Michael Beale may not have known the man many feel is the greatest footballer in history, but he certainly felt Pele's impact.

The Brazillian master died yesterday aged 82 after a typically dogged fight with cancer, leaving the world with indelible memories of his greatness.

Growing up in Kent, the Rangers manager discovered it for himself through an instructional skills video filmed at the ground of his old club Santos.

Beale was to work at the Vila Belmiro as a coach for Sao Paulo in later life, a turn of events that gave him a huge thrill and brought his career full circle back to that worn-out VHS tape.

It's an influence that's not lost on the Ibrox manager as he lamented the loss of a man he considers to be the 'king of football'.

He said: "I got a video when I was young, Pele the Master of his Method, where he had his old Puma football boots on with different colour segments on them to where you should kick the ball. It was at Vila Belmiro, the Santos stadium.

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"So I was hugely excited in 2017, the 13th or 14th of February, I remember the day because it was when my family came to join me in Brazil after not seeing them for two months. My children were two and four at the time and that evening we beat Santos 3-1 at Vila Belmiro. I was so excited to go there because of that video and Pele. He was the king of football."

It's been a sad period in the beautiful game with the loss of so many greats in recent years.

"It’s sad. We lost Maradona and Johan Cruyff not so long ago and now Pele as well.

"I’m the last person that should be giving a tribute to Pele but the tributes are fantastic and all the stuff we’re seeing on TV as well. If you’re a football lover like we all are, it’s fantastic to see. 

"Condolences to him and his family and everyone that loves football and everyone that’s Brazilian as well because it’s a nation in mourning today."