PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Pelé is considered one of the best players in football history.
But the icon had a lot to say when he returned to Sweden after the World Cup gold to play an exhibition match and encountered real Swedish steel.
– Pelé wanted to shine but he had no chance, says Staffan Thapper to SportExpressen about the match against the great player.
In 1958, an 18-year-old danced Pele straight into the Swedish people’s soul and charmed our entire elongated country during an unforgettable summer. The Brazilian led his home country to its first World Cup gold after an iconic final at Råsunda against host nation Sweden.
Pelé 1,000 goals
It would be the start of an unparalleled career for Pelé who is said to have scored an incredible 1,000 career goals. However, it is uncertain if that is really true, but the fact is that he scored an impressive 77 goals in 92 international matches in the Brazilian national team shirt.
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The big player belonged to Santos for the majority of his career and first became a foreign professional at the age of 35 when he signed for the pop team New York Cosmos in 1975. It was with his new team that Pelé returned to Swedish soil again after the World Cup gold in 1958.
READ MORE: The giant Pelé selects Sweden’s best player of all time: “I wish I had played in his team”
Met Malmö FF
NY Cosmos was invited to an exhibition match in Malmö in 1975 against the city’s team Malmö FF. 21,000 spectators made their way to Malmö Stadion to see the world star and they would also be treated to a real show – but not by Pelé directly.
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Because when the brass stepped out onto the grass and expected a relaxed event, he ran straight into genuine Swedish steel. Then MFF and the legendary head coach Bob Houghton took the match bloody seriously.
– Bob Houghton didn’t play any friendly matches, says the cult player Staffan Tapper with a laugh in an interview with SportExpressen.
READ MORE: Maradona once pointed out the best Swede of all time – you can never guess who he chose: “I was shocked”
“Pele no chance”
The Malmöites stood up and refused to let Pelé come here and play a bit with the rag in front of full stands. The club icon Boss Larsson went in the rush and brought all his teammates with him.
– Fucking Pele. I give him shit, he said annoyed, according to Tapper.
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Malmö FF completely ran over New York Cosmos and led by a full 5-0 after the first half. The Swedish promoter Börje Lantzwho had managed to lure Pelé and his team there, was furious and went straight to Malmö’s dressing room for a scolding.
“How the hell am I going to be able to sell these matches if Pelé is not allowed to touch the ball!?”
The second half then became significantly calmer and Pelé was also allowed to score a penalty to make the numbers look good. Today, Staffan Tapper can have a good laugh about the unforgettable match against one of the world’s best football players ever.
– Pelé wanted to shine, but he had Bosse Larsson against him and he drove very hard, so then Pelé had no chance, he tells the evening newspaper.
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