# Dondinho

> João Ramos do Nascimento (1917–1996), Pelé's father, a centre forward who taught him to play.

Source page: https://pele.wiki/footballer/people/dondinho
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dondinho

- Full name: João Ramos do Nascimento
- Role: Father
- Born: 2 October 1917
- Died: 16 November 1996
- Nationality: Brazilian

Dondinho was a centre forward from Minas Gerais who played for several clubs, among them Atlético Mineiro, and was known for scoring with his head. A serious knee injury limited his career. He was Pelé's first coach and mentor, and Pelé named him as the person who taught him the game. He attended his son's farewell match in New York in 1977.

## Related

- The matches they played a part in: [New York Cosmos 2–1 Santos](https://pele.wiki/footballer/matches/pele-farewell-1977)
- The chapters it appears in: [Childhood in Três Corações and Bauru](https://pele.wiki/footballer/chapters/childhood-in-tres-coracoes-and-bauru), [New York Cosmos (1975–1977)](https://pele.wiki/footballer/chapters/new-york-cosmos-years)