Abedi Pele
Ghanaian and French association football player (born 1964)
Abedi Pele: profile
Abedi Pele (born 5 November 1964 in Dome, Ghana) is a former Ghanaian footballer who played as a midfielder.
Pele made the step into senior football with Real Tamale United in 1980. He played for 12 clubs in 8 countries between 1980 and 2000. His most appearances came at Olympique de Marseille (1988–1993), where he made 112 appearances and scored 23 goals. Across all recorded club spells he totals 479 appearances and 157 goals.
At international level, Pele represented Ghana (1981–1998), earning 73 caps and scoring 33 goals. Our match database lists 8 of his international goals; the first came against Zambia on 15 January 1992 (Africa Cup of Nations).
Nationality explained: Why does Abedi Pele play for Ghana?
Key facts
- Senior international debut
- 1981 (aged about 17)
- First international goal
- 1992 – aged 27 (match)
- Club career
- 1980–2000 (21 seasons)
- Countries played in
- 8: Ghana, Qatar, Switzerland, Benin, France, Italy, Germany and United Arab Emirates
- Club goals per game
- 0.33 (157 in 479)
- Height
- 174 cm — taller than 25% of Ghanaian internationals on record
- Latest move
- Al Ain FC (1998)
- Shares a birthday with
- Amine Sbaï, Wajdi Kechrida and Oladapo Olufemi (more)
Club career
| Years | Club | League | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980–1982 |  Real Tamale United |
Ghana Premier League | 46 | 21 |
| 1983 |  Al Sadd Sports Club |
Qatar Stars League | 8 | 7 |
| 1983–1984 |  FC Zürich |
Swiss Super League | 18 | 9 |
| 1984 |  AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé |
Benin Premier League | 8 | 11 |
| 1985 | Real Tamale United |
Ghana Premier League | 19 | 7 |
| 1986–1987 |  Chamois Niortais F.C. |
Championnat National 1 | 32 | 14 |
| 1987 | FC Mulhouse |
Championnat National 1 | 16 | 5 |
| 1988–1990 | Lille OSC |
Ligue 1 | 61 | 16 |
| 1988–1993 | Olympique de Marseille |
Ligue 1 | 112 | 23 |
| 1993–1994 | Olympique Lyonnais |
Ligue 1 | 29 | 3 |
| 1994–1996 |  Torino FC |
Serie A | 49 | 11 |
| 1996–1998 |  TSV 1860 München |
3. Liga | 50 | 2 |
| 1998–2000 |  Al Ain FC |
UAE Pro League | 31 | 28 |
| Total | 479 | 157 |
Appearances and goals are league figures where recorded on Wikidata; “–” means not recorded.
International career
| Years | Team | Level | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981–1998 | Ghana |
Senior | 73 | 33 |
International goals (8)
| # | Date | Match | Min | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 Jan 1992 | Zambia 0–1 Ghana | 64 | Africa Cup of Nations |
| 2 | 20 Jan 1992 | Ghana 2–1 Congo | 57 | Africa Cup of Nations |
| 3 | 23 Jan 1992 | Nigeria 1–2 Ghana | 43 | Africa Cup of Nations |
| 4 | 31 Jan 1993 | Ghana 1–0 Burundi | 19 | World Cup Qualification |
| 5 | 14 Jan 1996 | Ivory Coast 0–2 Ghana | 70 | Africa Cup of Nations |
| 6 | 19 Jan 1996 | Ghana 2–1 Tunisia | 50 | Africa Cup of Nations |
| 7 | 25 Jan 1996 | Mozambique 0–2 Ghana | 42 | Africa Cup of Nations |
| 8 | 10 Nov 1996 | Gabon 1–1 Ghana | 66 | World Cup Qualification |
*Goals listed are those present in our match-by-match goal database, which is most complete for tournament matches.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Abedi Pele?
Abedi Pele was born on 5 November 1964, which makes him 61 years old.
Where was Abedi Pele born?
Abedi Pele was born in Dome, Ghana.
Which national team does Abedi Pele play for?
Abedi Pele played international football for Ghana. He has 73 caps and 33 goals on record.
Which clubs has Abedi Pele played for?
Abedi Pele's recorded clubs are Real Tamale United, Al Sadd Sports Club, FC Zürich, AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé, Chamois Niortais F.C., FC Mulhouse, Lille OSC, Olympique de Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais, Torino FC, TSV 1860 München and Al Ain FC.
How tall is Abedi Pele?
Abedi Pele is 174 cm (5 ft 9 in) tall.
What position does Abedi Pele play?
Abedi Pele played as a midfielder.