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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Ronald Blum

Pelé invigorated US soccer, paved way for '94 World Cup, MLS

AP1975

Clive Toye traveled to Jamaica and walked unannounced into the hotel where the Brazilian club Santos was staying ahead of a friendly against the Reggae Boyz in January 1971. Pelé was sitting by the pool, and the New York Cosmos general manager began the cold call that changed U.S. sports history.

“You could go to Juventus, you could go to Real Madrid, yeah, you could win a championship. But so will other people," the 90-year-old Toye recalled telling Pelé. “You come to us, you can win a country and nobody else could do that except you."

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