RIO DE JANEIRO – Facing one of the darkest days in its storied history, Santos Football Club has announced the dismissal of head coach Cleber Xavier following a crushing 6–0 home loss to Vasco da Gama that has left the storied club teetering perilously close to Brazil’s relegation zone.
The historic defeat—Santos’ heaviest in recent memory—triggered widespread outrage from fans and the footballing community alike. Star forward Neymar was visibly overtaken by emotion after the match, tearfully condemning his teammates’ lack of spirit and dubbing their collective attitude “terrible” in searing criticism of what he deemed a disgraceful performance wearing the club’s shirt.
Cleber Xavier, who took over the helm in April after years serving as an assistant coach in Brazil’s top teams, leaves with Santos struggling to regain stability following their return to top-tier football. His brief tenure, spanning 15 matches, yielded marginal improvements but failed to arrest a downward spiral that culminated in Sunday’s unprecedented humbling.
Sources close to the club indicate that Jorge Sampaoli—who guided Santos to the runners-up position in the league back in 2019—is being considered as the leading contender to replace Xavier, as management scrambles to restore hope and momentum ahead of crucial upcoming fixtures.
With the club now precariously positioned and eyes on the relegation zone, the pressure is mounting for Santos to rally quickly and rectify their course. The humiliating result, emotional fallout, and swift managerial changes underscore a moment of crisis for a club that once stood atop Brazilian and world football.
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