Pelé (footballer, born 1978)

Pedro Miguel Cardoso Monteiro (born 2 May 1978), commonly known as Pelé, is a Cape Verdean former footballer who last played as a central defender or a defensive midfielder for English club Totton.

For other people named Pele, see Pele (disambiguation).

This name uses Portuguese naming customs: 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
Date of birth (1978-05-02) 2 May 1978
Place of birth Albufeira, Portugal
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
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 0 (0)
National team
2006–2009 Cape Verde 11 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:31, 6 August 2016 (UTC)

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 in 2003–04, making his Primeira Liga debut on 1 August 2003 in a 1–1 home draw to U.D. Leiria.[1] The following campaign, already an important first-team element, he scored the game's only goal for the former at home against Sporting Clube de Portugal on 6 March 2005.[2]

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 sides West Ham United and Portsmouth, but decided to opt for the potential of the Football League side, where he was likely to get more games.

On 30 December 2006, Pelé scored his first competitive goal for the Saints, against Leicester City.[3] He started 2006–07 in his natural central defensive position but was eventually moved into defensive midfield, playing alongside Jermaine Wright for most of the season, while also moving back into defence to cover for injuries to Darren Powell and Claus Lundekvam.

West Bromwich Albion

Pelé signed for West Bromwich Albion for £1 million on a two-year contract, on 9 August 2007.[4] He made his Albion debut as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 defeat away to Burnley, on the opening day of 2007–08.[5]

Pelé made 13 starts during the campaign, as Albion were promoted to the top flight.

Later years

Pelé was released by West Brom in the summer of 2009 following their relegation, with only three league appearances from the player.[6] On 12 November, he joined Scottish Premiership side Falkirk as a free agent.[7]

In August 2010, Pelé moved to Milton Keynes Dons on a non-contract deal, as cover for injured Gary MacKenzie and suspended Mathias Kouo-Doumbé.[8] He was released by the club the following month, without any league appearances.[9]

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 against Mickleover Sports.[10] In June he put his name on the PFA's free transfer availability list, indicating that he was seeking a new club.[11]

On 8 January 2012, Pelé left Hednesford Town and joined Conference Premier's Hayes & Yeading United nine days later.[12] He made his debut for his new team the same evening, against Ebbsfleet United.[13]

In July 2016, 38-year-old Pelé signed for Totton from Havant & Waterlooville.[14]

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.[15][16]

References
  1. "Belenenses frente à U. Leiria" [Belenenses against U. Leiria]. Record (in Portuguese). 2 August 2003. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  2. "Belenenses-Sporting, 1–0 (Pelé 59)". Record (in Portuguese). 6 March 2005. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  3. "Southampton 2–0 Leicester". BBC Sport. 30 December 2006. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  4. "Baggies swoop for midfielder Pelé". BBC Sport. 9 August 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2007.
  5. "Burnley vs WBA". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 11 August 2007. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  6. "Relegated West Brom release trio". BBC Sport. 22 May 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
  7. "Pele signs contract with Falkirk". BBC Sport. 12 November 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
  8. "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.
  9. "Pele concludes Dons spell". Milton Keynes Dons F.C. 31 August 2010. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  10. "Portuguese Pedro Monteiro signs for Northwich Victoria". Northwich Guardian. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  11. "Northwich Victoria manager Andy Preece is happy with transfers strategy". Northwich Guardian. 19 June 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  12. "Hayes & Yeading sign international defender". Football Conference. 17 January 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  13. "Hayes & Yeading United 1 Ebbsfleet United 2". Hayes & Yeading United F.C. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  14. 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.
  15. "Cabo Verde chama Pelé" [Cape Verde call Pelé]. Record (in Portuguese). 2 October 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  16. "Pele named in Cape Verde squad". BBC Sport. 3 October 2006. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  • Pelé at ForaDeJogo
  • Pelé at Soccerbase
  • Pelé at Soccerbase (2nd part)
  • Pelé at National-Football-Teams.com
  • Pelé at Soccerway
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