Kaiser!

Kaiser: The Greatest Footballer Never To Play Football by Rob Smyth

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Kaiser. The legend. The greatest footballer never to play football. Whether you see him as a total fraud or an audacious, loveable rogue, few of the people who were part of his life story resented him and his behaviour. They all pretty much accepted him and his antics and loved him for it. He was certainly a narcissist- it was all about Kaiser. He was also lazy and a fantasist. He wanted the footballer’s lifestyle without all the hard work, training and dedication that accompanies the job. However you have to admire the fact that he was so successful at what he did. Despite being signed up to big clubs in Brazil and beyond, he barely touched a ball and never played a match. On the flip side, he wasn’t doing anything evil or nasty. He wasn’t really hurting anyone and as the author makes clear, Kaiser was from downtown Rio where everyone had to find their own way to survive. Kaiser’s story will never be repeated. No one would be able to say they played for big teams when they didn’t and be believed. Today’s information technology would ensure that. Kaiser got away with it because he could back then. Apart from Kaiser’s story I quite liked the Brazilian football trivia and Rio is next on my travel list.



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