Wikipedia
João Ramos do Nascimento (2 October 1917 – 16 November 1996) nicknamed Dondinho was a Brazilian footballer that played as a striker, and was the father, mentor and trainer of Brazilian legend Pelé. During his own playing career, Dondinho played for a number of small clubs and had an opportunity to play for Atlético Mineiro for 2 seasons, but did not make an impression. He managed to become a prolific scorer for Bauru, with whom he won the in 1946.
He was forced into retirement in 1960 due to ligament damage, then took the job of hospital cleaner where Pelé gave as much help as he could. While they were working in the ward, Dondinho would reminisce about the famous players he had faced, and talk about his own older brother, who had shown extraordinary promise as a footballer but died at 25. Dondinho died on 16 November 1996 in São Paulo.
He is considered as one of the most gifted Brazilian forwards of his generation, and it is most likely that he would have reached greater heights in the footballing world, had he not sustained his ligament injury, which troubled him throughout his whole career, and which eventually forced him into retirement.