Fallen giants Santos retire Pele’s shirt number after shock relegation.. but it could return on one condition
SANTOS have retired Pele's famous N.10 shirt until the club returns to a "dignified level".
The crisis club has suffered their first-ever relegation to the Brazilian Serie B in the club's 111-year history.
Santos has been famed for producing world-class talents ever since Pele's emergence in the 1950s.
The Brazilian star played for the club between 1956 and 1974, scoring 643 goals in 656 appearances.
Pele, who passed away in 2022 aged 82, had never had his shirt number retired by the club.
However, this has now changed following Santos' relegation to the second division.
New club president Marcelo Teixeira has admitted that the number 10 will not be worn until the club returns to the Serie A.
He said: "Until Santos is back in Serie A, which is its standard, we will not play with the number 10 shirt.
This season's Brazilian league saw every match commemorate the legend in the 10th minute.
Teixeira added: "This year's Brazilian league was named after King Pelé.
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"We will continue in this mission.
"We will be back in the top division, but until then, we won't wear our most glorious shirt.”
Santos' relegation was confirmed after the 2-1 home defeat to Fortaleza.
Fans then had a dramatic reaction as they burned cars and buses in the city of São Paulo, Brazil that night.
To make matters worse, cross-city rivals Palmeiras won the title on the same day.