Zoff

Full Name:
Dino Zoff
Born:
28 Feb 1942
Life in Soccer:

He is one of the best goalkeepers the world has ever seen. He has set lots of records in Italian and world football. For instance he is the oldest player to win the World Cup. In 1982 at the age of 40 he could collect the trophy as captain of Italy's team. And he is also the goalkeeper to have kept a clean sheet the longest time, from September 1972 to June 1974 (1142 minutes!) he was unbeaten. Haiti, of all nations, ended the run in the 1974 FIFA World Cup.

Zoff played most of his career in Napoli and Juventus and he played for Italy a record 112 times. In 1968 he was a member of Italy's European Championship winning team, but he was dropped for the Mexico World Cup two years later. Albertosi was preferred in goal in the tournament where Italy were runners-up. In 1974 Zoff was back in Italy's team, but despite his superb run of no goals conceded, Italy went out in the group stage. By the 1978 World Cup Zoff and Italy were among the favourites, they even beat the eventual winners and host nation Argentina in the group stage. But in a decisive final round match against Holland, Arie Haan's 40 yard shot sent Italy out. They played Brazil in the bronze match and lost there too.

But 1982 was to be Zoff's year, in his final World Cup he had success. After a slow start with only draws in the group stage, Italy then beat Argentina, Brazil, Poland and West Germany in consecutive matches and became worthy champions. As many other players, Zoff stayed in football after he finished playing and he has, among several jobs, been manager of Lazio in Rome and national team coach for Italy in 1999.

Baresi

Full Name:
Franco Baresi
Born:
8 May 1960
Life in Soccer:
He was a born in Travagliato, is one of very few players at top international level to have spent an entire career at one club. He made his debut for AC Milan in 1978 and won the Serie A already in his first full season the following year.


Franco was one of these players that didn’t look very impressive physically compared to what you would expect from a central defender. He usually operated as a sweeper behind the defensive line, and controlled the pace of the game from there. He read the game impressively well, which was the main reason to why he was so outstanding.


It took some time for him to break into the national team because Enzo Bearzot, the coach at the time, preferred the Juventus trio Cabrini, Gentile and Scirea in defence. The latter occupied the sweeper’s position in the World Cup winning team of 1982. Baresi was included in that squad, but never played a minute in Spain which he didn’t like. He then rejected to play for Italy as long as Bearzot was in charge which made him miss the 1986 World Cup. Bearzot then retired and Baresi once again said yes to the Azzurri. Italy reached the semifinals at Euro 88, Franco’s first tournament with Italy, and another semifinal in their own World Cup in 1990. Italy lost to Argentina on penalties, but beat England in the bronzematch.


Baresi was captain when Italy travelled to America for the World Cup in 1994. At 34, he knew this was his last chance to win the World Cup, but an injury in the first round against Norway made him miss several matches and he wasn’t ready until the final against Brazil, where he played the game of his life. Brazil evenutally won on penalties and Franco missed one of the penalties for Italy. It was his 81st and final match for Italy.


He played three more years for Milan before retiring, having won six Serie A championships, three European Cups and two World Club Cups among his many titles. AC Milan paid tribute to him by making his number 6 jersey immortal. No player in the future will ever wear that jersey again for Milan.

Zubizaretta

Full Name:
Andoni Zubizarreta
Born:
23 Oct 1961
Life in Soccer:

He was born in Vitoria, Andoni Zubizarreta, belongs to an exclusive list of players who have appeared in four World Cups. He had to wait for several years to break into the national team because of the presence of Luis Arconada, but made his debut against Finland in 1985. “Zubi” began his career in Athletic Bilbao and made his league debut for them in 1982. He had established himself as the national team goalkeeper before the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and gave some quality performances as Spain reached the quarterfinals and lost to Belgium on penalties.



