[FM09] Santos - Rebuilding a Legend

Database Used - 9.0.3 (Small, all Brazilian Players loaded)

Start Date - January 2008

Club - Santos (Brazilian First Division)

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Santos

Facilities

25120 Vila Belmiro (20000 Seated)

Top Training Facilities

State of the Art Youth Facilities

Finances

670k Balance

200k Transfer Budget

160k/180k Wages

1.6m at 22k per month until 2020

History

Santos are best known as the home club of the worlds finest ever player, Pele. Santos have won the First Division twice, as well as the Taca Brazil(Old First Division) five times. As well as this they have also won 2 Intercontinental Cups, 2 Copa Libertadores, 17 Sao Paulo Champs, 4 Rio-Sao Paulo Champs. Santos were a dominant force in the early 1960's defeating all comers, and winning several titles in this era. They experienced a resurgence in th mid 2000's with a star studded team which included Diego, Robinho, Elano, and Alex.

Targets This Season

Build a young team for the future

Sao Paulo State – Semi Finals

First Division – Top 4

Brazilian Cup – Quarter Finals

Targets Long Term

Team built from homegrown talents

Keep the same players for many years

Brand New Stadium

Win every competition

Tactical Approach

I will look to play a very attacking brand of football with a "you score 4, i'll score 5" mentality. The team should be youthful and athletic, with lots of Pace across the pitch and outstanding technical ability. The setup will consist of a Sweeper Keeper, two quick centre backs playing high up the pitch, attacking wingbacks, two centre mids who will create the goals, a pair of Messi-esque wingers, and two quick strikers. This wont happen overnight though, with the aging squad i've inherited.

Best XI

Fabio Costa – 30 – 7 seasons at the club

Fabiano Eller - 30 – New Signing from Atl. Madrid (1 Cap)

Betao – 31 – New Signing from Okoyama FC

Para- 21- New from Santo Andre

Leo – 32 – Rejoined from Benfica (7 caps),

Roberto Brum – 29 – new from Braga

Lucio Flavio – 28 – new from Botofogo

Mauricio Molina – 27 – Red Star (12caps/1goal Colombia)

Luis Bolanos – 23 – LDU Quito (6 Caps Ecuador)

Kleber Pereira – 32 – 1 year 26/16 last year

Maikon Leite – 19 – new from Santo Andre

Promising Youth

Felipe – GK – on loan at Parana

Tiago Luis and Neymar – Future Strike force

Paulo Henrique – Midfield Playmaker

Diego Monar – Center back

Vitor Junior 21 playmaker in Japan on loan

Transfers

Bruno Moraes – 23 ST Porto 10k (arrives in August)

Barreto AMRL - 22ST Udinese 45k (arrives in August)

Enzo Scorza – 19 ST 19 Youth Caps/1 goal for Uruguay (Rotation Striker)

Elder Granja – 25 RWB Palmeiras (first choice RWB)

Mauricio – 17 AML ST (ineligible this year) ex-Fluminense

Roberto – 28 GK ex Botofogo - will compete with Fabio Costa for the #1 jersey

1.075M deadwood was sold to raise funds for future purchases

Paulo Henrique, Diego Monar, Tiago Luis were all loaned to Sao Caetano for first team experience.

Results

Mogi Mirim H 2-0 Kleber Pereira(2)

Paulista H 3-2 Roni(2) Fabiano Eller

Guaranitangueta A 4-2 Adriano(2), Maikon Leite, Rodrigo Souto

Santo Andre A 2-1 Kleber Pereira, Molina

Sao Caetano H 4-0 Molina(2), Bolanos, Lucio Flavio

Ituano A 1-0 Bolanos

Mirassol H 2-0 Bolanos, Molina

Guarani A 0-0

Palmeiras H 1-2 Rodrigo Souto

Treze A 3-0 Madson(2), Rodrigo Souto

Marilia A 3-0 Maikon Leite(2),Domingos

Treze H 7-0 Kleber P.(3), Lucio Flavio(2), Maikon Leite, Bolanos

Botofogo SP A 0-0

Sao Paulo H 0-0

Portuguesa A 3-3 Domingos, Bolanos, Kleber Pereira

Figueirense A 2-1 Lucio Flavio, Madson

Barueri H 1-3 Fabao

Bragantino A 2-0 Bolanos, Domingos

Noroeste A 1-0 Roberto Brum

Figuierense H 2-0 Domingos, Para

Ponte Preta H 1-0 Rodrigo Souto

Unfortunatly, we're haemorraging money, the Finances have dropped to -1.2m despite taking 5k off the wage budget.

We're still alive in Cup, into the third round against ABC, so maybe a deep run is possible in this competition

We're 3rd in the league with 2 games left, 6 points behind Palmeiras and Sao Paulo but through to the semifinals. These guys look a bit better than us though so we may have to be content with making the Semis.

