Kaiser

There's only one king in this city and he's got the mullet, swagger and fake ID to prove it.1980s Rio de Janeiro.There's only one king in this city and he's got the mullet, swagger and fake ID to prove it.Introducing Carlos Henrique Raposo, known to all as KAISER.This guy's got more front than Copacabana beach. He's the most loveable of rogues with the most common of dreams- to become a professional footballer. And he isn't about to let trivial details like talent and achievement stand in his way. . . not when he has so many other ways to get what he wants.In one of the most remarkable football stories ever told, Kaiser graduates from abandoned slumdog to star striker, dressing-room fixer, superstar party host and inexhaustible lover.And all without kicking a ball.He's not just the king... he's the Kaiser.

Short-listed for Telegraph Sports Book Awards 2019 (UK)

“Raposo's story is brought to life in Rob Smyth's brilliant Kaiser!... a book that exhibits all the verve and skill that its subject never could”

Raposo's story is brought to life in Rob Smyth's brilliant Kaiser!…a book that exhibits all the verve and skill that its subject never could -- Nooruddean Choudry Joe.co.uk
[An] almost unbelievable biography -- Ben East Observer
Both hilarious and unbelievable, Kaiser! is a preposterously good football read FourFourTwo
Smyth does a solid job of showing how Raposo’s unlikely path might have been smoothed by the chaotic nature of Brazillian football at the time…and the vagaries of the pre-social media world -- Paul Rees When Saturday Comes

Rob Smyth has worked on the Guardian sports desk since 2004 and has written or edited ten books, including Kaiser- The Greatest Footballer Never to Play Football. He has also worked for Manchester United, the Daily Telegraph, The Times, ITV, Sports Illustrated and FourFourTwo.

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