Boebie" Solomons is a South African football coach who last coached Premier Soccer League club Polokwane City. He is one of the few footballing coaches in the country to have won winners medals for both the PSL league title and the Mvela Golden League. He has also coached South Africa at under-20 level.
Gordon Igesund is a former South African football player and coach who was most recently the manager of Highlands Park in the Premier Soccer League.
The 2007–2008 South African Premiership, known as the ABSA Premiership for sponsorship purposes, and also commonly referred to as the PSL after the governing body, was the twelfth season of the Premiership since its establishment in 1996.
The 2001–02 South African Premiership, known as the 2001–02 Castle Premiership for sponsorship purposes, and also commonly referred to as the PSL after the governing body, was the sixth season of the Premiership since its establishment in 1996.
The 2008–2009 South African Premiership, known as the ABSA Premiership for sponsorship purposes, and also commonly referred to as the PSL after the governing body, was the thirteenth season of the Premiership since its establishment in 1996.
The 2010–2011 South African Premiership, known as the ABSA Premiership for sponsorship purposes, and also commonly referred to as the PSL after the governing body, was the fifteenth season of the Premiership since its establishment in 1996.
The 2011–2012 South African Premiership, known as the ABSA Premiership for sponsorship purposes, and also commonly referred to as the PSL after the governing body, was the sixteenth season of the Premiership since its establishment in 1996.
The 2011–12 National First Division was the season from September 2011 until May 2012 of South Africa's second tier of professional football.
The 2012–13 South African Premiership season was the seventeenth season of the Premiership since its establishment in 1996. The season began in the second week of August 2012.
The 2014–15 South African Premiership season was the nineteenth season of the Premiership since its establishment in 1996. Fixtures were announced 5 June 2014. The league opened on 8 August 2014 and will conclude on 9 May 2015.
The 2015–16 South African Premiership season is the twentieth season of the Premiership since its establishment in 1996.
The 2016–17 South African Premiership season is the 21st season of the Premiership since its establishment in 1996.
The 2017–18 South African Premiership season was the 22nd season of the Premiership since its conception in 1996.
The 2018–19 South African Premiership season was the 23rd season of the Premiership since its establishment in 1996. The season began in August 2018 and concluded in May 2019, with Mamelodi Sundowns winning their second consecutive title.
The 2019–20 South African Premiership season was the 24th season of the Premiership since its establishment in 1996. The season began in August 2019 and concluded in September 2020. Mamelodi Sundowns were the two-time defending champions. This season's winner will qualify for the 2020–21 CAF Champions League along with the second-placed team. The 3rd placed team and Nedbank Cup winners qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup.
