HE'S the king of football and a hero to millions. Pele is the only player to win three World Cups and is recognised by millions as the greatest player to have ever played the beautiful game.
HE'S the king of football and a hero to millions.
Pele is the only player to win three World Cups and is generally regarded as the greatest player to have ever played the beautiful game.
And next month, the soccer ace will be swapping the beaches of Brazil for the cold of the UK when he takes to the stands to watch Jim Magilton's Ipswich Town take on Sheffield United.
Pele, real name Edson Arantes do Nascimento, will be guest of honour at the Championship game, staged at the Yorkshire club's Bramall Lane stadium on November 6.
It is not the first time Pele has come into contact with the Blues.
The Brazilian starred in the 1981 film Escape to Victory alongside a number of former Town players including John Wark, Russell Osman and Kevin Beattie.
His visit comes after Sheffield United forged links with Brazilian giants Sao Paulo, the club at which Pele coaches the under 17 side.
Pele will also attend Sheffield FC's 150th anniversary game against Inter Milan at Bramall Lane two days later, on November 8.
The Brazilian legend is expected to be involved in a number of other events during his stay in the steel city, which he visited in the 60s as a club player with Santos and the Brazilian national team during the 1966 World Cup.
One player looking to play at Bramall Lane will be Canadian winger Jaime Peters.
He said: “My dad used to talk about Pele all the time. It was always Pele this, Pele that, Pele everything.
“He was the first player I really looked up to and he's always been my favourite.”
A spokesman for ITFC said: “I'm sure the players are looking forward to playing in front of one of the legends of the game.
“Hopefully the team can turn in a performance that Pele will admire.”
What do you think Pele will make of Ipswich's current squad? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
Pele: Fast Facts:
Born on October 23, 1940 in Três Corações , Brazil .
Football's world governing body, FIFA, made Pele a world ambassador for the game.
He began playing for Santos aged just 15 and the Brazilian national team at 16.
He won the first of three World Cups at 17.
Later in his career, Pele played in the USA for New York Cosmos.
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