Zubizarreta’s greatest asset as a goalkeeper was his positioning. He was seldom forced to make spectacular saves because of his ability to read the game. A goalkeeper without any special weaknesses, Zubi kept himself at the top for many years because of his great all-round abilities. In 1986, Barcelona signed him and Zubi spent eight wonderful years at the Nou Camp. He played some of his best games for Spain in the 1990 World Cup in Italy, especially against Uruguay and Belgium, but Yugoslavia won and knocked them out in extra-time already in the second round.



Four years later in USA, Zubi again had a fine tournament, but Italy beat them with a last-minute goal from Roberto Baggio in the quarterfinal. He bowed out of international football after the 1998 World Cup where he made a dreadful error against Nigeria, pushing the ball into his own net and was partially responsible for Spain’s first round exit. Despite this, Zubizarreta could look back at a very successful career having won many honours including, six Spanish league championships, three Spanish Cup titles, a European Cup Winners’ Cup title and a European Champions Cup title. He played more than 600 league games in Spain and won 126 caps, both are Spanish records.

Banks

Full Name:
Gordon Banks
Born:
30 Dec 1937
Life in Soccer:

England has produced a long line of goalkeeping legends over the years. The best of them all was Gordon Banks. Born in Sheffield, he joined third division side Chesterfield as a part-time pro in 1955. After four years, Banks was ready for bigger tasks and joined Leicester City in 1959 for £7000. It was at Filbert Street he started to show his class. Banks and Leicester reached the final of the FA Cup in his second season, but lost to Spurs who completed The Double that year.



Having lost another FA Cup final in 1963, Gordon finally could pick up a winner’s medal in the League Cup the following year. Banks was in the England team by now and started to make his name world wide. England hosted the World Cup in the summer of 1966. Banks experienced his finest weeks as a footballer when his team reached the final having just conceded one goal, a penalty from Portugal’s Eusebio. He really lived up to his nickname Banks of England. Gordon was as safe between the posts as money in the bank of England! After a dramatic final against West Germany, England could lift the World Cup for the first and so far only time. Banks was the best goalkeeper in the tournament.

England travelled to Mexico to defend their title in 1970. If Banks was famous for winning the World Cup in 1966, he would become even more so after this tournament. Much thanks to an incident called ‘The Save of the Century’. England played Brazil in the first round and a Jairzinho cross from the right was met perfectly by Pelé who headed it down towards Gordon’s bottom right corner. As the ball hit the ground in front of the goalline, he managed to flick it with his outstreched right hand as it came up. The ball rose over the bar for a corner. Despite this save, England lost 1-0 and later would lose 3-2 against West Germany in the quarterfinal when Banks was sidelined with an injury.



It was a car accident which made him blind on his right eye that caused his retirement in 1972. Just months earlier he had been voted England’s Player of the Year and also won another League Cup with his club Stoke City. Gordon Banks kept 35 clean sheets and only let in 57 goals in his 73 appearances for England. A proud record for one of the greatest goalkeepers the world has ever seen.

Völler

Full Name:
Rudi Völler
Born:
13 Apr 1960
Life in Soccer:

West Germany’s (Germany) number one striker and forwards in the 1980s, Rudi Völler, won his first cap against Northern Ireland in late 1982. He won the "Player of the Year" award the following year, as well as ending up as topscorer in the Bundesliga playing for Werder Bremen. Völler was a typical goalgetter kind of player. He rarely scored spectacular goals, but was great with the ball at his feet and could beat a man or two before scoring. He was also a master inside the penalty-area.

Euro 1984 was Rudi’s first big tournament, but despite his two goals, West Germany were eliminated already in the first round. Two years later in the Mexico World Cup, the Germans once again progressed far, but Völler spent much time on the bench as coach Beckenbauer preferred Klaus Allofs to partner Rummenigge in attack. He came on as a substitute in the semifinal to score the second in the 2-0 win over France, and in the final he came from the bench to equalize, but Argentina scored a late winner and became champions.



