My Friend Who Played With Pelé

Bom aniversario, Pelé!



Image courtesy of
Italian Soccer Serie A.

Signed Pele Brazil 1970 Shirt from Icons.com

The great man celebrates his 71st birthday on Oct. 23, 2011. He was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento in Três Corações (Three Hearts) in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.

An interview with 4-4-2 magazine to commemorate his 70th birthday in 2010. He is the honorary President of the New York Cosmos. Pelé is the only athlete to ever cause a two-day truce in a war. (Biafran Civil War in Nigeria, September 1967.)

Many years ago, someone stopped me as I was walking in the main entrance of my apartment building in Washington, D.C. I had a football under my arm. “Hey, soccer man, wait a minute.” A Brazilian man, Salvador, introduced himself to me. He also lived in the building with his wife and young son. He said that we needed to get together and play sometime. A few weeks later, the opportunity presented itself.



When I first met him, he mentioned that he played professionally in Brazil, but didn’t go into much detail. Kicking the ball around with him, it was obvious that his level far exceeded anything that I had ever witnessed. Amazing foot speed and ball control. I was mesmerized by him.

Getty Images.

Pelé in Hong Kong on a publicity tour with the New York Cosmos
in March 2011.

After awhile, I started to ask a lot of questions. I learned where he first played, but had never heard of it. He named a few other clubs that were familiar to me. Then he showed me a Placar (a famous football publication in Brazil) magazine with his picture, along with a brief article. “By the way, I spent one year with Santos. You do know about Santos, Steve?” He smiled. And I was thinking, “The Santos FC of Pelé?”

My friend spent one year there with their Juniors. He trained daily with their senior team. Pelé was near the end of his Brazilian career, but my friend spent that year training with him, and also traveling with the team. But the difference was that he never made me feel like an inferior gringo, or flaunted what for most of us would be the first thing we would tell anybody.


Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

He didn’t even put a picture of himself and Pelé on the wall at his place. It was an incredible photo. Both were shirtless, and it must have been after a practice session or game. Pelé with his big smile, and an arm around a young 17 year-old who looks like he can’t believe it is all for real. The back of the picture was signed by Pelé, and said, “To my colleague.” Perhaps there are some things that the rest of us can’t fully appreciate, or the memory was so important that he could not share it easily with others.

Reuters Pictures.

Pelé with his six Championship medals won with Santos Futebol Clube.

I asked Salvador to tell me about Pelé.

“He treated me very well. He was well-liked by everyone, and always helpful to his teammates. You never knew he was the best player in the world. He acted just like a regular guy. We used to call him James Bond because he liked to wear sunglasses, and women used to give him a lot of attention. He liked to play the guitar and to sing.”

He also mentioned that opposing teams would usually assign a lesser-talented player to harass Pelé. With the intent of getting the great one upset or thrown out of the game. But it was a bad strategy that rarely worked.

Salvador didn’t find the roads paved with gold in the USA, but nobody can ever take those memories away from him. He disappeared some years ago, and anytime I see Brazil play, I wonder where he is. And if he is still reflecting back on those wonderful days with Pelé.

Reuters Pictures.

Pelé with the new Cosmos shirt.

“Steve, sometimes I wake up from a dream, and I am crying. I am dreaming that I am back playing with Pelé.”

I am very grateful that he told me about this wonderful experience. Obrigado, meu amigo.

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Steve Amoia is a freelance writer, editor and translator from Washington, D.C. He is the founder of World Football Commentaries. He has written and translated for AC Cugini Scuola Calcio (Italian soccer school), Beyond The Pitch, Football Media, Italian Soccer Serie A, Keeper Skool and Soccerlens.

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The Sun Finally Sets on Alessandro Del Piero at Juventus

Getty Images

Alessandro Del Piero in action last Sunday against Chievo Verona.

He came to Juventus at the age of 19 in 1993 and was christened, "Pinturicchio," by the legendary Juventus FC and FIAT owner, Gianni Agnelli. From the many triumphs and bitter defeats that followed, along with a humiliating descent into the Italian Serie B, Del Piero has been as constant as the sun rising and setting over the Alps. Del Piero is cut from a rare cloth in a modern era of annual transfers by mercenary-like players. He wears the white and black colors of Juventus like a second skin. He is the "l'uomo simbolo", or flag bearer, held in high regard by teammates, fans, managers and opponents around the world.

Surprise Announcement by Andrea Agnelli

Getty Images

Andrea Agnelli, President of Juventus FC.

At a Juventus shareholders meeting on 18 October 2011, Andrea Agnelli, President of Juventus FC, made a surprise announcement quoted by Tuttosport in Torino: The legendary Del Piero would part ways with the Old Lady at the end of the 2011/12 season:

"L'unico legame tra le varie case della Juve è il nostro capitano, Alessandro Del Piero, che ha voluto rimanere con noi ancora un anno per quello che sarà il suo ultimo anno in bianconero".

"The only tie between the various units of Juventus is our captain, Alessandro Del Piero, who wanted to remain with us another year for what will be his last season in our colors."

Ci potrebbero essere la possibilità di ripensamento sul contratto di Del Piero? "Era negli accordi l'aveva detto Alessandro per primo che quello di maggio sarebbe stato l'ultimo contratto con la Juve. Da parte nostra è stato un giusto tributo a quello che il capitano ha rappresentato per la storia della Juventus". Un futuro da dirigente? "A momento debito ne parleremo".

Would there be a possibility to reconsider Del Piero's contract?

