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<SPAN class=art-title2>What's in a name? Part III</SPAN> <TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=5 width=150 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
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<SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>Pele, widely considered the greatest footballer ever, was known simply as O Rei (The King).
</SPAN><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(AFP)</SPAN> <SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>FRANCK FIFE
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<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">(FIFA.com)</SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">07 Feb 2007</SPAN>
<SPAN class=art-text>Being able to reel off statistics from every FIFA World Cup™ since 1930 is one thing, but to get a true feel for the game, today's self-respecting fans need to add another string to their bow.
Nicknames have been adding colour to the sport since it began, creating bonds between supporters and their idols. After shedding light on some of the nicknames at play on the club and international scenes, FIFA.com rounds off its survey with a nod to the artists and artisans of the beautiful game.
Very much the team to beat on the field of play, Brazil have blazed the trail on the pseudonym front too, producing as many memorable diminutives as they have fabulous players. Perhaps more in fact, given that the man considered the greatest of all seemed to collect nicknames in the same way he collected winners' medals. Edson Arantes do Nascimentowon three FIFA World Cups and decorated the football world with some of the most thrilling skills ever seen, but he will always be known as Pele, a title he picked up at school in circumstances even he is unsure about. On top of that, his performances at Sweden 1958 saw him christened The Black Pearl, while his overall achievements eventually earned him the ultimate accolade, O Rei (The King).
Whatever they choose to call him, Pele will always be cherished dearly by the Brazilian public, as will his old Seleção team-mate from the 1958 and 1966 campaigns, Garrincha (Little Bird). Born Manoel Francisco dos Santos, the talented dribbler left defences in tatters while working his magic for Brazil, and ended his career known as Alegria do Povo (The Joy of the People).
Like those Auriverde legends, many other players have inspired epithets with their superior footballing acumen. Germany's Franz Beckenbauer, for example, conquered the world stage as a player in 1974 and repeated the feat as a coach in 1990, a double success that earned him a place in the pantheon as Der Kaiser (The Emperor). Not even an emperor can rule alone, though, and the former Bayern Munich defender was fortunate enough to share the field with a finisher of the highest quality at both club and international level. Scorer of 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga encounters, plus a further 68 goals in 62 appearances for the Mannschaft, Gerd Muller has gone down in history as Der Bomber.
A few years before Muller ruled the skies, a player with actual links to the military was wreaking havoc in stadiums across Europe. Brilliant in the colours of Budapest Honved, the Hungarian army team, Ferenc Puskas was given the rank of major and a nickname to go with it. The Galloping Major sadly passed away last year, but left all who saw him play with enduring memories. He also managed to pick up another moniker along the way, dating back to his time at Real Madrid. A three-time UEFA European Champion Clubs' Cup winner with the Spanish giants, Puskas was revered in the stands as the Cañoncito (Little Cannon).
Continuing with the theme of ranks and titles, who could forget the rulers of England? Reigning in different eras, Eric 'The King'and 'King Kenny' Dalglish both left their mark, as did the self-styled 'Guv'nor' Paul Ince and Henrik 'the King of Kings' Larsson north of the border.
</TD></TR><TR class=paddingall><TD vAlign=top>
<SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>Pele, widely considered the greatest footballer ever, was known simply as O Rei (The King).</SPAN><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(AFP)</SPAN> <SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>FRANCK FIFE
</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">(FIFA.com)</SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">07 Feb 2007</SPAN>
<SPAN class=art-text>Being able to reel off statistics from every FIFA World Cup™ since 1930 is one thing, but to get a true feel for the game, today's self-respecting fans need to add another string to their bow.
Nicknames have been adding colour to the sport since it began, creating bonds between supporters and their idols. After shedding light on some of the nicknames at play on the club and international scenes, FIFA.com rounds off its survey with a nod to the artists and artisans of the beautiful game.
Very much the team to beat on the field of play, Brazil have blazed the trail on the pseudonym front too, producing as many memorable diminutives as they have fabulous players. Perhaps more in fact, given that the man considered the greatest of all seemed to collect nicknames in the same way he collected winners' medals. Edson Arantes do Nascimentowon three FIFA World Cups and decorated the football world with some of the most thrilling skills ever seen, but he will always be known as Pele, a title he picked up at school in circumstances even he is unsure about. On top of that, his performances at Sweden 1958 saw him christened The Black Pearl, while his overall achievements eventually earned him the ultimate accolade, O Rei (The King).
Whatever they choose to call him, Pele will always be cherished dearly by the Brazilian public, as will his old Seleção team-mate from the 1958 and 1966 campaigns, Garrincha (Little Bird). Born Manoel Francisco dos Santos, the talented dribbler left defences in tatters while working his magic for Brazil, and ended his career known as Alegria do Povo (The Joy of the People).
Like those Auriverde legends, many other players have inspired epithets with their superior footballing acumen. Germany's Franz Beckenbauer, for example, conquered the world stage as a player in 1974 and repeated the feat as a coach in 1990, a double success that earned him a place in the pantheon as Der Kaiser (The Emperor). Not even an emperor can rule alone, though, and the former Bayern Munich defender was fortunate enough to share the field with a finisher of the highest quality at both club and international level. Scorer of 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga encounters, plus a further 68 goals in 62 appearances for the Mannschaft, Gerd Muller has gone down in history as Der Bomber.
A few years before Muller ruled the skies, a player with actual links to the military was wreaking havoc in stadiums across Europe. Brilliant in the colours of Budapest Honved, the Hungarian army team, Ferenc Puskas was given the rank of major and a nickname to go with it. The Galloping Major sadly passed away last year, but left all who saw him play with enduring memories. He also managed to pick up another moniker along the way, dating back to his time at Real Madrid. A three-time UEFA European Champion Clubs' Cup winner with the Spanish giants, Puskas was revered in the stands as the Cañoncito (Little Cannon).
Continuing with the theme of ranks and titles, who could forget the rulers of England? Reigning in different eras, Eric 'The King'and 'King Kenny' Dalglish both left their mark, as did the self-styled 'Guv'nor' Paul Ince and Henrik 'the King of Kings' Larsson north of the border.
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