April-July 2008

Young Striker Moraes was loaned to Sao Caetano after impressing for the reserves. I had planned to sell him but maybe he's better than I thought. Anyway the results for the rest of the league were:

Oeste H 1-1 Fabiano Eller

Corinthians A 1-2 Adailton

Which left the points situation looking like this (just sneaked in the top 4 as I hoped):

Sao Paulo 49, Palmeiras 47, Corinthians Santos 38, Portuguesa 37

Sao Paulo(SEMI) H 2-4 Adailton, Lucio Flavio

ABC (CUP) H 4-0 Kleber Pereira, Elder Granja, Domingos, Rodri Souto

Sao Paulo(SEMI) A 3-3 Leo, Fabiano Eller, Kleber Pereira

ABC (CUP) A 2-0 Leo, Kleber Pereira

So we were knocked out in the Semis, but the squad isnt ready yet in my opinion, dont have the right mix of players, too much age, not enough pace.

Sao Paulo 2-1 Corinthians (agg.) in the final.

Top Scorers : Washington (Sao Paulo) Christian (Portuguesa) 8, Tiago Luis O/L to Sao Caetano) 7 Bolanos, Kleber Pereira 5

A few of our guys topped the statistics though

Luis Bolanos 9 Assists, 7.48 Av Rating, 5 MOM,

Domingos 5.60 tackles per game

Portuguesa's Preto won best player, ahead of Palmeiras' Diego Souza, and our own Luis Bolanos. Souza took out the Young Player award ahead of our man Bolanos as well.

Vitoria (CUP) A 1-0 Domingos

Palmeiras H 3-1 Kleber Pereira, Madson, OG

Vasco H 3-0 Bolanos, Lucio Flavio, Kleber Pereira

Vitoria (CUP) H 1-1 Madson

Vitoria A 1-2 Elder Granja

S. Recife A 3-2 Madson, Fabiano Eller, OG

Cruzeiro H 1-1 Domingos

A. Mineiro (CUP) H 3-2 Elder Grnaja, Leo, Kleber Pereira

Flumininse A 1-0 Maikon Leite

A.Mineiro (CUP)A 1-2 Lucio Flavio (lost on away goals)

Coritiba A 0-3

A. Paranaense H 0-0

So after all that, were 4th in league after 8 rounds.

Happy with the cup run, but should have beat Atletico Miniero

Finances stand at -900k which is okay, a couple of higher earning reserves have been moved on.

But now its full focus on the league, with a couple of key signings to be made very soon...

Part Three

At Miniero 3-1 Cruzeiro(agg)

Kleber Pereira 6 goals, Luis Bolanos 7 assists

Gremio H 2-0 Lucio Flavio

Botafogo A 3-1 Bolanos(2), OG

Nautico A 2-1 Maikon Leite, Kleber Pereira

Figueirense H 4-3 Maikon Leite, Rtiguinho, Roberto Brum, Elder Granja

Goias A 3-3 Bolanos, Neymar, Roberto Brum

Sao Paulo H 2-0 Domingos, Maikon Leite

Atl. Mineiro A 0-1

Flamengo H 3-0 Lucio Flavio(2), Bolanos

Neymar loaned to Vila Nova(GO)

Portuguesa A 5-4 Lucio Flavio(2), Roberto Brum, Domingos, Breitner

Internacional A 2-4 Lucio Flavio, Bolanos

Ipatinga H 6-0 K.Pereira(2), L.Flavio, Bolanos, Domingos, R.Brum

Vasco A 4-0 Maikon Leite(2), Domingos, Adailton

Unhappy CM Rodrigo Souto sold for 2m to Rennes

22yo CM Romeu bought from Fluminense to take his place in the squad. He looks to be of similar ability, so we made a nice 1.8m profit here.

Vitoria H 1-0 Maikon Leite

Palmeiras A 3-1 Adriano, Elder Granja, Lucio Flavio

Sport Recife H 1-0 Domingos

Fluminense H 3-1 Lucio Flavio, Adriano, Elder Granja

Cruzeiro A 1-2 Kleber Pereira

After 25 Games Santos lead on 54 points, Sao Paulo have 53, Internacional have 51. Then theres a break to Cruzeiro in 4th on 44 points.

October-December

Gremio A 2-1 Breitner, Kleber Pereira

Coritiba H 4-2 Fabiano Eller(2), Madson, Kleber Pereira

A. Paranaense A 5-3 Maikon Leite(2), Fabao(2), Adailton

Botafogo H 2-1 Kleber Pereira, Adriano

Nautico H 3-1 Kleber Pereira(2), Lucio Flavio

Figueirense A 1-0 Bolanos

At the end of a perfect October we find ourselves up in front with a great chance at the title. With 7 games to play we are on 72 points, with Sao Paulo back on 63, and Internacional on 57. This was totally unexpected as we were shooting for 4th, so to have the title in our grasp, I’m over the moon. I’ve also been awarded a three year extension, so this just the start of the road.

