Soccer Legend PelÉ To Serve As Honorary Captain At Ironmen Home Debut

September 27, 2007 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
New Jersey Ironmen News Release


NEWARK, NJ (September 27, 2007)- The New Jersey Ironmen of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) announced today that soccer legend Pelé will serve as the club honorary captain on Saturday, December 1st, at the franchise's historical home debut. The Ironmen will play host to the Detroit Ignition that night at Prudential Center in the Downtown Core Redevelopment District of Newark.

"Pelé was my childhood hero," Tony Novo, Ironmen General Manager, reflected. "It is very emotional to have the greatest player that ever played the game to be part of our opening ceremony."

Pelé, commonly regarded as the most recognizable figure in sports history, will not only serve as the first-ever captain of the expansion Ironmen, but he will be involved in additional events to be announced at a later date. Fans interested in attending the historical return of professional soccer to Newark can call 1-800-IRONMEN for tickets today.

"This adds so much more to what will already be an amazing night," Ironmen Vice President of Soccer Operations and Head Coach Omid Namazi, commented. "We have arguably the greatest player of all-time coming to kick off our home season for us."

In the year 2000, Pelé was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee and Best Footballer of the 20th Century by FIFA. He was inducted into the American National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1993.

Pelé, whose birth name is Edson Arantes de Nascimento, was born on October 23, 1940, in Três Corações, Brazil. He began playing for Brazilian club Santos Futebol Clube in 1956 at the age of 15. He was immediately placed in the starting lineup prior to the 1957 season, and he became the top scorer in the league at only 16-years-old. A mere ten months after signing his first professional contract, he was named to the Brazilian National Team. He was only 17 when he won his first World Cup in 1958. He is the all-time top scorer in the Brazilian National Team history, and he is the only player to be a member of three World Cup championship teams.

Pelé remained very loyal to his club team, Santos, despite lucrative offers from European teams throughout his career. Following the 1962 World Cup, the Brazilian government declared him a "national treasure" to prevent him from being transferred out of the country. In 1967 a 48-hour ceasefire was called by both sides involved in the Nigerian Civil War so they could watch Pelé play an exhibition match in Lagos.

After his 17th season with Santos in 1972, Pelé went into semi-retirement, only occasionally suiting up for Santos over the next two seasons. In what is probably the most significant move in American soccer history, Pelé signed with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1975. His presence in the NASL drastically increased soccer awareness in the United States, and he is credited with opening many Americans' eyes to the sport. In his third and final year with the Cosmos, he led them to the 1977 NASL championship. He ended his legendary playing career on October 1, 1977, in an exhibition game at Giants Stadium between Santos and the Cosmos. He played the first half for the Cosmos and the second half for Santos. He scored his 1,281st and final goal of his career off a direct kick in the first half for the Cosmos. At the conclusion of the game, Pelé ran around the field holding a Brazilian flag in one hand and an American flag in the other, one of the most memorable moments in soccer history. He was then lifted and carried around the field.

Pelé has become a national figure well beyond the sports world since he last played that game in 1977. He has served as an ambassador in many capacities, and he traveled throughout the world promoting a message of peace and tranquility. He was appointed a United Nations Ambassador for Ecology and the Environment in 1992, and he was awarded the Brazilian Gold Medal for Outstanding Services to the Sport in 1995. Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso appointed him to the position of "Extraordinary Minister for Sport", and UNESCO also named him a Goodwill Ambassador. In 1997 Pelé was given an honorary British knighthood.

Ticket lines are open now for season and group ticket packages. Call 1-800-IRONMEN today to secure your place in New Jersey Ironmen history!

MEDIA ADVISORY: Anyone seeking media credentialing for the New Jersey Ironmen must contact John Archibald, Ironmen Director of Communications, with their name, contact information and media affiliation. Requests must be submitted in writing via email to jarchibald@njironmen.com.



Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from September 27, 2007


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