Everyone at West Ham United has been left deeply saddened by the passing of Pelé.
The legendary former Brazil forward and record three-time FIFA World Cup winner passed away in São Paulo at the age of 82 on Thursday 29 December 2022.
A giant of the game and one of the greatest footballers ever, Pelé scored an incredible 1,281 goals in 1,363 games for club and country, including 77 in 92 appearances for his beloved Brazil, and won the World Cup in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
Nicknamed ‘O Rei’ - ‘The King’ - Pelé emerged as a teenager, won his first World Cup at 17, led his Santos through the most successful period in their history in the 1960s, then helped establish the sport in the United States during a three-year spell with New York Cosmos. Away from the pitch, he also devoted his time to charitable and ambassadorial work.
Pelé also forged links with West Ham.
In June 1970, his Brazil team took on an England side captained by the Hammers’ Bobby Moore in the FIFA World Cup group stage in Mexico, which was settled by Jairzinho’s second-half goal. The game also featured Martin Peters, who had departed the Boleyn Ground in March that year, and
The epic duel between Brazil’s No10 and England’s No6 went down in football folklore, as Moore used all his knowhow, ability and savvy to prevent Pelé from scoring, albeit with the help of his fellow 1966 World Cup winner Gordon Banks’ world-class save.
I have so many memories of Pele, without doubt the best footballer I ever played against (with Bobby Moore being the best footballer I ever played alongside). For me Pele remains the greatest of all time and I was proud to be on the the pitch with him. RIP Pele and thank you. pic.twitter.com/oCpQlw7EIK
— Sir Geoff Hurst (@TheGeoffHurst) December 29, 2022
After the final whistle, the two shirtless players embraced warmly to reflect on their battle, creating an iconic image of mutual respect captured by photographer John Varley.
Three months later, he faced Moore – and fellow West Ham player Geoff Hurst – again when the Irons took on Pelé’s Santos in a special friendly match in the United States. Pelé scored twice for his Brazilian club at Downing Stadium on Randalls Island in New York City, while Clyde Best did likewise for Ron Greenwood’s side in a 2-2 draw.
In the years and decades that followed, the pair restarted their respect for one another as players and people, and Pelé continued to speak warmly of his great rival following Moore’s premature death at the age of 51 in 1993.
In 1981, he appeared alongside Moore again, but this time on the big screen alongside the likes of Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone in the football-themed war film ‘Escape to Victory’.
And, of course, in recent years West Ham’s popular central defender James Collins was nicknamed ‘Ginger Pelé’ by the Claret and Blue Army.
West Ham United would like to express its deepest condolences to Pelé’s loved ones and the people of Brazil at this sad time.
A minute's applause will be held before kick-off in the Premier League fixture between West Ham United and Brentford in Pelé’s memory on Friday 30 December.
