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| Full name | Santos Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | The People's Team | ||
| Founded | 1982; 43 years ago (1982) | ||
| Ground | Poplar Avenue,Thornton,Cape Town | ||
| Capacity | 1,000 | ||
| Chairman | Goolam Allie[1] | ||
| League | ABC Motsepe League | ||
| 2024–25 | 2nd Stream B | ||
| Website | www | ||
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Santos Football Club or simplySantos is a South African professionalsoccer club based in theLansdowne,[2] a suburb of the city ofCape Town. It plays in theSAFA Second Division.[3]
The club was established inHeideveld on theCape Flats in 1982 and was originally known as Lightbodys Santos FC, after its sponsor. Duringapartheid, it was renowned for the insistence on non-racial inclusivity, hence its nickname "The People's Team".
They played in theFederation 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 and1990 before joining theNational Soccer League.
ThePSL era began in 1996, with Santos earning promotion to the Premiership for the1997–98 season. Santos tasted their first success in the new format of the league in2001–02 when they surprisingly won the title under the mentorship ofGordon Igesund. This side featured players likeEdries Burton,Andre Arendse,Musa Otieno and the club's all-time top goalscorerJean-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 crownedBob Save Super Bowl winners in2001 andBP Top 8 winners in2002.
Santos were relegated from the Premiership at the end of the2011–12 season for the first time in the club's history. After finishing 15th in the league they entered the2011–12 PSL Playoff Tournament where they were pitted againstChippa United andThanda 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.[4]
Santos were relegated from theNational First Division at the end of the2016–17 season. The club now plays in theWestern Cape ABC Motsepe League.
In November 2025, Santos were expelled from the league. This came afterSAFA excluded Santos from theNedbank Cup over outstanding financial obligations. Santos had taken the matter to court, and SAFA were interdicted from going ahead with the Nedbank Cup fixture without Santos, and the matter referred to arbitration. SAFA then expelled Santos from the league.[5]
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 409Jean-Marc Ithier 70
Musa OtienoCassiem Mohamed 44 (1993)Duncan Crowie 19 (1991)
