Pele’s funeral to take place in Santos

The stadium where Pelé, the Brazilian king of football who won a record three World Cups, played some of the best matches of his career will also hold his funeral on Monday and Tuesday.

Santos, the club where Pelé played in Brazil, said in a statement the public will be able to pay their final respects at Vila Belmiro Stadium, outside Sao Paulo.

The legendary football player breathed his last at the age of 82 at 3:27pm (18:27 GMT) on Thursday at Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein hospital.

He became one of the most commanding sports figures of the past century and rose from barefoot poverty to become one of the greatest and best-known athletes in modern history.

Pele, whose real name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento, was remembered for his wide-ranging accomplishments, both on and off the football field.

Santos said the coffin carrying the three-time World Cup champion will leave Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo early Monday morning and will be placed in the center circle of the field.

Visitation will start Monday at 10 a.m. and finish the next day at the same time.

Pelé's casket will be carried through the streets of Santos and will pass in front of the home of his 100-year-old mother, Celeste. Recent reports in Brazilian media say Pelé's mother cannot leave her bed and is not lucid.

The burial will take place at the Memorial Necrópole Ecumênica, a vertical cemetery in Santos. Only family will attend.