Pelé in memory of Paulo Roberto Falcao

Paulo Roberto Falcao proudly remembers being “Pele’s last coach”. Coach of Brazil in 1990 and ’91, the former giallorosso was on the bench of the Seleçao on the occasion of a friendly match between Brazil and the Rest of the World at San Siro. An event promoted by the Gazzetta and which was part of the celebrations for the Rei’s 50th birthday. Obviously the green and gold won 2-1 with Pelé regularly on the pitch.

“I can?”

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According to what Falcao recalls, in an interview released immediately after the champion’s death, O Rei had shown himself to be very humble on the occasion: “Professor, if there’s a free-kick can I beat it?” Pelé asked the coach. “You can do whatever you want,” replied the eighth king of Rome at the time. “He called me professor – underlined Falcão, recalling the way footballers call their coaches in Brazil -. Pelé came to the training camp with us, he trained with the national team. He tried to guide the players,” he continued.

Executive

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And in a kind of circle that closes today Paulo Roberto Falcao is manager and coordinator of Santos, the very team in which Pele grew up. The ex Roma player also shared a short period in the team with O Rei: when he started, Maestà di lui was experiencing his last period of activity with Santos. And right in the small town of the state of São Paulo he will rest the Black Pearl.