Cuca revives Pelé’s method at Santos: ‘This is the only way’

It’s taking some getting used to at CT Rei Pelé, but the mood is good. Anyone walking through Santos FC’s training complex in recent days would’ve spotted something we mostly only know from old stories. Cuca – a man with a golden touch and a track record that speaks for itself in Brazilian football – has literally turned back the clock. He’s overhauled the training schedule, and he’s doing it using a method that dates back to the glory days of the greatest player ever to pull on a Santos shirt: Pelé.

Up with the sun, just like the old days

Cuca has shifted training to the early morning. No more sluggish afternoons in the scorching heat – now it’s about getting the work done as the sun comes up. It’s the kind of move you only make when you know the club’s history inside out. And Cuca does. He’s nodding back to the old Pelecanus era, the affectionate name for the training method back in the ’60s. Back then, it was standard practice to be out on the pitch before sunrise, a rhythm that demanded discipline and commitment. I can already hear the old guard chuckling: “Finally, these guys today have no idea what hard work really is.” But it works. It builds a bond, a togetherness you can’t manufacture.

The best part is that today’s stars are embracing this old-school approach. Neymar is known for enjoying the nightlife, but even he was first on the pitch this week. No complaints, no messing around. He grabbed the 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 anymore; he’s now 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 move is no accident. Santos is facing a serious schedule in April. We’re talking a marathon of matches that will push the squad to its limits. Weeks of playing three times a week – it takes a toll. Then there’s the news that Neymar will miss part of that run due to the international break. No need to panic. We knew that already. But it only makes Cuca’s decision more logical. He’s building an iron foundation now, so the team doesn’t crumble as soon as the big names aren’t around.

• Physical readiness: By moving training earlier, Cuca is forcing the players to adjust their lifestyles. No more late nights – full focus on recovery.
• Mental toughness: This isn’t a popular move, but it’s the kind that shapes a squad. Anyone who can’t handle it doesn’t belong in a title fight.
• Tradition as a weapon: At 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 a 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 players. 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 yeah, the outside world can laugh at those “old-fashioned” methods. But I’ve seen it happen too many times. When you’ve got a group that makes these sacrifices together, that puts in the hard yards in the pouring rain or at daybreak, you become unstoppable. It’s more than a training plan; 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.