Pepe awarded Medalha de Honra ao Mérito Braz Cubas in Santos | OneFootball

Santos icon Pepe received the Medalha de Honra ao Mérito Braz Cubas at the Câmara Municipal de Santos, in the Plenário Dr. Oswaldo Carvalho de Ressis.

According to Diario Do Peixe, the tribute was proposed by councillor Marcos Montani Caseiro under Decreto Legislativo nº 31, de 02 de dezembro de 2025.

The long-standing civic honour recognises people and institutions whose work improves local life and advances society. Previous recipients include Djamila Ribeiro, Beth Gomes and Eder Jofre.

José Macia, known as Pepe, was born in Santos on 25 February 1935 and joined the club’s youth ranks in 1951 after playing in neighbouring São Vicente.

Blessed with a thunderous left foot, he was dubbed Canhão da Vila. Though injuries cost him World Cup minutes with Brazil, he lifted world titles with Santos in 1962 and 1963, scoring in Lisbon against Benfica and influencing the final against Milan.

He often says he is Santos’s leading human goalscorer, citing 741 games and 405 goals, adding that Pelé is an ET who does not count. He is the club’s second-top scorer and second in appearances.

After retiring he joined the coaching staff then took charge, overseeing Pelé’s final Santos trophy, the 1973 Paulista. Across spells from 1972 to 1994 he managed 371 games, recording 176 wins, 112 draws and 83 defeats.

His haul, a club-record 26 trophies, also spans multiple Paulista and Brasileiro crowns, South American titles in 1962 and 1963, the 1968 Recopa Sul-americana and Torneio Rio-São Paulo successes.

Source: Diario Do Peixe