Don't get too excited just yet, the Pele in question is ex Saints central defender Pele rather than the Brazillian Superstar.

AFC Totton have announced a new partnership with AFC Totton in which Matt Le Tissier's MLT Natural Coaching will manage AFC Totton U16’s and will feed players from their Academy into the squad.

From Season 2017/18 both manager and players from Totton's existing U16’s will move into AFC Totton U18’s with a new manager and players coming into the U16’s from MLT Natural Coaching Academy.

Pele — MLT Natural Coaching’s Community Head Coach will manage AFC Totton U16’s in the 2016/17 season.

Saints fans will remember Pele as a central defender who spent only one season at St Mary's being part of the number of players who were signed to herald the start of Michael Wilde's term as Chairman.

However Pele was not a success and although he started 34 games plus 3 as sub in the Championship in 2006/07 scoring just one goal, he seemed to be unable to mark tightly when he played meaning that Saints promotion push fell away although they would have a resurgence late on which saw us reach the play offs to lose to Derby County on penalties in the semi final.

Surprisingly Pele then went to West Bromwich Albion in the summer of 2007 for around the same fee Saints had signed him for, however he only made 14 starts for West Brom plus another 10 as sub and by the end of the season struggled to get much game time as West Brom pushed to the promotion they eventually achieved.

Photo: Action Images

stmichael added 15:36 - Feb 12 He coaches my son who is 8 at the MLT academy. Fantastic with the kids who love him. Enthusiasm is endless. Very nice guy.
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SaintBrock added 15:37 - Feb 12 I remember the name but not much else. Probably why he chose to use such a famous name as he wouldn't have got noticed for his football alone obviously. Must have liked the area to have stayed local with Brasil as competition!
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