Which football clubs have signed the wrong player by mistake?

[Keith_M]

Just read this article in The Guardian, and wondered if anybody would care to add to the list of 'mistaken' signings


Which football clubs have signed the wrong player by mistake? (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/aug/02/which-football-clubs-have-signed-the-wrong-player-by-mistake)

[Paulie Walnuts]

I very much doubt it’s been the case but it’s been questioned on here a couple of times whether we meant to sign a different Bojang. Want to say he’s just signed for Reims?

[Since452]

Not a club but i remember a player signing for Dundee United a few seasons ago who thought it was Dundee he was signing for.

[Squealing pig]

Graveson Real Madrid think they wanted carsley

[Paulie Walnuts]

Not a club but i remember a player signing for Dundee United a few seasons ago who thought it was Dundee he was signing for.

Robinho also said something in his press conference when he signed for City about how excited he was to have signed for Man Utd.

Edit: just googled it and I can’t find the interview. Maybe it was just a rumour.

[Squealing pig]

Bojang must be a wrong identity too

[Pretty Boy]

Not a club but i remember a player signing for Dundee United a few seasons ago who thought it was Dundee he was signing for.

It was rumoured the same thing happened with Robinho at Man City. Probably just an urban myth but the story was around at the time.

[jeffers]

Wasn’t there chat that we signed the wrong player when we brought in Mark Caughey ?

[HibsGW]

Just read this article in The Guardian, and wondered if anybody would care to add to the list of 'mistaken' signings


Which football clubs have signed the wrong player by mistake? (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/aug/02/which-football-clubs-have-signed-the-wrong-player-by-mistake)

Not sure it fits the criteria exactly but Rocky Bushiri?

[BILLYHIBS]

What about Graeme Souness signing George Weah’s cousin thinking he would be any good for Southampton and blamed it on a hoax call ?

Ref! Sub

Dia off ye come son :greengrin

[overdrive]

It was rumoured the same thing happened with Robinho at Man City. Probably just an urban myth but the story was around at the time.

IIRC Matt Doherty did the same with us, called us Hearts.

[SHODAN]

Didn't Robinho think he was signing for Man Utd instead of City?

[Onceinawhile]

Didn't Robinho think he was signing for Man Utd instead of City?

I think it was chelsea not Man city.

He had been due to sign for Chelsea, city gazumped them, but he didn't get the memo.

[scoopyboy]

Wasn’t there chat that we signed the wrong player when we brought in Mark Caughey ?

Absolutely, I think it was possibly Kenny Waugh that flew out to the world cup to sign him.

A guy I worked with was a decent player. Around the time Gordon Smith missed the sitter for Brighton in the FA Cup final he went to Brighton along with another two Scottish laddies, one of which was Mario Tortolano (Joe's twin) for trials.

They never got signed but to this day he swears that Hibs signed the wrong twin, he said Mario was streets ahead of Joe.

To complete a treble for Hibs I think Hibs signed the wrong Bojang.

[jeffers]

Absolutely, I think it was possibly Kenny Waugh that flew out to the world cup to sign him.

A guy I worked with was a decent player. Around the time Gordon Smith missed the sitter for Brighton in the FA Cup final he went to Brighton along with another two Scottish laddies, one of which was Mario Tortolano (Joe's twin) for trials.

They never got signed but to this day he swears that Hibs signed the wrong twin, he said Mario was streets ahead of Joe.

To complete a treble for Hibs I think Hibs signed the wrong Bojang.

That rings a bell that it was Kenny Waugh.

I never realised that JT had a twin.

The wrong Bojang would make total sense. I’m amazed anyone ever watched him and thought he was a suitable signing for us.

[flash]

Wasn’t there chat that we signed the wrong player when we brought in Mark Caughey ?

They had a boy called Martin McGaughey in the squad too and that's who it was claimed we really wanted.

[scoopyboy]

They had a boy called Martin McGaughey in the squad too and that's who it was claimed we really wanted.

