April 15 – Santos have dismissed their manager Pedro Caixinha after a winless start to the new Brazilian league campaign.
The club’s 1-0 defeat against Fluminense at the weekend prompted Santos to fire Caixinha on Monday, the result compounding a miserable start to the season that has also seen them lose to Vasco da Gama and draw at home with Bahia.
“Santos announces that manager Pedro Caixinha no longer leads the first team,” the club said in a statement. “Together with him, assistant managers Pedro Malta and José Pratas, physical coach Guilherme Gomes and goalkeeper coach José Belman will leave the club.”
The Portuguese coach arrived at the Vila Belmiro in December of last year but won just seven matches from his 17 in charge, the last coming back in March. Eighteenth in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A table after three games, they linger in the relegation zone.
Cesar Sampaio, Santos confirmed, will succeed Caixinha on an interim basis. On Thursday, he will debut at home against Atletico Mineiro. A midfielder, Sampaio was a Brazil international between 1990 and 2000. He has always served as an assistant coach throughout his career in the dugout, including with the Brazilian national team.
The seaside club remain one of Brazil’s most famous clubs. They enjoyed their glory years in the ‘60s when Pelé and his side dominated Brazilian and South American football, the club becoming globetrotters as supporters around the world clamoured to see its most famous player. Following Pelé’s death, Santos were relegated in 2023 but returned to the topflight a season later. Earlier this year, their prodigal son Neymar moved back to Santos from Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal.
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