Pedro Miguel Cardoso Monteiro (born 2 May 1978 in Albufeira), aka Pelé, is a Portuguese-born Cape Verdean footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League side Falkirk, mainly as a defender.

[edit] Club career

Pelé started playing professionally for local Imortal Desportivo Clube, moving to Algarve neighbours S.C. Farense after five seasons, and playing in the Portuguese second division.

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, Pelé netted the game's only goal as Belenenses beat Sporting at home.

He joined Southampton F.C. 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, Southampton's closest rivals, but Pelé 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 central 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.^[1]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.^[2]

Pelé was released by West Brom in the summer of 2009 following their relegation ^[3] and joined Scottish Premier League side Falkirk as a free agent on 12 November 2009.^[4]

[edit] International career

After turning down invitations in the past, Pelé accepted an invitation to play for Cape Verde, starting with the 2008 African Nations Cup qualifiers.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Stats and profile at Zerozero.pt
• Pedro Pelé career stats at Soccerbase
• Southampton profile
• WBA profile

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