Cuca brings Pelé’s method back to Santos: ‘This is the only way’

It takes some getting used to at the CT Rei Pelé, but the atmosphere is good. Anyone walking into the Santos FC training complex over the past few days saw something we’d normally only know from the old stories. Cuca, the man with the golden touch and a track record that speaks for itself in Brazilian football, has literally turned back the clock. He’s radically overhauled the training schedules, using a method that dates back to the glory days of the greatest player ever to wear the Santos shirt: Pelé.

Up with the lark, just like the old days

Cuca has moved training to the early morning. No more sluggish afternoons in the scorching heat; it’s about grafting as the sun comes up. It’s a move you only dare to make when you know the club’s history inside out. And Cuca knows that history. He’s harking back to the old Pelecanus era, as the training method was affectionately known in the ’60s. Back then, it was standard to be on the pitch before sunrise, a routine that demanded discipline and dedication. I can already hear the old guard chuckling: “Finally, these lads today have no idea what hard work is.” But it works; it creates a bond, a togetherness you can’t force.

The best part is that today’s stars are embracing this old-school approach. Neymar is known for loving the nightlife, yet even he was the first on the pitch this week. No complaints, no messing about. He grabbed his chance to show he still carries the legacy of the Pelerine – the traditional cape that symbolises the elegance and status of the playmaker. That’s no small thing. Neymar isn’t just the star player; he’s now also the captain on the pitch, showing that this change isn’t a punishment but a tribute.

The April marathon and the absence of a top player

The timing of Cuca’s intervention is no coincidence. Santos faces a real slog in April. We’re talking about a marathon of matches that will demand the absolute maximum from the squad. Playing three times a week for weeks on end takes its toll. Then there’s the news that Neymar will miss part of this run due to the international break. No need to panic, of course. We knew that already. But it makes Cuca’s choice all the more logical. He’s building an iron foundation now, so the team doesn’t collapse when the big names are away.

• Physical readiness: By moving training earlier, Cuca is forcing the players to adjust their lifestyles. No more late nights; full focus on recovery.
• Mental resilience: This isn’t a popular choice, but it’s one that forges a group. If you can’t handle this, you’ve no place in the title race.
• Tradition as a weapon: At the CT Rei Pelé, the spirit of the King is being summoned. It’s not just about tactics; it’s about understanding the weight of the shirt.

I often think about what Wayne Rooney once said about the English way of training: “It’s not about the clock, it’s about the will.” Cuca has brought that will back to the coast of São Paulo. He’s not looking at what’s trendy in Europe; he’s looking at what works for Santos. And what works is the legacy of Pelé: Birth of a Legend. That film, which portrays the young Pelé, shows exactly what it’s all about: a kid who started with nothing and became an icon through pure passion and discipline. That’s the story Cuca is trying to sell to his men. Not with long speeches, but by having them out on the pitch at 6:00 AM, in the same morning mist where Pelé once perfected his tricks.

So yes, the outside world can laugh at those “old-fashioned” methods. But I’ve seen it happen too many times. When you have a group that embraces these sacrifices together, that puts in the hard graft in the pouring rain or at daybreak, you become unbeatable. It’s more than a training schedule; it’s a statement. Santos is ready for it. And Cuca? He knows he’s walking the only path that matters: the one paved by the King.