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Abedi Pele
Abedi Ayew, known professionally as Abedi Pele, is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder and who served as captain of the Ghana national team. He is regarded as one of the greatest African footballers of all time
05November
1964
05 November 1964
Born
Abedi Pele was born on 5 November 1964
07July
1970
07 July 1970
Early life
Abedi Ayew, born and raised in Dome near Accra, Ghana, earned the nickname "Pelé" during his schooling at Ghana Senior High School in Tamale, owing to his exceptional football skills reminiscent of the legendary Brazilian athlete Pelé.
07July
1970
07 July 1970
Style of play
Pele, recognized as a playmaker, showcased his exceptional speed, precise ball control, and dribbling skills, along with his impressive passing and goal-scoring capabilities, predominantly occupying the roles of an attacking midfielder or a forward, earning him the monikers "The Maestro" and "The African Maradona."
07July
1978
07 July 1978
Club career
Abedi Pelé, one of the first African players to have a significant impact on European club football, had a nomadic career that included stints in various clubs. He played a crucial role in Marseille's success, winning multiple league championships and reaching European Cup finals, and later played for other European clubs such as Lille, Lyon, Torino, and 1860 Munich, before signing a two-year contract with Al Ain in the UAE.
07July
1982
07 July 1982
International career
Abedi Pelé, a dominant figure in African football for nearly a decade, represented Ghana 73 times, including being part of the victorious 1982 African Cup of Nations team. Although he never had the opportunity to play in the FIFA World Cup, he achieved high rankings in FIFA Player of the Year voting, won several prestigious awards, and holds the record for most appearances at the African Cup of Nations, leaving a lasting impact on the continent's football scene.
07July
1997
07 July 1997
CAF-UEFA All Star
Abedi Pelé was frequently recognized for his international achievements, including being selected for FIFA "All-Star" teams and captaining the African All-Stars to victory over their European counterparts in the 1997 Meridian Cup, where he scored a goal in a 2-1 win, while the format of the competition was later modified to feature veteran players for leisurely enjoyment and nostalgic reminiscence of past footballing moments.
07July
2000
07 July 2000
After retirement
Abedi Pelé, in addition to being a member of FIFA's Football Committee and player status committees, holds the record for participating in the most FIFA charity matches among African players, and his contributions to Ghana earned him the prestigious Order of the Volta, becoming the first Ghanaian sportsman to receive this honor.
07June
2001
07 June 2001
Football Ambassador
In June 2001, he was nominated by the Ghanaian government for the role of Chairman of the FA but voluntarily stepped aside to allow a more experienced former coach to take the position, expressing his desire to learn from his superiors; currently, he owns a first division club called Nania, aiming to develop young talent to strengthen the country's league, and has been actively engaged in charitable initiatives throughout Africa.
07July
2023
07 July 2023
Personal life
Abedi Pelé is the brother of Kwame and Sola Ayew, the father of André, Jordan, Rahim, and Imani, and his sons André and Jordan have represented Ghana in multiple FIFA World Cups, including the 2010, 2014, and 2022 editions.
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