O Santos de 2019, treinado por Jorge Sampaoli, foi vice-campeão do Campeonato Brasileiro, atrás do Flamengo, e se classificou direto à fase de grupos da Libertadores de 2020.
Santos 2019
Santos 2019, led by Argentine Jorge Sampaoli, was the Brazilian runner-up, behind Flamengo. The team became known for its offensive football and secured direct qualification to the group stage of Copa Libertadores 2020.
History
Santos began 2019 under the command of Jorge Sampaoli, former coach of the Argentine national team and Sevilla, who implemented an intense style of play with significant ball possession. The team was built around goalkeeper Everson, center-back Lucas Veríssimo, and a midfield and attack with great movement. In the 2019 Brazilian Championship, Santos led the competition for much of the first half and competed for the top of the table. Flamengo, under Jorge Jesus, pulled away in the second half and became champions. Santos finished in second place, a result that guaranteed direct qualification to the group stage of Copa Libertadores 2020. Sampaoli left the club at the end of the season and Portuguese Jesualdo Ferreira took over in 2020. It was with the squad built in 2019 that Santos reached the Copa Libertadores final played in January 2021, when it lost to Palmeiras at the Maracanã.