Having lost in the semifinal to Holland at Euro 1988, Völler and Germany met the Dutch again in the second round of the World Cup in Italy 1990. This time Rudi was involved in an incident with Dutchman Rijkaard which saw them both get sent off. Völler was back for the semifinal with England and in the final he was fouled inside the penalty area which lead to Andreas Brehme scoring the winning goal against Argentina five minutes from the end. Völler scored three goals in the tournament and could lift the World Cup trophy having played the final at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, his homeground, as he was playing for AS Roma at the time.



Rudi later played for Olympique Marseille and won the Champions League before moving back to Germany in 1994 to play for Bayer Leverkusen. He played in his last World Cup in USA where he as a 34 year-old spent much time on the bench, but scored two goals as his team was knocked out against all odds by Bulgaria in the quarterfinal. That defeat marked the end of his 12 year international career. He retired in 1996 and is now caretaker manager for the German national team.Still in the soccer.

Charlton

Full Name:

Bobby Charlton

Born:

11 Oct 1937

Life in Soccer:

Bobby Charlton is without doubt one of the most famous English players of all time. His name is synonymous with some of the greatest moments in the English game, but also with the highest traditions of sportsmanship and integrity. Bobby using his pace out of midfield and with a thunderous shot, scored some of the most spectacular goals English football has ever seen.

He was signed by Manchester United when aged 17. As one of the "Busby Babes" to survive the Munich air disaster, he teamed up with Denis Law and George Best in the 1960s to produce some of United's greatest ever football.

Charlton remained faithful to United and in his time there from 1956-73, he won the league championship three times, the FA Cup once and the European Cup once. Benfica was beaten 4-1 in a memorable final in 1968 at Wembley. All in all Charlton played more than 750 games for Manchester United and scored 247 goals in all competitions. He was also voted "European Footballer of the Year" in 1966. The same year England hosted and won the World Cup for their first and so far only time.

Charlton was instrumental in England's triumph. After a poor start against Uruguay, England beat France and Mexico. Charlton scored a stunning goal against the Central Americans. Then Argentina and Portugal were eliminated in the knock-out stages, with Charlton scoring both England's goals in the 2-1 win over Portugal. In a memorable final England beat West Germany after extra time.

Charlton retired from international football when England were defeated by West Germany four years later in Mexico in the quarterfinals. Charlton played 106 times for England - a record at that time - and scored 49 goals, which is still a record in English football. Having retired from all football in 1973 he became manager of Preston NE, worked as director of Wigan Athletic, and in 1984 was appointed director of Manchester United. He was awarded a CBE in 1974 and a knighthood in 1994. He is currently working as ambassador for Manchester United.

Cruijff

Full Name:

Hendrik Johannes Cruijff

Born:

25 Apr 1947

Life in Soccer:

Hendrik Johannes Cruijff, born in "Amsterdam" began his career at local club Ajax FC in 1964 where he quickly blossomed into a star. His excellent skills on the ball, great pace and ability to lift his team-mates to a higher level, made him an invaluable asset to the Ajax-team that would later conquer Europe.

In his trademark jersey 14# Cruijff lifted Ajax to heights the club had never been at before. Six Dutch league championships, four domestic cup titles and then three straight European Cup triumphs 1971-1973 plus a European Super Cup and World Club Cup title on top of that as well. Johan Cruijff had taken over the torch from Pele as being the greatest player in the World.

Cruijff left Ajax early in the 1973/74 season for Barcelona after 318 matches and 250 goals when his team-mates elected Piet Keizer as captain instead of himself. It disappointed Johan. "Barcelona FC" could offer a better salary as well and that of course helped luring him to the Catalan capital. Cruijff's immediate presence in the team helped Barcelona win a Spanish league championship that same season - their first in 14 years.

In the summer of 1974, the Netherlands with Cruijff as the conductor and captain, impressed everybody in the World Cup in West Germany National Team. Their "Total-Football" style where every player moved position all the time and somehow made the Dutch outnumber their opponents in every area of the field, gave great results as "Oranje" marched towards the Final in Munich in great style. Cruijff was instrumental in the latter stages when Argentina and Brazil were sent packing.

