Santos Football Club or simply Santos is a South African professional soccer club based in the Lansdowne, a suburb of the city of Cape Town. It plays in the SAFA Second Division.
Contents
History
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.
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.
In November 2025, Santos were expelled from the league. This came after SAFA excluded Santos from the Nedbank 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. Santos appealed and won, and were reinstated in the league.
Notable former coaches
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)
Honours
Premiership champions: 2001–02
Bob Save Super Bowl/ABSA Cup winners: 2001, 2003
FPL League champions: 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990
FPL Cup winners: 1985, 88, 90
Challenge Cup Winners: 1988
BP Top 8 winners: 2002
National First Division: 1996–97 (Western Cape Stream)
International
IFA Shield (IFA): 2008: Runners-up
Club records
Most starts: Edries Burton 409
Most goals: Jean-Marc Ithier 70
Most capped player: Musa Otieno
Most starts in a season: Cassiem Mohamed 44 (1993)
Most goals in a season: Duncan Crowie 19 (1991)
Record victory: 6–0 v Intercity Aces (6/3/99, Bob Save Super Bowl); vs Beau West City (26 February 2005, Absa Cup); vs Cemforce FC (12/3/05, Absa Cup); vs Island FC (11/3/06, Absa Cup)
Record defeat: 1–7 v Mamelodi Sundowns (19 August 1998, PSL)
League record
Premiership
1997–98 – 16th
1998–99 – 16th
1999–2000 – 11th
2000–01 – 5th
2001–02 – 1st
2002–03 – 9th
2003–04 – 6th
2004–05 – 12th
2005–06 – 8th
2006–07 – 10th
2007–08 – 3rd
2008–09 – 10th
2009–10 – 4th
2010–11 – 8th
2011–12 – 15th (relegated)
National First Division
2012–13 – 2nd
2013–14 – 5th
2014–15 – 13th
2015–16 – 11th
2016–17 – 16th (relegated)
SAFA Second Division (Western Cape)
2017–18 – 6th
2018–19 – 8th
2019–20 – 12th
2020–21 – Did not compete
2021–22 – 5th (Stream A)
2022–23 – 3rd (Stream A)
2023–24 – 4th (Stream A)
2024–25 – 2nd (Stream B)