History and Objective

The main goal of the Youth Division Department at Santos Futebol Clube is to discover talented players to play for Santos’ first team. Throughout the years Peixe has always been presenting outstanding players to Brazilian soccer such as: Pelé

Pelé

However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...

, Pepe, Coutinho, Clodoaldo

Clodoaldo

Clodoaldo Tavares de Santana, better known as Clodoaldo is a former Brazilian footballer who played as a defensive midfielder....

, Pita, Juary, Elano, Alex, Diego, Robinho

Robinho

Robson de Souza , more commonly known as Robinho, is a Brazilian professional footballer who currently plays as second striker and winger for Serie A club AC Milan...

, Léo

Leonardo Lourenço Bastos

Leonardo Lourenço Bastos , commonly known as Léo, is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a defender for Brazilian club Santos FC.-Career:...

, Giovanni, Ganso, Neymar, André and many others.

The Santista team won the Brazilian Championship in 2002 and 2004. Many of the Brazilian Champions of 2004 came from the Youth teams from Peixe; eight athletes out of all that formed team: Domingos (Under-17 Paulista Champion, 2001), Leonardo (Under-17 World Champion – National Team 2003), Elano (Brazilian Champion, 2002), Robinho (Brazilian Champion, 2002), Deivid (discovered in 2000). In Santos’ first team for the 2007-2008 season players such as Renatinho, Felipe, Marcelo, Adriano, and Carlinhos, all came from the youth teams, in which they won the U-17 Campeonato Paulista (state competition) in 2004.

The Youth Divisions Department has the experience of several outstanding players from the past like Chico Formiga (soccer supervisor), Abel Verônico (coordinator), Rubens Salles and Urubatão Calvo Nunes (scouts).

Santos Futebol Clube is responsible for over 100 young athletes in 5 different categories: U-11, U-13, U-15, U-17, U-20. These young athletes stay in two modern dormitories, which are located inside Urbano Caldeira Stadium

Estádio Vila Belmiro

Estádio Urbano Caldeira, also known as Estádio Vila Belmiro, is an association football stadium located in the Vila Belmiro neighborhood of Santos, Brazil, and the home of Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Santos Futebol Clube...

, with living room, recreation room and cafeteria. The athletes also have medical, odontological and psychological assistance. The club’s work of physiology directed towards its youth divisions is also a pioneer one within Brazilian soccer scene.

As Santos is widely known all over the world its youth teams are often invited to participate in championships and friendly matches in other countries. One of the most important titles won by Santos’ U-20 team was the Turin Tournament. This competition took place in Italy and Santos’ team became the champion after playing against very strong opponents from Italy and other countries.

The club has also developed the Centro de Desenvolvimento à Performance ao Futebol (Center of Performance Development to Soccer). The aim of this center is to set a pattern in physical preparation for all youth teams, including futsal. This project starts at boys over six years old and covers a total of 270 young athletes.

The club has also remodeled the gym that is used by the youth teams. This gymnasium is located on the third floor at Vila Belmiro Stadium, and it is equipped with top-notch technology similar to that available for Santos’ first team (photo). In this room there is also equipment for physio and other medical activities. The education of the athlete is also considered very important and, due to that, the club created the Centro de Estudos Luiza Neófiti (Luiza Neófiti Study Center) which is also on the third floor at Vila Belmiro Stadium.

Youth competitions

• Copa São Paulo de Juniores
  Copa São Paulo de Juniores
  The Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior , also known as Copa São Paulo de Juniores and Copinha , is a cup competition played by 88 Brazilian under-18 football teams , most of them from São Paulo state...
  
  : 1984
• Porto Seguro Cup: 2008
• Campeonato Paulista sub-20: 1979, 2007, 2008
• Campeonato Paulista sub-17: 2001, 2004
• Campeonato Paulista sub-15: 2008
• Campeonato Paulista sub-13: 2008
• Supercopa Eurofarma de Futebol Júnior: 2010

Current squad

Youth players with first team experience

External Links

• Santos FC's Júnior squad on official website