Santos Looks to Join Boca Juniors, Independiente and Others By Defending Copa Libertadores Title

As the Copa Libertadores has expanded and become more competitive, defending titles has become more difficult. In the 1960's, four teams defended their titles. Since then, only four teams have been able to do it. Neymar's Santos is looking to become the first team to do it in over a decade.

Penarol won the first-ever Libertadores title off the boot of Alberto Spencer, who lead the tournament with seven goals. When it defended its title in 1961, (despite not qualifying automatically as champions), it defeated Brazilian champions Palmeiras in the final.

Santos would end Penarol's streak in 1962 and bring international attention to the tournament with its flurry of stars that included the legendary Pele and Coutinho. With wins against Botafogo and Penarol in its two finals, the team helped cement its legacy as one of the best ever assembled.

Independiente shocked the world by eliminating Pele and Santos in the semifinals in 1964 to win its first title. In 1965, it wouldn't have to do so, as Penarol defeated a superb Santos side that got nine goals from Pele before losing to Independiente in the final.

Estudiantes had one of the best runs in Libertadores history after winning three straight titles from 1968 to 1970 with the help of Juan Ramon Veron and a strategic style of play that valued athleticism and strategy over the flamboyant style of the Brazilians.

At the beginning of the 1970's, Independiente had the greatest run in Libertadores history, winning four straight titles — from 1972 to 1975 — with the help of the great attacking duo of Ricardo Bochini and Daniel Bertoni. It holds the record for most Copa Libertadores titles with seven, the last one coming in 1984.

The Argentine dominance of the Copa Libertadores would continue in the 1970's, as Boca Juniors won its first two titles in 1977 and 1978. The 1977 win came in dramatic fashion, with keeper Hugo Gatti brining the necessary heroics for the team's victory. In 1978, the Argentines dominated in the finals, defeating Deportivo Cali 4-0 in the last leg.

For almost 15 years. no team would be able to defend its championship until Sao Paolo did it in 1993. In 1992 it won its first title in penalty kicks against Newell's Old Boys, while in 1993 it defended its title decisively, defeating Chile's U Catolica 5-3 in the finals.

Boca Juniors would again repeat titles in 2000 and 2001 under the leadership of Carlos Bianchi. On both occasions the finals went to penalty kicks (against Sao Paolo and Cruz Azul respectively), making goalkeeper Oscar Cordoba a folk hero back in Buenos Aires.

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