That rings a bell Flash. I bet Caughey couldn't believe his luck.

[jeffers]

They had a boy called Martin McGaughey in the squad too and that's who it was claimed we really wanted.

Aaaah nice one flash. Couldn’t remember that name.

[scoopyboy]

That rings a bell that it was Kenny Waugh.

I never realised that JT had a twin.

The wrong Bojang would make total sense. I’m amazed anyone ever watched him and thought he was a suitable signing for us.

Identical, which gives the story even more credibility

[Keith_M]

This is kind of back-to-front from the thread title but I've heard a number of people suggest that when Marco Negri signed for Rangers, he thought that they were Glasgow's 'catholic club', not Celtc, and it was a real shock when he discovered the truth


He was an amazing striker and scored an incredible number of goals for Rangers but, while he was at Ibrox, he had the most subdued goal celebrations I've ever seen

[Pretty Boy]

Was there not a rumour we signed the wrong Hurtado as well? We signed Eduardo rather than Ivan?

I find that one harder to believe and tbf Eduardo had a decent pedigree, he was just mince for us.

[Pretty Boy]

This is kind of back-to-front from the thread title but I've heard a number of people suggest that when Marco Negri signed for Rangers, he thought that they were Glasgow's 'catholic club', not Celtc, and it was a real shock when he discovered the truth


He was an amazing striker and scored an incredible number of goals for Rangers but, while he was at Ibrox, he had the most subdued goal celebrations I've ever seen

From an interview with an Italian magazine a few years back:

"They hated Catholics. All of them. I never understood why they were so filled with hatred. Several of us who were Catholic players and all foreigners were told upon arrival, never to bless ourselves at Ibrox as it could cause problems for us. I began to understand that Rangers was an extreme club very similar to Lazio here in Italy. You know, a right wing club with right wing supporters. I personally am not a practicing Catholic but my wife Anna Maria is, and it used to cause me pain when I heard what they said about my fellow Catholics. Lorenzo Amoruso and Jorg Albertz, just kept quiet and kept their heads down.

I was rapidly disillusioned by Rangers and especially their supporters. As part of my professional duties I was strongly encouraged to attend social functions which meant going to several Rangers supporters clubs. The last one I attended really brought home to me the fact that I had nothing in common with these people. The anti-Catholic feeling was venomous and the songs they sang that evening filled me with disgust. It was at that point I decided not to give my all for a club that condoned such behaviour. I went sick. Walter Smith knew the real reason for my 'illness' and he just ignored it. But I wasn't lying, I was sick, sick of Rangers and sick of what they stood for and that is the truth."

Tbf I think Negri has made his peace with Rangers in recent times.

[BILLYHIBS]

From an interview with an Italian magazine a few years back:

They hated Catholics. All of them. I never understood why they were so filled with hatred. Several of us who were Catholic players and all foreigners were told upon arrival, never to bless ourselves at Ibrox as it could cause problems for us. I began to understand that Rangers was an extreme club very similar to Lazio here in Italy. You know, a right wing club with right wing supporters. I personally am not a practicing Catholic but my wife Anna Maria is, and it used to cause me pain when I heard what they said about my fellow Catholics. Lorenzo Amoruso and Jorg Albertz, just kept quiet and kept their heads down.

I was rapidly disillusioned by Rangers and especially their supporters. As part of my professional duties I was strongly encouraged to attend social functions which meant going to several Rangers supporters clubs. The last one I attended really brought home to me the fact that I had nothing in common with these people. The anti-Catholic feeling was venomous and the songs they sang that evening filled me with disgust. It was at that point I decided not to give my all for a club that condoned such behaviour. I went sick. Walter Smith knew the real reason for my 'illness' and he just ignored it. But I wasn't lying, I was sick, sick of Rangers and sick of what they stood for and that is the truth.

Tbf I think Negri has made his peace with Rangers in recent times.