Goias H 3-0 Kleber Pereira(2), Fabiano Eller

Flamengo A 3-2 Lucio Flavio(2), Elder Granja

Sao Paulo A 0-1

At. Mineiro H 1-0 Kleber Pereira

Internacional H 1-0 Madson

Madson’s goal against Internacional has sealed the title for us with two games to spare. This caps of of 10 wins in our last 11 games, and the title is well deserved. Young Tiago Luis finished runner up in the award for Young Player of the Year in the Division Two, netting 23 times over the year.

Ipatinga A 1-2 Scorza

Portuguesa H 4-1 Lucio Flavio(2), Madson(2)

So as it ends up we won by 8 points. We racked up 87, ahead of Sao Paulo on 79 and then Internacional on 69. Lucio Flavio won top scorer with 16 strikes from midfield, Kleber Pereira was runner up on 14. Bolanos was excellent with 19 assists and the highest average rating in the league. Domingos led the league in tackling.

The guys picked up a number of awards:

Lucio Flavio – Top Scorer, Best Player, Team of the Year

Maikon Leite – 3rd best Young Player

Luis Bolanos – Runner Up Goal of the year. Midfielder of the year

Domingos – Team of the Year

I was the winner of the Manager of the Year award

Finances still aren’t great though, we’re now 2.6m in the red. Hopefully we’ll get a bit of sponsorship money at the start of next year or sales might need to be made.

January-March 2009

Bolanos won South American Footballer of the Year and the “Internet Voting Player of the Year” – strange award. The lad could be very hard to hold onto, and I made it a double, winning Manager of the Year. A couple of guys made South American Team of the Year, Bolanos of course and Lucio Flavio.

We made a cool 11m in sponsorship money, to take us to 9m in the black. Our generous board has give me 2m to spend.

Younsters Paulo Henrique, Mauricio, Neymar and Enzo Scorza were sent to Sao Caetano while Diego Faria and Breitner were sent to Portuguesa Santista. A few fringe players were sold to raise funds for an assault on the transfer market. The most notable being Fabao to CSKA, Kleber Pereira to Willem II, Roberto Brum to Palmeiras. All these guys were in their early 30’s and we’ve got younger options available here. We made 2.6m overall and now have 4.5m to spend and 25k breathing space under our wage budget.

1.1m man Ailton came in from FC Kobenhavn, he looks good for a lot of goals. And Leonardo came in from Vitoria Guimaraes in Portugal for 550k. He looks a great option down the right wing with his pace, dribbling and crossing.

Best XI

GK – Roberto – 29yo signed on a free last year and made 29 appearances.

CB – Adailton – 25yo has made 71 appearances since joining from Rennes.

CB – Domingos - 23yo academy product with 113 games for the club.

WBR – Elder Granja – 26yo signed for free – 49 apps last year. Ex-academy

WBL – Leo – 33yo captain – holds club record 233 appearances.

CM – Adriano – 21yo academy product has 66 appearances to his name.

CM – Lucio Flavio 29yo has appeared 57 times for the side

RW – Leonardo – 22yo is a new signing from Vitoria Guimaraes

LW – Luis Bolanos – 23yo Ecuador international played 52 times last year

ST – Maikon Leite – 20yo 48 games for 12 goals, joined from Santo Andre

ST – Ailton – 23yo new purchase from FC Kobenhave

Ponte Preta H 2-1 Moraes, Bolanos

Portuguesa A 1-3 Breitner, Ailton, Moraes

Mirassol H 7-0 Diego Monar(3), Leo(2), Tiago Luis, Adriano

Corinthians A 3-0 Domingos, Madson, OG

Oeste H 3-0 Moraes, Ailton, OG

Sao Caetano A 3-2 Moraes (2), Ailton

We also discovered we would be playing in the Copa Libertadores this year, rather than the Brazilian Cup, maybe we could achieve some Continental glory?

Santo Andre A 1-0 Ailton

Noroeste A 1-1 Maikon Leite

Atl Sorocaba H 4-1 Molina(2), Moraes, Domingos

Ituano H 2-0 Leonardo, Domingos

Monterrey A 3-0 Elder Granja, Maikon Leite, Leo

Sao Paulo H 0-3

Mogi Mirim A 1-0 Tiago Luis

Palmeiras H 3-0 Leonardo, Moraes, Tiago Luis

Cucuta H 5-0 Domingos(2), Bolanos, Leonardo, OG

Juventus(SP) A 0-0

Nacional A 4-1 Domingos, Leonardo, Tiago Luis, OG

Rio Branco(SP) A 6-0 D. Monar(2), Romeu, E.Granja, Bolanos, Vitor Junior

Botafogo(SP) A 2-1 Vitor Junior, Elder Granja

Barueri A 3-0 Domingos, Leo, Fabiano Eller

Forms been excellent this season. In the Libertadores we’ve taken maximum points from three games so qualification seems a formality. Domestically, we’re through to the semis with three games to spare, though only goal difference separates the top three.

As far as the finances go we’ve got 7m in the bank, and we’re turning a wee profit most months. We lost 1m last month though due to a staff overhaul, but this should pay off with better youngsters coming through I hope.