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Kaiser!: The Greatest Footballer Never to Play Football
The improbable story of a soccer player who scammed his way into a lengthy career…without ever playing in a game.
Born in Rio Pardo, Brazil, Carlos Henrique Raposo had dreams of becoming a professional soccer (futbol) player. After a youth career at Botafogo and Flamengo, he had his sights set on the future. Whether given the nickname “Kaiser” due to his resemblance of superstar Franz Beckenbauer or a bottle of Kaiser beer, he used his new-found name to begin a career where he “wanted to be a footballer, but did not want to play football.”
Thus began a decade-plus career that spanned across Brazil (Botafogo, Flamengo, Bangu, Fluminense, Vasco da Gama, and America), Mexico (Puebla), France (Gazelec Ajaccio), and the United States (El Paso Sixshooters). Relying on his charm and friends in high places—from fellow footballers Carlos Alberto Torres, Ricardo Rocha, and Renato Gaucho, to reporters willing to write “stories” of his “career”— Carlos Kaiser used his skills of deception to have a storied career without ever stepping foot on the pitch.
Whether faking injuries, having friends lie for him, making up tall tales, or getting thrown out of a match just before taking the field, Kaiser! The Greatest Footballer Never to Play Football is an incredible story of the lengths one man went to have a professional soccer career without every playing a game.
Originally published in the UK, and with a world-renowned documentary released on his life, Kaiser! shares the lengths taken by one man who wanted all the glitz and glory of being a professional athlete . . . without ever having to be an actual athlete. So whether you’re a fan of soccer, futbol, professional sports, or stories of cunning and deception, Kaiser! is the story you don’t want to miss!
Born in Rio Pardo, Brazil, Carlos Henrique Raposo had dreams of becoming a professional soccer (futbol) player. After a youth career at Botafogo and Flamengo, he had his sights set on the future. Whether given the nickname “Kaiser” due to his resemblance of superstar Franz Beckenbauer or a bottle of Kaiser beer, he used his new-found name to begin a career where he “wanted to be a footballer, but did not want to play football.”
Thus began a decade-plus career that spanned across Brazil (Botafogo, Flamengo, Bangu, Fluminense, Vasco da Gama, and America), Mexico (Puebla), France (Gazelec Ajaccio), and the United States (El Paso Sixshooters). Relying on his charm and friends in high places—from fellow footballers Carlos Alberto Torres, Ricardo Rocha, and Renato Gaucho, to reporters willing to write “stories” of his “career”— Carlos Kaiser used his skills of deception to have a storied career without ever stepping foot on the pitch.
Whether faking injuries, having friends lie for him, making up tall tales, or getting thrown out of a match just before taking the field, Kaiser! The Greatest Footballer Never to Play Football is an incredible story of the lengths one man went to have a professional soccer career without every playing a game.
Originally published in the UK, and with a world-renowned documentary released on his life, Kaiser! shares the lengths taken by one man who wanted all the glitz and glory of being a professional athlete . . . without ever having to be an actual athlete. So whether you’re a fan of soccer, futbol, professional sports, or stories of cunning and deception, Kaiser! is the story you don’t want to miss!
336 pages, Paperback
Published June 22, 2021
3 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Rob Smyth
32 books4 followersRob Smyth is a freelance sports journalist writing for The Guardian and Wisden.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
September 2, 2023
A story so strange it has to be read to be believed. You really have to admire someone as committed to a long con as Kaiser is to his ‘career’ as a footballer.
An extremely accessible book, well written by an author who has a firm grasp of the subject matter, and has clearly put the work in to research what he’s writing about, Kaiser’s story casts him as neither hero nor villain. You will at different times love and loathe him as his story unfolds.
Whether you are a football fan or not, you’re sure to be suckered in to this tale of deception.
An extremely accessible book, well written by an author who has a firm grasp of the subject matter, and has clearly put the work in to research what he’s writing about, Kaiser’s story casts him as neither hero nor villain. You will at different times love and loathe him as his story unfolds.
Whether you are a football fan or not, you’re sure to be suckered in to this tale of deception.
Displaying 1 of 1 review