Same! Played with so much heart, phenomenal to see.
Pepe | announces his retirement
- Thread starter Peyroteo
- Start date
Should make the team of the tournament.
Has to be the best performing center back for his age.
Has to be the best performing center back for his age.
Crazy performances that. Was MOTM.
In a parallel universe somewhere, he and Thiago Silva were Brazil's CB pairing for close to 20 years
I was unbelievably impressed with him at 41. And this wasn’t him being picked because he has some sort of aura, it wasn’t out of sentimentality, he’s been playing on merit and showing in the entire time
thuram was noticably quicker in the sprint
he went past him when the sprint was over with a bit of trickery
MOTM
Years from now I think we'll find out Ronaldo introduced him to his "doctor."
Had a very good tournament, impressed me with his quality and seems to have finally cut out the vicious hot-headed tackles he was once famous for.
He’s been incredible. One of the best modern centre backs and still around. He’s still quite quick, even though he would’ve won that foot race in his prime.
Porto could have had that pairing. Thiago Silva was a Porto B player but got cut or left, I can't remember.
Anyways huge appreciation for Pepe and everything he gave to our National team. What an outstanding career. He was always one of our best players in the tournaments and qualifications. Won an Euro and Nations League. Will go down in history as one of the best CB we ever had. Respect.
He's a violent thug. Never forget Javi Casquero. He deserves this ending. The tears were delicious.
If we had signed him at 29 the caf would have given him 6 months to live.
Given our luck, if we had signed him at 29 there's no way he would've been playing at 41
Wish he'd never left 
love Rudi but Pepe was the OG
love Rudi but Pepe was the OG
Pepe retires
Just announced his retirement. Legend.
I came in thinking it was either this or that we’d approached him.
Crazy bastard but pretty damn good.
same here - he could definitely do a job until we have a fully fit selection of CBs (I accept this may be 'never').Hell of a player. One of quite a few top class players who slipped away thanks to CBF ineptitude.
I’m on the fence about Pepe. I never thought he was THAT good, but he was reliable and consistent, and he did it for a really long time. But he was also a really nasty player. Routinely really dirty, and not in a “warrior spirit” kind of way, just in a properly mean way. I’ll never forget him essentially assaulting a Getafe player as he lay on the ground. Kicking him twice as he lay prone and the ball was miles away. He even went back in for a stamp for good measure.
I can see why he’s revered in some quarters. Playing at the level he did, until 41, is something very few players achieve. And he seemed to mellow somewhat with age. But I’ll never be able to shake the impression that he was a nasty piece of work on the pitch, and not in a good way. No idea what he is like off the pitch, probably completely different.
I can see why he’s revered in some quarters. Playing at the level he did, until 41, is something very few players achieve. And he seemed to mellow somewhat with age. But I’ll never be able to shake the impression that he was a nasty piece of work on the pitch, and not in a good way. No idea what he is like off the pitch, probably completely different.
Yeah, agreed with all that. Basically how I feel.
Seems his “dirty/nasty” tag has been mostly forgotten due to his longevity and mellowing a bit with age. Kudos to him for his longevity and performing at the highest level, but he was definitely a lunatic at times. Pepe & Ramos’ battles with Costa at Atletico was certainly something at times
Goodnight sweet prince. My GOAT.
Pepe was the first top-level centre-back to consolidate his position at Real Madrid for many years since Fernando Hierro after a transition that included disappointments such as Walter Samuel or Jonathan Woodgate among others.
Before Hierro, only Sanchis and Alkorta had been considered good enough in the 90s, so in the middle 2000s the media used to say the position was somehow "cursed".
When Pepe arrived at Real Madrid he said he would break the curse and he certainly kept his promise.
"Competent," "sharp," "defensive leader," "area commander", were some of the plaudits he received after his first game against Barcelona in 2007 when he surpassed Samuel Eto'o in everything, including his main virtue, speed.
Hierro then said "I like Pepe a lot. He's 23 years old, and that's a lot of time ahead of him to mature. I predict a splendid future for him". Today, almost 20 years later, it is very difficult to say that he was wrong and it can even be said that he almost fell short.
Before Hierro, only Sanchis and Alkorta had been considered good enough in the 90s, so in the middle 2000s the media used to say the position was somehow "cursed".
When Pepe arrived at Real Madrid he said he would break the curse and he certainly kept his promise.
"Competent," "sharp," "defensive leader," "area commander", were some of the plaudits he received after his first game against Barcelona in 2007 when he surpassed Samuel Eto'o in everything, including his main virtue, speed.
Hierro then said "I like Pepe a lot. He's 23 years old, and that's a lot of time ahead of him to mature. I predict a splendid future for him". Today, almost 20 years later, it is very difficult to say that he was wrong and it can even be said that he almost fell short.
Fun fact: Porto bought them for 20 years ago.
Wow, you're right. Wild factoid. Don't think Thiago ever played for Porto's first team, but still, that's crazy.
Despite his history for violent behaviour at times, he had what it takes to be a top CB.
Fast, strong, aggressive, amazing anticipation skills and would win almost every aerial challenge.
And as a bônus he was very good with the ball, with accurate passing and sprinting up the pitch to cause chaos.
Fast, strong, aggressive, amazing anticipation skills and would win almost every aerial challenge.
And as a bônus he was very good with the ball, with accurate passing and sprinting up the pitch to cause chaos.
He cost a lot of money but I watched him at Arsenal a few times and he was never going to make it as a winger in the Premier League.
Real Madrid Legend. Thanks for all you did, Pepe!!