The 2008 season was Santos Futebol Clube's ninety-sixth in existence and the club's forty-ninth consecutive season in the top flight of Brazilian football. On 15 December 2007, Santos appointed Emerson Leão to coach the team for the third time. This was after the dismissal of Vanderlei Luxemburgo at the end of 2007 season. Later, Leão was fired due to bad results and for his place Cuca was signed. Cuca also didn't get good results and was fired on 7 August, replaced by Márcio Fernandes, who assumed the team as caretaker until the end of season.