His time at MK Dons is often forgotten

Carrying the same name as a Brazilian legend made him a cult hero in lower league football, but defender Pele wished he could have made more of his time at MK Dons.

The former Capo Verde international featured for Karl Robinson’s side during pre-season ahead of the 2010/11 season, but only featured for 31 minutes in competitive action before departing at the end of August.

The Albufeira-born defender grew in prominence during his time at Southampton and West Brom, having established himself in the Portugal. After a spell at Falkirk after leaving the Baggies, Pele moved to Milton Keynes intent on getting back into regular football after struggling for game-time.

Afforded the chance at MK1 thanks to injuries to Gary MacKenzie and Mathias Doumbe, Pele admitted injuries really stifled his opportunity to make a positive impression. While he featured in pre-season, a 31-minute appearance in the Carling Cup against Dagenham & Redbridge was all he could manage. He was replaced by Adam Chicksen, and released at the end of the month.

“Looking back now, I wish I had stayed,” the 48-year-old told Boyle Sport. “It was a short time there but the way they treated me was really, really good. It was straight after my injury and I still wasn’t 100 per cent - I probably wasn’t even 40 per cent.

“Karl Robinson, the manager, gave me the opportunity to come and train with the club and then he offered me a deal, just to help with my recovery. But in my head, I felt I wasn’t right.

“When I play for a club, I want to give 100 per cent. I did try but I still didn’t feel right. I wish I could have stayed a little bit longer there now when I look back.”

Still in its infancy when Pele initially signed, he said the ambitions of then-chairman Pete Winkelman and the club on the whole were harbouring big ambitions back in 2010. And those ambitions, even 16 years on, are still there now.

He continued: “MK Dons felt like a club with big ambitions even then. They've got an amazing stadium. The training ground is nice too. It’s all at the same level of all the big clubs out there. Now it’s about getting there to play against those big clubs. That’s the project there.

“There's some amazing people there in the club and I've had the opportunity to take my academy team there and speak with the people and see what's going on there too so I believe that one day they will get into a higher position. Maybe even the Premier League.”

He added: “I didn't spend much time at MK Dons but it's one of the clubs that I follow now and look out for their scores. You do hope that they will get there. But you've got some good teams in League One this season.

“You've got Leicester City who are going to be the favourites but you do hope that MK Dons will do well and hopefully in the near future they will be in the Championship and then the Premier League in the future. Fingers crossed.”

Pele was speaking to Boyle Sports, who offer football betting and football odds.