Born on 3 December 1914 in Lisbon, Santos was elected president of Benfica on 27 March 1987. During his five-year presidency, from 3 April 1987 to 24 April 1992 (two consecutive tenures), the club's football team won three Primeira Liga titles (1986–87, 1988–89, 1990–91), one Taça de Portugal (1986–87), one Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira (1989), and reached two European Cup finals (1988, 1990). He was succeeded by Jorge de Brito.