The hosts were opponents in the Final and they hadn't even touched the ball when Cruijff was brought down in the penalty area in the first minute. The second Johan, Neeskens, put Holland in front from the spot.

The Germans would however come back and win 2-1. The Dutch, though, won most of the hearts of fans world-wide and their performance in that World Cup made lasting impressions.

Sadly, Johan Cruijff would never play in another World Cup again. He took part in the qualifiers for Argentina '78, but retired shortly before the finals without giving a particular reason. Everybody in the Netherlands tried to persuade him out of retirement, but to no avail.

However, already in 1979 Cruijff was back out on the field again, this time in the North American Soccer League where many other fading stars had gathered. He turned out for LA Aztecs and Washington Diplomats over three seasons before returning to Europe, first a very short spell at Levante in Spain, then to his native Ajax in 1981.

He won two more Dutch league championships there and another domestic cup title before ending his glorious career with rivals Feyenoord in 1984. There he won another league and cup double as a 37-year old with youngsters like Ruud Gullit as team-mates.

Johan Cruijff then retired after 752 official career appearances and 425 goals. He was European Footballer of the Year (Golden Ball) winner three times and has since also been a highly successful coach at both Ajax and Barcelona.

Sukur

Full Name:

Hakan Sukur

Born:

1 September 1971

Life in Soccer:

He is a legend Turkish footballer. He is one of the most prolific strikers of the modern era, scoring 383 goals throughout his club career, as well as scoring 51 international goals for Turkey.

He currently holds the record for scoring the fastest ever World Cup goal, netting against South Korea in 10.8 seconds, at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Nicknamed "The Bull of the Bosphorus" by the European media, it is no coincidence that the rise of Turkish football in the early 1990s coincided with the emergence of one of the country's greatest footballers. Hakan Şükür began his football career with local club Sakarya Spor Club and made his league debut shortly after his 18th birthday in 1988. Two seasons later he moved to Bursa Spor Club and won his first national cap in a friendly against Luxembourg in March 1992, scoring his first international goal in his next match against Denmark.

Inevitably his heading ability, which makes full use of his 1.91 m stature, and all-round excellence soon drew the attention of bigger clubs, and a move to Galatasaray SK followed in summer 1992. His time in Istanbul proved fruitful, with Galatasaray claiming six league titles and four Turkish Cups.

In 1999–00, the last season of Şükür's first spell with the club (during this time, he had a short spell with Torino FC), Galatasaray completed a domestic double for the second year in succession and added the UEFA CUP to the trophy cabinet, the first Turkish side to win a European title.

A number of top European clubs toyed with the idea of signing Hakan, and he opted to play in Italy in 2002, trying his luck first with Inter Milan (Internazionale) and then Parma FC. In Parma, he met his old teammate, Brazilian Cláudio Taffarel (GK). Neither move was successful, however, and after scoring twice in nine games for English side Blackburn Rovers Club in 2002–03 (with both goals coming in a game against Fulham Club),he returned to Galatasaray, scoring 12 times in 28 league games in his first season back.

"I have never felt like I should necessarily go to Europe and play for a bigger team", Hakan Şükür said of his time abroad. "Galatasaray were big enough".

Despite his lack of success outside his homeland, his fine record for club and country, allied to an unselfish nature and a penchant for scoring crucial and memorable goals has assured him of a special place in the hearts of Turkish football fans. Outside of Turkey, he has scored 38 goals in all European competitions, and 51 international goals.He was big pivot santrafor-striker an aviator.He was a legend.

Hagi

Full Name:

Gheorge Hagi

Born:

5 Feb 1965

Life in Soccer:

Gheorge Hagi outstanding talent was discovered quickly and after playing for Farul Constanza FC and Sportul Bucharest FC for a short period of time, he was transferred to Steaua Bucharest in 1987. In Romania’s Premier Club, he won the league and cup double three years in a row. Hagi was a very skillful and creative player and very often did unpredictable things with the ball.