This

[CL0762]

Didn’t Bobby Robson go on a scouting mission to sign Jason Euell from Wimbledon and ended up signing Carl Cort?

[Bridge hibs]

Remember when Jim McLean signed Argentinian winger Walter Rojas ? 🤣

It was in August 1991 that Dundee United announced the signing of ‘flying Argentinian winger’ Walter Rojas, a twenty-year old with dark flowing locks and “blistering pace”, from Buenos Aires club side San Lorenzo for a reported fee of £200k. United had apparently beaten off a host of clubs including Sampdoria and Foggia for the Argentine under-21 international signature. “El Explosivo“, as he had been nicknamed in his home country, was unveiled in a blaze of publicity. Fans were assured his debut would be imminent.

Then it all went very quiet. Weeks passed without any sign of the new long-haired wing wizard. According to the club, he had damaged a thigh muscle in training. However, rumours were circulating that Rojas might not be the player everyone thought he was. Opinion was rife in the city he was a “duffer”, apparently being taken to the cleaners by the reserve and youth team players in training. After almost three months, Rojas finally turned out for the reserves against Aberdeen in what proved to be his solitary appearance in a tangerine shirt and was well short of the standard required. One fan later claimed he had only two decent crosses in the game “when he blessed himself coming on and off the park”.

Then the conspiracy theories began. One source claimed United had been the victim of mistaken identity and had signed the wrong player. Another alleged that McLean had seen video footage of a prolific striker and was keen to sign him. A deal was negotiated but the player didn’t fancy the move so United were offered Rojas and took a chance.

Whatever the truth, United had been done. Rojas had only been a reserve team player at San Lorenzo and had played a mere four times for the first eleven in four years. Despite being inconspicuous by his absence on the park, there was no shortage of sightings of the player off it. ‘Rojas-spotting became a popular pastime with United fans in and around the city. “I used to see him in Buddies (a popular nightclub)” remembers one “he was strangely fond of having his jumper draped over his shoulders”. Another spotted him at a wedding in nearby Broughty Ferry.

I also had the thrill of encountering Rojas at the Megabowl Leisure Complex in Dundee. He looked slightly embarrassed and kept diverting my attention to the guy he was with. “Victor…this Victor,” he repeated in broken English. I thought nothing of it. He turned out to be Argentinian international Victor Ferreya, signed by United that day. Rojas clearly knew he was something of a fraud and had been embarrassed by all the attention whilst his new team-mate’s arrival appeared to have gone un-noticed. Rojas and Ferreya; were also invited to the Glenrothes Arabs player of the year dance. “They turned up in shell-suits, won nearly all the raffle prizes then swiftly bolted off back to Dundee,” recalled a witness.

[Keith_M]

From an interview with an Italian magazine a few years back:

"They hated Catholics. All of them. I never understood why they were so filled with hatred. Several of us who were Catholic players and all foreigners were told upon arrival, never to bless ourselves at Ibrox as it could cause problems for us. I began to understand that Rangers was an extreme club very similar to Lazio here in Italy. You know, a right wing club with right wing supporters. I personally am not a practicing Catholic but my wife Anna Maria is, and it used to cause me pain when I heard what they said about my fellow Catholics. Lorenzo Amoruso and Jorg Albertz, just kept quiet and kept their heads down.

I was rapidly disillusioned by Rangers and especially their supporters. As part of my professional duties I was strongly encouraged to attend social functions which meant going to several Rangers supporters clubs. The last one I attended really brought home to me the fact that I had nothing in common with these people. The anti-Catholic feeling was venomous and the songs they sang that evening filled me with disgust. It was at that point I decided not to give my all for a club that condoned such behaviour. I went sick. Walter Smith knew the real reason for my 'illness' and he just ignored it. But I wasn't lying, I was sick, sick of Rangers and sick of what they stood for and that is the truth."

Tbf I think Negri has made his peace with Rangers in recent times.



Yeah, I read that before and, while not a surprise, I still find it totally shocking.

