Pedro Pelé
Encyclopedia
Pedro Miguel Cardoso Monteiro (born 2 May 1978), aka Pelé, is a Portuguese
-born Cape Verde
an footballer who plays as a central defender.
, Pelé started playing professionally for local Imortal Desportivo Clube, moving to Algarve neighbours S.C. Farense after five seasons, and playing one year in the Portuguese second division
(also played from 1999–2001 with his first club at that level).
He joined C.F. Os Belenenses in 2003–04, making his top level debut on 23 August 2003, in a 2–4 loss at Sporting Clube de Portugal. Incidentally, the following season, already an important first-team element, on 6 March 2005, he netted the game's only goal as Belenenses beat Sporting at home.
Pelé signed Southampton
for an undisclosed fee, believed to be £
1 million, on 19 July 2006. He had attracted the attention of Premier League sides West Ham United
and Portsmouth
, Southampton's closest rivals, 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
. He started 2006–07 in his natural central defensive position but was eventually moved into defensive midfielder, 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
.
Pelé signed for West Bromwich Albion
for £1 million on a two-year contract, on 9 August 2007. He made his Albion debut as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 defeat away at Burnley
, on the opening day of the 2007–08 season.
Pelé was released by West Brom in the summer of 2009, following the club's relegation from the top flight, with only three league appearances from the player. On November 12, he joined Scottish Premier League
side Falkirk
as a free agent
.
In August 2010, Pelé joined Milton Keynes Dons
on a non-contract deal, as cover for injured Gary MacKenzie and suspended Mathias Kouo-Doumbé
. He was released by the club the following month, without any official appearances.
In January 2011, aged nearly 33, Pelé joined Northwich Victoria
of the Northern Premier League
on non-contract terms, and made his debut in a 1–0 win against Mickleover Sports
. In June he put his name on the PFA's free transfer availability list indicating that he was seeking a new club.
On 10 August 2011, Hednesford Town FC announced Pelé had signed on non-contract terms to play in the Evo-Stick Northern Premier League.
, starting appearing for the nation in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification stage.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
-born Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
an footballer who plays as a central defender.
Club career
Born in AlbufeiraAlbufeira
Albufeira is a Portuguese municipality in the Faro District, Algarve region. Its name came from the Arabic: البحيرة . The city has a population of 13,646. The municipality has a population of 35,281 inhabitants and a total area of 140.6 km²...
, Pelé started playing professionally for local Imortal Desportivo Clube, moving to Algarve neighbours S.C. Farense after five seasons, and playing one year in the Portuguese second division
Liga de Honra
The Liga de Honra , known for sponsorship reasons as the Liga Orangina, is the Portuguese second level football league. It was formerly called Segunda Divisão and Segunda Divisão de Honra . When the LPFP took control of the two nationwide levels, it was renamed Segunda Liga, before renaming it...
(also played from 1999–2001 with his first club at that level).
He joined C.F. Os Belenenses in 2003–04, making his top level debut on 23 August 2003, in a 2–4 loss at Sporting Clube de Portugal. Incidentally, the following season, already an important first-team element, on 6 March 2005, he netted the game's only goal as Belenenses beat Sporting at home.
Pelé signed Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
for an undisclosed fee, believed to be £
Pound sign
The pound sign is the symbol for the pound sterling—the currency of the United Kingdom . The same symbol is used for similarly named currencies in some other countries and territories, such as the Irish pound, Gibraltar pound, Australian pound and the Italian lira...
1 million, on 19 July 2006. He had attracted the attention of Premier League sides West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
and Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
, Southampton's closest rivals, but decided to opt for the potential of the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
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
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
. He started 2006–07 in his natural central defensive position but was eventually moved into defensive midfielder, playing alongside Jermaine Wright
Jermaine Wright
Jermaine Malaki Wright is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder and can also operate as a defender.-Football career:...
for most of the season, while also moving back into defence to cover for injuries to Darren Powell
Darren Powell
Darren David Powell is an English footballer. He will be a free agent after the expiry of his contract with Milton Keynes Dons on 30 June 2010. He is a centre back.-Football career:...
and Claus Lundekvam
Claus Lundekvam
Claus Lundekvam is a former Norwegian footballer, who spent most of his career at English side Southampton. He played for Southampton in the 2003 FA Cup Final against Arsenal .-Playing career:...
.
Pelé signed for West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
for £1 million on a two-year contract, on 9 August 2007. He made his Albion debut as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 defeat away at Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
, on the opening day of the 2007–08 season.
Pelé was released by West Brom in the summer of 2009, following the club's relegation from the top flight, with only three league appearances from the player. On November 12, he joined Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
side Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
.
In August 2010, Pelé joined Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
on a non-contract deal, as cover for injured Gary MacKenzie and suspended Mathias Kouo-Doumbé
Mathias Kouo-Doumbe
Mathias Kouo-Doumbé , often nicknamed Mat Doumbé, is a French association football defender who currently plays for the Milton Keynes Dons, having signed for them on August 7, 2009....
. He was released by the club the following month, without any official appearances.
In January 2011, aged nearly 33, Pelé joined Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
of the Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
on non-contract terms, and made his debut in a 1–0 win against Mickleover Sports
Mickleover Sports F.C.
Mickleover Sports F.C. is a football club based in the Mickleover suburb of Derby, England. They are currently members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division...
. In June he put his name on the PFA's free transfer availability list indicating that he was seeking a new club.
On 10 August 2011, Hednesford Town FC announced Pelé had signed on non-contract terms to play in the Evo-Stick Northern Premier League.
International career
After turning down invitations in the past, Pelé accepted an invitation to play for Cape VerdeCape Verde national football team
The Cape Verde national football team, nicknamed either the Tubarões Azuis or Crioulos , is the national team of Cape Verde and is controlled by the Federação Caboverdiana de Futebol.-Overview:...
, starting appearing for the nation in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification stage.
International appearances (incomplete)
| International appearances and goals | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Goal | Competition |
| ? | 6 September 2008 | Praia Praia Praia , is the capital and largest city of Cape Verde, an island nation in the Atlantic Ocean west of Senegal. It lies on the southern coast of Santiago island in the Sotavento Islands group. It is the island's ferry port and is home to one of the nation’s four international airports... , Cape Verde Cape Verde The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa... |
1–2 | 0 | 2010 World Cup qualification 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF) The Confederation of African Football section of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification saw teams compete for five berths in the final tournament in South Africa... |
|
| ? | 11 October 2008 | Dar es Salaam Dar es Salaam Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ... , Tanzania Tanzania The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state... |
1–3 | 0 | 2010 World Cup qualification | |
| ? | 4 September 2009 | Ta'Qali Ta'Qali Ta' Qali is a village in Malta, a wide open space in the middle of Malta containing the national stadium, Ta' Qali National Park and a national vegetable market which is locally known as the Pitkalija.... , Malta Malta Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in... |
2–0 | 0 | Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
|