Eduard Streltsov is a former Soviet football player, who was nicknamed
Russian Pele.
Streltsov played for Torpedo Moscow. In 1958, as the Soviet national team
qualified for its first World Cup, he was ordered to join either the Soviet
Army's CSKA or KGB's Dynamo Moscow, but refused. As a result, Streltsov
was kicked off the national team and was sent to seven years in a labor
camp. He came back to Torpedo in 1965, and promptly led them to the Soviet
Championship.
Streltsov played 38 times for the Soviet national team, scoring 24 goals.
In Russian football, the heel pass bears his name.
Streltsov is one of the most prominent Russian and European players. He
was called "Russian Pele". His favorite feint - heel pass -
still bears his name in Russia. However, his Torpedo addiction costed
him: on the eve of the first for Soviets World Championship in 1958, he
was suggested to join either army club CSKA or KGB club Dinamo.
His refusal led to the disqualification from the National team (as well
as for two Moscow Spartak players, B.Tatushin and M.Ogonkov) and later
he was charged with criminal behaviour and sentenced for seven years of
labor camps. This year the list of 33 best players was not published.
After comeback to Torpedo in 1965, Streltsov led the team to their second
Championship title.