Sadly nothing has changed

[Keith_M]

Remember when Jim McLean signed Argentinian winger Walter Rojas ? 🤣

It was in August 1991 that Dundee United announced the signing of ‘flying Argentinian winger’ Walter Rojas, a twenty-year old with dark flowing locks and “blistering pace”, from Buenos Aires club side San Lorenzo for a reported fee of £200k. United had apparently beaten off a host of clubs including Sampdoria and Foggia for the Argentine under-21 international signature. “El Explosivo“, as he had been nicknamed in his home country, was unveiled in a blaze of publicity. Fans were assured his debut would be imminent.

Then it all went very quiet. Weeks passed without any sign of the new long-haired wing wizard. According to the club, he had damaged a thigh muscle in training. However, rumours were circulating that Rojas might not be the player everyone thought he was. Opinion was rife in the city he was a “duffer”, apparently being taken to the cleaners by the reserve and youth team players in training. After almost three months, Rojas finally turned out for the reserves against Aberdeen in what proved to be his solitary appearance in a tangerine shirt and was well short of the standard required. One fan later claimed he had only two decent crosses in the game “when he blessed himself coming on and off the park”.

Then the conspiracy theories began. One source claimed United had been the victim of mistaken identity and had signed the wrong player. Another alleged that McLean had seen video footage of a prolific striker and was keen to sign him. A deal was negotiated but the player didn’t fancy the move so United were offered Rojas and took a chance.

Whatever the truth, United had been done. Rojas had only been a reserve team player at San Lorenzo and had played a mere four times for the first eleven in four years. Despite being inconspicuous by his absence on the park, there was no shortage of sightings of the player off it. ‘Rojas-spotting became a popular pastime with United fans in and around the city. “I used to see him in Buddies (a popular nightclub)” remembers one “he was strangely fond of having his jumper draped over his shoulders”. Another spotted him at a wedding in nearby Broughty Ferry.

I also had the thrill of encountering Rojas at the Megabowl Leisure Complex in Dundee. He looked slightly embarrassed and kept diverting my attention to the guy he was with. “Victor…this Victor,” he repeated in broken English. I thought nothing of it. He turned out to be Argentinian international Victor Ferreya, signed by United that day. Rojas clearly knew he was something of a fraud and had been embarrassed by all the attention whilst his new team-mate’s arrival appeared to have gone un-noticed. Rojas and Ferreya; were also invited to the Glenrothes Arabs player of the year dance. “They turned up in shell-suits, won nearly all the raffle prizes then swiftly bolted off back to Dundee,” recalled a witness.


That is so funny.

I bet nobody had the balls to question McLean about it :greengrin

[Bridge hibs]

That is so funny.

I bet nobody had the balls to question McLean about it :greengrin

Its brilliant, I had never read that story before 🤣

Walter Rojas (The Truth) 🤣

Twenty years on, McLean finally broke his silence on the bizarre episode. Rojas apparently only cost United an air fare and a few week’s expenses. There was no mistaken identity but having never seen him play, and to get around red tape, the player signed a contract and release form at the same time meaning United kept him if he was any good or could release him if he was a “dumpling”. The Explosive One proved to be a damp squib

[007]

If you believe Hearts fans (and some are gullible enough) then we signed Wallacott but meant to sign Walcott.

[Pretty Boy]

If you believe Hearts fans (and some are gullible enough) then we signed Wallacott but meant to sign Walcott.

A 5'9" striker and a 6'3" goalkeeper.

Seems legit😅

[ancient hibee]

When we sold Baker and McLeod they were basically replaced by Baker and McLeod. Fair to say nobody was hoodwinked.

[Viva_Palmeiras]

Dylan Bikey and Elias Wagner I seem to recall being pipped to the post by the Jambos (actually I think we literally sold them a dummy)

[Viva_Palmeiras]

Did we mean to sign The KLF and ended up with ALF?

