Pelé was Antti Muurinen’s role model: “I remember from the beginning of the 60s”

According to Antti Muurinen, Pelé’s importance to the entire sport was enormous. Jussi Eskola

Football legend Pelé, real name Edson Arantes do Nascimentohas died at the age of 82.

– Really sad news, reached by phone Antti Muurinen says.

At the age of 68, the multiple Finnish champion coach and former head coach of the national team is in the age group that remembers Pelé’s playing career and for whom the talented Brazilian was the idol of his youth.

– One of the best footballers ever. I remember him from the early 60s. I was born in -54, and since I was a little boy Pelé and Eusebius were the first role models for me. Pelé was number one and Eusebio second, says Muurinen.

– Pelé’s technique and possession in a tight space, such as chest shots, and being able to shoot a goal directly from the air, he admires.

Behind Pelé’s dazzling technique, Muurinen also highlights his exceptional ability to read and understand the game.

– And not only in terms of scoring, but he had a rare ability to see the game forward and create a game. The game vision was absolutely brilliant.

– Yes, he was a great player, and he was also a personality and versatile person.

Ambassador of the sport

Muurinen reminds us of Pelé’s importance to the entire sport called soccer.

– It’s huge. He was also involved in FIFA affairs and to some extent in politics. He was a very wide-ranging person, and it wasn’t just the activities on the field.

– Certainly there were greats before him, but yes, Pelé was a model of Brazilian football.

Pelé can also be described as an ambassador for football. It was highlighted at the end of his playing career in 1975-77, when he played as the brightest star in the American Football League.

– Then they tried to get names like this there, and yes, his importance there has been big, says Muurinen about increasing the sport’s popularity on the new continent.

– Pelé was a forerunner in that regard as well.