2024 will mark an unprecedented and unfortunate event for Santos: their debut in the Brasileirão Serie B. After suffering relegation for the first time ever last year, Peixe will begin their journey in the Brazilian second division today (4:30 PM Brasília time) against Paysandu.
While this is a huge disappointment for the team where Pelé and Neymar once stood out, other historic clubs of the country have also been through this situation. Especially in this century, with the implementation of the Brasileirão Serie A current format, which sends four teams to the second tier every year.
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Returning to the elite of Brazilian football is not an easy task, as some Brazilian giants had to wait to achieve promotion.
Brasileirão: How long it took other Brazilian giants to return to Serie A
2002: Botafogo and Palmeiras
Fogao and Verdao dropped to the second division in 2002, and it took them just one season to return. After a great campaign in 2003, both were back in the first division for the 2004 season.
2004: Grêmio
After being relegated in 2004, Grêmio made a strong impact in Serie B to return to Serie A in 2006.
2005: Atlético Mineiro
While their state rivals went up, Galo dropped to the second tier, but it didn’t last long: their stay was for only one season.
2007: Corinthians
2007 was a dark year for Timao with relegation to Serie B, but by 2009, they were back in the top-flight.
2009: Vasco da Gama
Vasco would suffer the first of several relegations in 2009, but this time, they were in the second division for only one year.
2012: Palmeiras
2012 saw Palmeiras fall again, but Alviverde quickly returned by winning the Serie B title in 2013.
Agora quem dá bola é o @SantosFC
O Santos é o novo campeão
Glorioso alvinegro praiano
Campeão absoluto desse ano! 🎶O Peixão tem grandeza mundial e tradição indiscutível. Certamente irá colocar estes importantes fatores em campo diante dos adversários no #BrasileirãoBetano! 🐋 pic.twitter.com/sMMGm41lvC
— Brasileirão Betnacional – Série B (@BrasileiraoB) April 16, 2024
2013: Vasco da Gama
Once again, Vascao dropped but returned in the first year.
2014: Botafogo
Like in 2002, Botafogo got relegated but it took them only one season to get promoted again.
2015: Vasco da Gama
Vasco’s streak of relegations continued, yet once again, they returned after just one campaign in the Serie B.
2016: Internacional
2016 marked Internacional’s relegation, but Colorado bounced back in 2017 by completing a quick Serie A return to immediately forget about this sad chapter.
2019: Cruzeiro
Unlike the aforementioned clubs, Cruzeiro took longer to return to the elite of Brazilian football: they spent three seasons in Serie B (2020, 2021, and 2022) until they got back to where they always wanted to be in 2023.
2020: Botafogo and Vasco da Gama
Two important teams that struggled to settle in Serie A, Botafogo and Vasco dropped together to the second division in 2020. Glorioso returned in their first attempt, while Gigante da Colina took two seasons to get back to the Serie A.
2021: Grêmio
Another relegation for Tricolor gaúcho, who despite the sadness, recovered quickly as they only spent the 2022 season in the second division.
Sambafoot releases Zagallo documentary
Sambafoot Series has launched a new documentary about the football legend Zagallo. Known as ‘Velho Lobo’ and as superstitious as it gets, Zagallo helped shape what Brazilian football is nowadays – as a player and as a coach. The first and second episodes are available on Sambafoot’s Youtube channel and the series will receive weekly releases to tell this legend’s life story.
