Pelé (footballer, born 1978)

Pedro Miguel Cardoso Monteiro (born 2 May 1978), commonly known as Pelé, is a former professional footballer who played as a central defender or a defensive midfielder.

For other people named Pele, see Pele (disambiguation).
In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Cardoso and the second or paternal family name is Monteiro.

Pelé
Pelé playing for Havant & Waterlooville in 2013
Personal information
Full name Pedro Miguel Cardoso Monteiro[1]
Date of birth (1978-05-02) 2 May 1978[1]
Place of birth Albufeira, Portugal[1]
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
1988–1996 Imortal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2002 Imortal 126 (8)
2002–2003 Farense 28 (2)
2003–2006 Belenenses 84 (1)
2006–2007 Southampton 37 (1)
2007–2009 West Bromwich Albion 24 (0)
2009–2010 Falkirk 9 (1)
2010 Milton Keynes Dons 0 (0)
2011 Northwich Victoria 18 (0)
2011–2012 Hednesford Town 30 (1)
2012–2013 Hayes & Yeading United 44 (1)
2013–2016 Havant & Waterlooville 30 (0)
2016–2020 Totton
Total 430 (15)
International career
2006–2009 Cape Verde 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He spent most of his 24-year senior career in England, appearing for West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League. He started playing with Imortal.

Born in Portugal, Pelé represented the Cape Verde national team at international level.

Club career

Portugal

Born in Albufeira, Portugal, Pelé started playing professionally for local Imortal DC, moving to Algarve neighbours S.C. Farense after five seasons and spending one year in the Segunda Liga. He also played from 1999 to 2001 with his first club at that level.

Pelé joined C.F. Os Belenenses for 2003–04, making his Primeira Liga debut on 1 August 2003 in a 1–1 home draw with U.D. Leiria.[2] The following campaign, already an important first-team element, he scored the game's only goal for the former at home against Sporting CP on 6 March 2005.[3]

Southampton

Pelé signed for Southampton for an undisclosed fee – believed to be £1 million – on 19 July 2006. He had attracted the attention of Premiership club West Ham United and Portsmouth, but decided to opt for the potential of the Championship side, where he was likely to get more games.[4]

On 30 December 2006, Pelé scored his first competitive goal for the Saints, against Leicester City.[5] He started the season in his natural central defensive position but was eventually moved into defensive midfield, playing alongside Jermaine Wright while also moving back into defence to cover for injuries to Darren Powell and Claus Lundekvam.[6][7][8][9]

West Bromwich Albion

On 9 August 2007, Pelé signed with West Bromwich Albion for £1 million on a two-year contract.[10] He made his official debut as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 defeat away to Burnley, on the opening day of 2007–08.[11]

Pelé made 13 starts during the campaign, in a promotion to the top flight.[12]

Later years

Pelé was released by West Brom in the summer of 2009 following their relegation, with only three league appearances from the player.[13] On 12 November, he moved to Falkirk of the Scottish Premiership as a free agent.[14]

In August 2010, Pelé joined Milton Keynes Dons on a non-contract deal, as cover for injured Gary MacKenzie and suspended Mathias Kouo-Doumbé.[15] He was released by the club the following month, without any league matches.[16]

In January 2011, aged nearly 33, Pelé signed with Northwich Victoria of the Northern Premier League Premier Division on non-contract terms, and made his debut in a 1–0 win over Mickleover Sports.[17] In June he put his name on the PFA's free transfer availability list, indicating that he was seeking a new club.[18]

Pelé left Hednesford Town on 8 January 2012, and joined Conference Premier's Hayes & Yeading United nine days later.[19] He made his debut for his new team the same evening, against Ebbsfleet United.[20]

In July 2016, 38-year-old Pelé signed for A.F.C. Totton from Havant & Waterlooville.[21]

International career

After turning down invitations in the past, Pelé accepted an invitation to play for Cape Verde, starting appearing for the nation in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification stage.[22][23]

References
  1. "Pelé" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  2. "Belenenses frente à U. Leiria" [Belenenses against U. Leiria]. Record (in Portuguese). 2 August 2003. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  3. "Belenenses-Sporting, 1–0 (Pelé 59)". Record (in Portuguese). 6 March 2005. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  4. Scurr, Andrew (July 2006). "Saints seal Pele deal". Sky Sports. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  5. "Southampton 2–0 Leicester". BBC Sport. 30 December 2006. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  6. Leitch, Adam (9 August 2006). "Central role for Chris on historic night". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  7. "Inglaterra (Championship League): Southampton do português Pelé empata" [England (Championship League): draw for Southampton of Portugal's Pelé] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 19 August 2006. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  8. Leitch, Adam (15 March 2007). "Pele's climate changes". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  9. Leitch, Adam (19 July 2007). "Saints chances may rest on defensive pair". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  10. "Baggies swoop for midfielder Pelé". BBC Sport. 9 August 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2007.
  11. "Burnley vs WBA". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 11 August 2007. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  12. Prestridge, James (10 September 2016). "Where are they now? West Brom's 07/08 Championship winning side: Featuring Zoltan Gera". Here Is The City. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  13. "Relegated West Brom release trio". BBC Sport. 22 May 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
  14. "Pele signs contract with Falkirk". BBC Sport. 12 November 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
  15. "Pelé agrees non-contract terms". Milton Keynes Dons F.C. 6 August 2010. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  16. "Pele concludes Dons spell". Milton Keynes Dons F.C. 31 August 2010. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  17. Simpson, Andrew (21 January 2011). "Portuguese Pedro Monteiro signs for Northwich Victoria". Northwich Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  18. Simpson, Andrew (19 June 2011). "Northwich Victoria manager Andy Preece is happy with transfers strategy". Northwich Guardian. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  19. "Hayes & Yeading sign international defender". Football Conference. 17 January 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  20. "Hayes & Yeading United 1 Ebbsfleet United 2". Hayes & Yeading United F.C. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  21. Walter, Simon (5 August 2016). "Former Saint Pele to make Totton debut in front of 1,000-plus crowd". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  22. "Cabo Verde chama Pelé" [Cape Verde call Pelé]. Record (in Portuguese). 2 October 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  23. "Pele named in Cape Verde squad". BBC Sport. 3 October 2006. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pelé (footballer born 1978).
  • Pelé at ForaDeJogo (archived)
  • Pelé at Soccerbase
  • Pelé at Soccerbase (2nd part)
  • Pelé at National-Football-Teams.com
  • Pelé at Soccerway
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