SÃO PAULO FC – REBUILDING AN IDENTITY
THE TELÊ SANTANA PHILOSOPHY
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There are many ways to win in Football Manager.
This save is not about finding the most efficient tactic, exploiting the match engine, or chasing short-term success.
It is about something harder to build — identity.
São Paulo FC is one of the most successful clubs in South American history, but for many supporters, its greatest legacy is not a specific title, but a way of playing football.
That legacy reached its highest point under Telê Santana, particularly during the early 1990s.
Over time, that identity faded.
Different coaches, different ideas, constant tactical resets — and a club that slowly stopped recognizing itself on the pitch.
Project Vision
The objective of this save is to rebuild São Paulo FC around a clear, coherent footballing philosophy, inspired by Telê Santana and adapted to Football Manager 2024.
Tactical Foundations
The base system is a 4-2-3-1 asymmetric shape, which in possession often resembles a 3-2-4-1.
It is control through structure.
Beyond the First Team
This project does not stop at tactics.
What to Expect in This Thread
If you’re looking for instant trophies, this may not be for you.
If you’re interested in football identity, structure, and long-term thinking — welcome.
THE TELÊ SANTANA PHILOSOPHY
There are many ways to win in Football Manager.
This save is not about finding the most efficient tactic, exploiting the match engine, or chasing short-term success.
It is about something harder to build — identity.
São Paulo FC is one of the most successful clubs in South American history, but for many supporters, its greatest legacy is not a specific title, but a way of playing football.
That legacy reached its highest point under Telê Santana, particularly during the early 1990s.
Over time, that identity faded.
Different coaches, different ideas, constant tactical resets — and a club that slowly stopped recognizing itself on the pitch.
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Why should Telê Santana be remembered as an era, and not treated as a permanent philosophy?
Project Vision
The objective of this save is to rebuild São Paulo FC around a clear, coherent footballing philosophy, inspired by Telê Santana and adapted to Football Manager 2024.
- Possession as a tool, not an obsession
- Structured build-up, not sterile circulation
- Tactical intelligence over physical chaos
- Collective superiority over individual improvisation
- Youth development aligned with the first team’s model
Tactical Foundations
The base system is a 4-2-3-1 asymmetric shape, which in possession often resembles a 3-2-4-1.
- A strong right side, driven by an attacking wing-back (Cafu)
- A more conservative left side, focused on balance and structure
- A central attacking midfielder as the main decision-maker (Raí)
- A mobile striker who connects play rather than acting as a static target (Müller)
- High positional discipline combined with controlled creative freedom
It is control through structure.
Beyond the First Team
This project does not stop at tactics.
- Staff recruitment aligned with the club’s philosophy
- A restructured youth pathway
- A functional U23 team to reduce unnecessary loans
- South American scouting as a strategic priority
- Long-term squad planning over short-term fixes
What to Expect in This Thread
- Tactical diagrams and explanations
- Fictional press releases and newspaper-style updates
- Squad and staff decisions explained through philosophy, not meta
- Youth development stories
- Failures, adjustments, and lessons learned
If you’re looking for instant trophies, this may not be for you.
If you’re interested in football identity, structure, and long-term thinking — welcome.