Gheorghe played in his first World Cup in Italy in 1990. Although he displayed a few flashes of brilliance in some games, that year was not going to be his best. Romania bowed out in the second round after losing to Ireland on penalties. Hagi was at the peak of his career by the time of the World Cup four years later in America, and he showed the world what he was capable of doing.

He was the best player of the tournament alongside the likes of Romario and Roberto Baggio. He also found the net three times in that World Cup with one of them being a wonderful 40 yard lob against Colombia. However, once again penalties stood between Romania and further advancement as Sweden won in the quarterfinal.

Hagi played for Real Madrid, Barcelona and Brescia with variable success and never quite unleashed his true potential at clublevel abroad. He struggled with disciplinary problems on the field and was suspended several times. When Romania qualified for the World Cup in 1998, he said it would be his last tournament. Romania reached the second round and lost 1-0 with the goal scored...yes, from a penalty.

He made a come-back prior to Euro 2000 and got sent off in his 125th and last match for Romania in the quarterfinal against Italy. Hagi spent the final stages of his career in the Turkish league for Galatasaray where he had success winning the UEFA Cup and played some of his best soccer at clublevel ever.

He is much loved by Galatasaray's Fan and their fans.He was a real Legend.Still mist him some fans.

Baggio

Full Name:

Roberto Baggio

Born:

18 Feb 1967

Life in Soccer:

Roberto Baggio has been one of the best players in the world through out the 1990s. He started his career in Vicenza back in the 1982/83 season, and stayed there for three seasons until he was picked up by Fiorentina in 1985. It was from there he started to show his true potential. In the 1988/89 he won his first cap for Italy after having a very good season scoring 24 goals in 40 games in Italian football. The following season was even better, Baggio knocked in goals for fun and Fiorentina couldn't afford to keep him. The big clubs in the north were prepared to put the big money on the table.

It was Juventus who finally got him for a world record fee of £7.700.000 in the summer of 1990, just before the World Cup on homesoil. Baggio scored two goals as Italy went on to get bronze, after losing on penalties in the semifinals to Argentina. He spent five seasons in Juventus. Five great years for him, as he won the Serie A, Italian Cup and UEFA Cup as well as been voted "World and European Player of the Year" in 1993.

Baggio's best World Cup was in 1994 in the United States (USA 94). After a slow start he woke up in the second round, scoring twice against Nigeria, then once against Spain in the quarterfinal, and two more in the semifinal against Bulgaria. In the final against Brazil he missed a penalty in the shoot-out which saw Brazil win the World Cup for the fourth time.

Since then, Baggio has been in and out of the Italian squad. He was dropped from the EURO 96 squad by Arrigo Sacchi, but made Cesare Maldini's France 98 squad and played in several games although not with the same class as four years earlier. He has since played for AC Milan winning the Serie A once, and also in Bologna, Inter Milan and Brescia where he seems to end his career.

Scarone

Full Name:

Hector Pedro Scarone

Born:

26 Nov 1898

Death:

24 Apr 1967

Life in Soccer:

Hector Pedro Scarone was one of the finest inside-forwards to play the game before World War II. Uruguay was the leading soccer country in the world during Scarone’s prime years.

The following year he was signed by Nacional. Known as "El Magico" (The Magician), Scarone was tempted to play in Spain in 1926 and signed for Barcelona, but his stay lasted only six months. However, he returned to Europe after the war and coached Real Madrid. In 1953, he returned to Nacional as a player, despite being 55, and later coached their team. He won a total of 51 international caps and still holds the Uruguayan record with his 31 international goals.He was the biggest striker in Uruguay national team.

He played his last matches for Uruguay during the inaugural World Cup on home soil in 1930 when his team emerged victoriously. Argentina, the country Scarone won his first cap against, were beaten 4-2 in the final, making it a perfect ending to a brilliant international career. Hector completed a hat-trick of medals in that tournament, one of four players to appear in all three winning teams. Scarone retired from the national team after the World Cup, but went on to play top level football for many years still.