"It was in the agreements that Alessandro first said in May (2011) it would be his last contract with Juventus. From our part, it has been a just tribute for what the captain has represented in the history of Juventus."

A director's role in the future?

"At the right time, we'll discuss it."

"Era giusto e doveroso, essendo in assemblea tributare un ringraziamento per quello che il capitano ha rappresentato. Farlo alla presenza del presidente Boniperti, che ha siglato il suo primo contratto con la Juve, e con me che ho firmato l'ultimo, credo che sia un riconoscimento dovuto a un grandissimo uomo e un grandissimo capitano".

"It was proper and necessary being that it was at this shareholder's meeting to make a tribute to what the captain has represented. Doing it to the presence of President Boniperti who signed him to his first contract with Juventus, and with me who signed him to his last, I believe that it is a necessary acknowledgment to a great man and a great captain."

Remarks by Former Juventus Director, Luciano Moggi:

The disgraced former Juventus Director, Luciano Moggi, was highly critical of how Andrea Agnelli handled the situation in remarks to Tuttosport on 18 October 2011:

“L’uscita di Agnelli su Del Piero non l’ho capita. Alessandro quando gioca è uno che dà sempre fastidio alle difese e tecnicamente è ancora il migliore. E’ un gioco a farsi male, si sta facendo di tutto per demotivare il giocatore. La società avrebbe dovuto dire queste cose a marzo o aprile, non ora. Non c’entrava nulla fare queste dichiarazioni adesso, non ho capito quest’uscita e chi ha suggerito Agnelli e lo stesso presidente hanno fatto un errore terribile”.

"I didn't understand Agnelli's coming out about Del Piero. Alessandro, when he plays, is one who always troubles defenses and technically, he's still the best. It's a game (by Agnelli) to make things bad for him. He is doing everything to take away the motivations of the player. The club should have said these things in March or April. Not now. Nothing was called for to make these statements at this time. I didn't understand who suggested this ploy to Agnelli and the same President who committed a terrible error."

“Il modo in cui si liquida un giocatore che ha dato tanto alla Juventus è sbagliatissimo. Ognuno si comporta come crede, se Agnelli ha detto così probabilmente avrà parlato giù con i cugini (la famiglia Elkann). Sono convito che Del Piero possa dare ancora molto. Conoscendolo non si tirerà indietro, ma senza dubbio sarà demotivato”.

"The way in which a player who has given so much to Juventus was cast aside was handled in the worst way. Each person behaves as he likes. If Agnelli spoke like this, he likely will have spoken with his cousins (the family of John Elkann). I'm convinced that Del Piero can still give a great deal. Knowing that you can't go back, but without a doubt, he will be less motivated."

Francesco Totti: 20 Years of Battles and Friendship


Getty Images

Francesco Totti in action for AS Roma.

An eternal rival, former Azzurri teammate and off-the-pitch friend, Francesco Totti of AS Roma, was also quoted by Tuttosport on 18 October 2011:

"La felicità professionale e personale di Alessandro viene prima di ogni cosa. Ma affrontare la Juve senza Del Piero, se dovesse accadere, non sarà mai la stessa cosa. Circa venti anni di sfide sportive sono tante, ma davvero tante: ognuno di noi le ha vissute sempre e solo con la stessa maglia".

"The professional and personal happiness of Alessandro comes before anything else. But to face Juventus without Del Piero, if it should happen, will never be the same thing. Almost 20 years of sporting challenges are a lot but really so many. Each of us has always and only have experienced them wearing the same shirt."

Career Honors

According to Tuttosport, Del Piero had the following achievements during his long career:

• 47,500 minutes played (792 hours or 33 days.)
• 682 appearances
• 284 goals (185 in the Serie A.)
• 17 trophies won (Champions League, Intercontinental Cup, World Cup and two U-21 European championships.)
• 91 caps for the Azzurri with 27 goals
• One World Cup in 2006

The Next Step

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport on April 19, 2010, Del Piero received and evaluated an offer from the New York Red Bulls. He later denied such an approach but his interest in the USA, especially his passion for NBA basketball, is well-documented. Del Piero met with the Boston Celtics in Rome during October 2007. He also has a strong affinity for Japan and was one of the first footballers to lend a hand after the recent earthquake and tsunami. Del Piero has not yet commented on Andrea Agnelli's remarks and/or his future plans.

Some men wear a shirt. For others such as Alessandro Del Piero, the shirt becomes a part of them. Another player may don the famous #10 shirt of Juventus, but he will never replace the class, dignity, elegance, endurance, loyalty and technique of Alessandro Del Piero.

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Beyond The Pitch: The Michelangelo of Goalkeepers, Gigi Buffon

Gianluigi “Gigi” Buffon is one of the most gifted and individually decorated goalkeepers of his generation. He has an extremely candid and keen intellect which almost seems to fuel his air of mystique: equal part exquisite talent and cold-blooded efficiency, an athlete as master craftsman and performance artist.

But Buffon rarely minces words either. He seems to sidestep a familiar sound-byte trap which often becomes front page controversy or personal minefield from an Italian press that seems to provoke them as reflex response. When journalists ask Buffon a question, they most often receive detailed and thoughtful replies.

Buffon is a man who usually has a smile on his face in the worst of situations. He became a World Cup champion in July 2006 and weeks later, voluntarily descended with Juventus to the obscurity of the Italian Serie B. From the agony of forced relegation to the ecstasy of winning the World Cup, Buffon didn’t miss a beat which speaks volumes to his unique character and enduring reputation amongst players and supporters alike.

Link to Michelangelo