Kaiser: The Greatest Footballer Never To Play Football

Product Description

Carlos Kaiser was a truly remarkable footballer. From the early 80s to the late 90s he was on the books with many of the top teams in Rio de Janeiro and even travelled to Europe for one season, signing with Sardinian side, Ajaccio. During this time he called some of world football's greatest stars his friends- Carlos Alberto and Bebeto, Maradonna and Renato Gaucho. He played with the stars, he partied with the stars. But aside from the playboy lifestyle, what made Kaiser particularly remarkable?

During this twenty year career he barely kicked a ball. He was, in essence, a complete fraud... and truly terrible at football.

How did he manage this deception for an entire career, lasting nearly twenty years? The Carlos Kaiser playbook is like no other. Initially, he would ensure that during team trials he appeared very keen, yet somehow always managed to pop up on the opposite side of the pitch to the ball. He would pay journalists to write outstanding - and entirely fictional - reviews of his performances to impress prospective teams. He would always carry along some extremely grainy footage on VHS of his star performances... 'yes, of course that's me!'

Once signed to a club, he was inevitably struck with all manner of debilitating injuries. From pulled hamstrings to thigh strains, there was always a reason why Kaiser couldn't play. Yet, as a testament to the charm and cunning of the man, he always managed to find another club and another contract. And, of course - as a last resort - his connections with the Rio mafia would usually open a door eventually...

Kaiser! is a brilliant adventure about a boy from the slums who made it to the pinnacle of society. A man who chanced his arm from day to day, all in pursuit of a the most romantic of dreams.Carlos Kaiser was a truly remarkable footballer. From the early 80s to the late 90s he was on the books with many of the top teams in Rio de Janeiro and even travelled to Europe for one season, signing with Sardinian side, Ajaccio. During this time he called some of world football's greatest stars his friends- Carlos Alberto and Bebeto, Maradonna and Renato Gaucho. He played with the stars, he partied with the stars. But aside from the playboy lifestyle, what made Kaiser particularly remarkable?

During this twenty year career he barely kicked a ball. He was, in essence, a complete fraud... and truly terrible at football.

How did he manage this deception for an entire career, lasting nearly twenty years? The Carlos Kaiser playbook is like no other. Initially, he would ensure that during team trials he appeared very keen, yet somehow always managed to pop up on the opposite side of the pitch to the ball. He would pay journalists to write outstanding - and entirely fictional - reviews of his performances to impress prospective teams. He would always carry along some extremely grainy footage on VHS of his star performances... 'yes, of course that's me!'

Once signed to a club, he was inevitably struck with all manner of debilitating injuries. From pulled hamstrings to thigh strains, there was always a reason why Kaiser couldn't play. Yet, as a testament to the charm and cunning of the man, he always managed to find another club and another contract. And, of course - as a last resort - his connections with the Rio mafia would usually open a door eventually...

Kaiser! is a brilliant adventure about a boy from the slums who made it to the pinnacle of society. A man who chanced his arm from day to day, all in pursuit of a the most romantic of dreams.
Rob Smyth has worked on the Guardian sports desk since 2004 and has written or edited eight books, including Danish Dynamite- The Story of Football's Greatest Cult Team (Bloomsbury), which was named as one of the best five football books by the BBC. He has also written for the Daily Telegraph, The Economist, GQ Style, Sports Illustrated, FourFourTwo and the official Manchester United magazine. He was highly commended at the 2009 and 2016 Sports Journalists Association awards.