 Initially Santos played against other local clubs in the city and state championships, but in 1959 the club became one of the founding members of the "Taça Brasil", Brazil's first truly national league.As of 2010, Santos is one of only five clubs never to have been relegated from the top level of Brazilian football, the others being São Paulo, Flamengo, Internacional and Cruzeiro.Santos enjoyed a successful start in the "Brasileirão", finishing runners-up in the competition's first season.