"Former Premier League Star, 47, Known as 'Pele,' Fosters 70 Kids While Playing in Legends Games"

IT’S not easy living up to a name like ‘Pele’ as a footballer.

The ‘s namesake certainly didn’t set the world alight at and .

Former West Brom star ‘Pele’ has fostered more than 70 children since retiringCredit: AFP The ex-defender and his partner Jo said giving youngsters a home was an ‘incredible’ feelingCredit: Instagram @pedropelemonteiro

But he’s now making heroic strides off the pitch in retirement after it was revealed he has fostered SEVENTY children with his partner Jo.

‘Pele’, whose full name is Pedro Miguel Cardoso Monteiro, is now 47 after a journeyman career saw him go from the lower leagues of Portugal to Havant & Waterlooville.

The ex-defender arrived in England in 2006 after the Saints splashed out £1million to bring him to the from Portuguese outfit Belenenses.

One year later he moved to the Hawthorns, briefly playing in the after helping the Baggies secure promotion in 2007-08.

After a spell in the with , he later joined MK Dons briefly before seeing out his career in non league.

He played for Northwich Victoria, Hednesford Town and Hayes before finishing his career with Havant & Waterlooville and AFC Totton.

It was an unremarkable career in football by any measure. What he has done since hanging up his boots, however, is anything but.

After Pele’s 24-year spell in the game finished, he met Jo, who told him on their first date she wanted to foster children.

Pele also played for Southampton and is working with the club on a fostering campaignCredit: Getty

The couple have gone on to have two biological children together, but have since gone above and beyond to welcome more into their home.

Over the past decade, they have fostered 70 kids together.

And they are now leading a project along with ex-club Southampton and the local council to help more youngsters find a home.

Pele, who played 11 times for the Cape Verde international team, said: “We make them all feel part of the family, it’s not like, ‘this is us and this is you’, it’s everybody the same.

“That’s how we should be. To make them smile is amazing.”

He added that he and Jo were so passionate about fostering because it was “that thing that you’ve got inside of you that you want to help”.

Jo said watching children flourish into adults after being taken in their care was “the biggest reward”.

She added: “We know background of why they’re with us, but that doesn’t change how we welcome them.”

The couple’s two biological children are Rhaianna, 15, and Taelan, 12, but they recently added Theo, 15, as their latest foster child.

Taelan has no problem with his parents making constant additions to the family and said “all of them are my friends”.

Theo, meanwhile, said Pele and Jo’s warm welcome “makes me want to try my best so that I can keep making them proud”.

He went on to say: “It’s great to have some place where I can come home, feel welcome and loved and to have a family. It’s really life changing.”

Pele previously spoke of the “incredible experience” of fostering children after an interview with the Daily Echo.

He told them: “We’ve cared for over 70 foster children over the years and feel incredibly lucky to have done so.

“Fostering can be challenging, but the rewards are immeasurable.

He said it was ‘amazing’ to make foster children smile after welcoming them into their familyCredit: Getty

“Our two biological children have formed close bonds with many of our foster children, and fostering has taught them valuable life skills and empathy.

“We highly recommend fostering to anyone who has extra love to give and space in their heart and home.”

Pele might have only played 37 times for the Saints, but the connection he has formed with the club is far stronger now then it was when he played at St Mary’s.

The club’s director of community said his and Jo’s support for their cause was “huge” and said “fans want to listen to him”.

He said: “Our club believes in the power of community and supporting those most in need in our city, and this initiative aligns perfectly with our values.

“By encouraging our fans to consider becoming foster carers, we hope to offer stability to these children and reinforce the bonds that keep them connected to their roots.”