Relive Santos’ biggest blunders this season | OneFootball

The 2025 season made it clear that Santos will only be able to think about a more competitive future if it corrects basic mistakes in planning, sports management, and decision-making. Remaining in Série A does not erase a year marked by improvisation, misguided bets, and an excessive dependence on individual solutions. With this in mind, Gazeta Esportiva has selected the three main failures of Santos this year. Check them out!

Betting on Cléber Xavier

One of the biggest mistakes was betting on Cléber Xavier. In one of the most delicate moments in its history, Santos handed over the team’s command to a coach who had never managed a professional team before. It was a conceptual error that exposed the lack of discernment between the profile of an assistant and that of a head coach.

The result was disastrous. Under Cléber’s command, Santos suffered one of the worst defeats in its history: the unforgettable 6-0 loss to Vasco at Morumbis. The dismissal followed, but not without leaving scars. In a stint with more wins than losses, Cléber left the position with only a 42.2% success rate.

(Photo: Raul Baretta / Santos FC.)

Unjustified Signings

Another negative point in 2025 was the signing policy. Santos was very active in the market, bringing in about 20 players, many of them without a clear technical justification or compatibility with the squad’s reality. Cases like Tiquinho Soares, Mayke, Leo Godoy, and Thaciano illustrate the problem well. Experienced athletes with a relevant recent track record, but who failed to deliver and did not solve the team’s chronic deficiencies.

The lack of criteria was evident, especially in the full-back positions and in attack, areas that became headaches throughout the year. The club accumulated investments that did not translate into performance, reinforcing the sense of wasted resources and the absence of a consistent sporting plan. Swapping quantity for quality was a mistake that proved costly on the field. A prime example is Bilal Brahimi, signed at the end of the season and who barely played.

(Photo: Raul Baretta/ Santos F)

“Ney-dependence”

Finally, Neymar’s return, although symbolic and important, exposed another serious problem: the excessive dependence on a single player. Even while struggling with injuries, the number 10 was crucial in the final stretch, scoring five decisive goals and helping to secure the team’s place in Série A. Without him, Santos’ performance plummeted, both in results and competitiveness.

“Ney-dependence” highlighted the team’s inability to function collectively. Santos relied on individual talent as a crutch to hide structural, tactical, and squad flaws. For 2026, the message is clear: Neymar can be a difference-maker, but he cannot be the only plan. Without an organized team, any absence becomes a collapse.

Neymar, Santos player. (Photo: Raul Baretta/Santos FC)

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.