He made his debut on the national team against Argentina in 1917 and continued to be a valuable member for the next thirteen years. Scarone was the star of two Olympic gold medal winning teams, in 1924 and 1928, in which he contributed with five and three goals respectively.

A hard worker and tough competitor, Scarone was in the classic Uruguayan mould of the era and was adept at playing an individual role as well as being an important team member. He began his career at the age of 14 with Third Division Montevideo club, Sportsman.

Zico

Full Name:

Arthur Antunes Coimbra

Born:

3 March 1953

Life in Soccer:

Better known as Zico, is a Brazilian coach and former footballer.

Zico scored 52 goals in 72 international matches for Brazil, and represented them in the 1978, 1982 and 1986 World Cups. They did not win any of those tournaments, even though the 1982 squad is considered one of the greatest Brazilian national squads ever.

Zico is often considered one of the best players in football history not to have been on a World Cup winning squad. He was chosen 1983 Player of the Year.

Zico has coached the Japanese national team, appearing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and winning the Asian Cup 2004, and Fenerbahce, who were a quarter-finalist in 07-08 in the Champions League under his command.

He was announced as the head coach of CSKA Moscow in January 2009. On September 16, 2009, Zico was signed by Greek side Olympiacos for a two-year contract after the club's previous coach, Temuri Ketsbaia, was sacked. He was fired four months later, on January 19, 2010.On May 30th of 2010, Zico announced that he would become the new Soccer Executive/Director for Flamengo, coming back to the team where he won his most important honors after 25 years.

One of his demands is that his salary won't be paid by the club. Instead, it will be paid by Flamengo's sponsors such as Olympikus and BMG. His contract is for four years.

Beckenbauer

Full Name:

Franz Anton Beckenbauer

Born:

11 September 1945

Life in Soccer:

He is a German football coach, manager, and former player, nicknamed Der Kaiser ("The Emperor") because of his elegant style, his leadership, his first name "Franz" (reminiscent of the Austrian emperors), and his dominance on the football pitch. He is generally regarded as the greatest German footballer of all time and one of the greatest and most decorated footballers in the history of the game

Beckenbauer was a versatile player who started out as a midfielder but made his name as a defender. He is often credited as having invented the role of the modern sweeper or libero.Twice selected the European Footballer of the Year, he appeared 103 times for West Germany and played in three World Cups. He lifted the World Cup trophy as captain in 1974, and repeated the feat as a manager in 1990. With the club Bayern Munich, he won three consecutive European Cups from 1974 to 1976, and the Cup Winners' Cup in 1967. Beckenbauer is the only player to captain three European Cup winning sides. He went on to become coach and president of the institution. He is also a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

In 1999, he was voted second place, behind Johan Cruyff, in the European player of the Century election held by the IFFHS and he was voted third, behind Pelé and Cruyff, in the IFFHS' "World Player of the Century" election.

Today, Beckenbauer remains an influential figure in both German and international football. He led Germany's successful bid to host the 2006FIFA World Cup and chaired the organizing committee. He also works as a pundit for German television network Sat1 during their coverage of the UEFA Champions League and writes a football column for mass tabloid Bild.

Beckenbauer won 103 caps and scored 14 goals for West Germany. He was a member of the World Cup squads that finished runners-up in 1966, third place in 1970, and champions in 1974. Beckenbauer's first game for the national team came on 26 September 1965.

Beckenbauer became captain of the national side in 1971. In 1972, West Germany won the European Championship, beating the Soviet Union 3–0 in the final. In 1976, West Germany again reached the final, where they lost on penalties to Czechoslovakia.

Maradona

Full Name:

Diego Armando Maradona

Born:

30 October 1960

Life in Soccer:

He is an Argentina former football player and the current manager of the Argentina national team. He is widely regarded as one of the best football players of all time

Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors,Boca Juniors,Barcelona,Napoli,Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting world-record contract fees. In his international career, playing for Argentina, he earned 91 caps and scored 34 goals. He played in four FIFA WORLD CUP tournaments, including the 1986World Cup where he captained Argentina and led them to their victory over West Germany in the final, winning the Golden Ball award as the tournament's best player.

In that same tournament's quarter-final round he scored two goals in a 2–1 victory over England that entered football history, though for two very different reasons. The first goal was an unpenalized handball known as the "Hand of God", while the second goal was a spectacular 60-metre weave through six England players, commonly referred to as "The Goal Of the Century".

His outspoken manners have sometimes put him at odds with journalists and sport executives. Although he had little previous managerial experience, he became head coach of the Argentina national team in November 2008.

Pelé

Full Name:

Edison Arantes do Nascimento

Born:

23 October 1940

Life in Soccer:

Best known by his nickname Pelé is a retired Brazilian Football player. He is widely regarded by polls among football experts, former players and fans as the greatest footballer of all time

In his native Brazil, Pelé is hailed as a national hero. He is known for his accomplishments and contributions to the game of football.He is also acknowledged for his vocal support of policies to improve the social conditions of the poor (when he scored his 1,000th goal he dedicated it to the poor children of Brazil).During his career, he became known as "The King of Football" (O Rei do Futebol), "The King Pelé" (O Rei Pelé) or simply "The King" (O Rei).

Pelé played as an inside forward,striker and what later became known as the playmaker position. Pelé's technique and natural athleticism have been universally praised and during his playing years he was renowned for his excellent dribbling and passing, his pace, powerful shot, exceptional heading ability, and prolific goalscoring.

He is the all-time leading scorer of the Brazil national football team and is the only footballer to be a part of three World Cup-winning squads. In 1962 he was on the Brazilian squad at the start of the World Cup but because of an injury suffered in the second match, he wasn't able to play the remainder of the tournament. In November 2007 FIFA announced that he would be awarded the 1962 medal retroactively, making him the only player in the world to have three World Cup winning medals.

Since his retirement in 1977, Pelé has been a worldwide ambassador for football and has undertaken various acting roles and commercial ventures.

On 21 February 1966, Pelé married Rosemeri dos Reis Cholby. He has two daughters Kelly Cristina (13 January 1967) and Jennifer (1978) as well as a son Edson ("Edinho" – little Edson, 27 August 1970). The couple divorced in 1978.

Since April 1994 Pelé has been married to psychologist and gospel singer Assíria Lemos Seixas, who gave birth on 28 September 1996 to twins Joshua and Celeste through fertility treatments.

Di Stéfano

Full Name:

Alfredo di Stéfano Laulhé

Born:

4 July 1926

Death:

24 December 2005

Life in Soccer:

He is most associated with Real Madrid and was instrumental in their domination of the Europen Champion's Cup during the 1950s, a period in which the club won the trophy in five consecutive seasons from 1956. Di Stéfano played international football mostly for Spain , but he also played for Argentina and Columbia.

Di Stéfano, nicknamed "Saeta rubia" ("blond arrow") was a powerful forward with great stamina, tactical versatility, and vision, who could also play almost anywhere on the picth.He is currently the 4th Highest scorer in the history of Spain's top divison and Real Madrid's 2nd highest league goalscorer of all time, with 216 goals in 282 league matches between 1953 and 1964.

Di Stéfano played with three different national teams during his career: he played six times with the Argentine national team, four times with Colombia (not recognized by FIFA) and 31 times with the Spanish national team. However, he never played in the World Cup finals.

Alfredo Di Stéfano currently resides in Spain. On 5 November 2000 he was named President of Honour of Real Madrid.On 24 December 2005, 79-year-old di Stéfano suffered a heart attack, but made a full recovery.On 9 May 2006, TheAlfredo Di Stefano Stadium was inaugurated at the City of Real Madrid, where
Real Madrid usually trains. The inaugural match was between Real Madrid an Stade de Reims, a rematch of the Eurocup final won by Real Madrid in 1956.