Actually if McDermott is anything to go by and if you listen to him you’ll get a sense… he knows whilst ALF will not play every minute of every game hes hear for teaching and I’m getting the impression it’s about helping develop a bit of a selfless culture around the club.

[McGhee]

Ally (Benny) Brazil must have been signed because of his surname. Someone somewhere must have thought he was of Brazilian brilliance. Has to be the worst ever footballer to wear the Hibernian colours for so long. I know the tank, the polish goalie etc, but Benny was brutal.

[O'Rourke3]

Ally (Benny) Brazil must have been signed because of his surname. Someone somewhere must have thought he was of Brazilian brilliance. Has to be the worst ever footballer to wear the Hibernian colours for so long. I know the tank, the polish goalie etc, but Benny was brutal.Benny got a hard time but wasn't the complete duffer legend has him. My pal was a great friend of Pat Stanton ( he was the "and friend" when Pat was attacked on Princes St). His answer to the question "Why?" was "No-one could take the ball off him in training" The hat-trick against Celtic in a friendly says it all. That said, I'll never forgive him for not booting the ball out just before Dundee United scored a late and undeserved winner in the Cup replay at ER

Sent from my SM-G990B using Tapatalk

[HoboHarry]

Ally (Benny) Brazil must have been signed because of his surname. Someone somewhere must have thought he was of Brazilian brilliance. Has to be the worst ever footballer to wear the Hibernian colours for so long. I know the tank, the polish goalie etc, but Benny was brutal.

Aye, all those appearances under what, 6 different managers? Ridiculous comment from you, give your head a wobble FFS.

[LaMotta]

Absolutely, I think it was possibly Kenny Waugh that flew out to the world cup to sign him.

A guy I worked with was a decent player. Around the time Gordon Smith missed the sitter for Brighton in the FA Cup final he went to Brighton along with another two Scottish laddies, one of which was Mario Tortolano (Joe's twin) for trials.

They never got signed but to this day he swears that Hibs signed the wrong twin, he said Mario was streets ahead of Joe.

To complete a treble for Hibs I think Hibs signed the wrong Bojang.

So we ended up with Super Joe, but could have had Super Mario instead? Having a Super Marios in the 80s would have been tremendous.

[Forza Fred]

Rumour over here was that Rangers signed Tony Vidmar thinking they were getting his brother Aurelio Vidmar.

Interesting story about Bobby Caitlin btw……I never knew that about Big Bobby who played for the team I was connected with before he went to England

[ChilliEater]

Story goes that, when he was Celtic manager, Billy McNeil told the board he wanted to sign the "fair haired attacking midfielder" from Arsenal. He meant Paul Merson but got Martin Hayes. Seemingly Arsenal were about to accept an offer of 50k from a lower league team when Celtic bid 650k.

[ChilliEater]

So we ended up with Super Joe, but could have had Super Mario instead? Having a Super Marios in the 80s would have been tremendous.

I heard a story that Mario was playing in a game on a public park when Alex Miller went past and thought it was Joe. Miller drags him off the park with a "wtf do you think you're doing" the reply of "I'm not Joe. I'm his identical twin" was greeted with similar credulity as "the dog ate my homework".

[leith lynx]

Benny got a hard time but wasn't the complete duffer legend has him. My pal was a great friend of Pat Stanton ( he was the "and friend" when Pat was attacked on Princes St). His answer to the question "Why?" was "No-one could take the ball off him in training" The hat-trick against Celtic in a friendly says it all. That said, I'll never forgive him for not booting the ball out just before Dundee United scored a late and undeserved winner in the Cup replay at ER

Sent from my SM-G990B using Tapatalk

When was Pat attacked on Princes St?..regarding Benny, he wasn't the most cultured Hibs player, but I admired him for sticking with it in the face of some terrible terracing abuse, always gave 100%, not the best, but definitely not the worst, also didn’t help with Georgie boy in the same squad, polar opposites!

[BILLYHIBS]

Always liked Benny

Did a lot of the hidden work and kept getting picked by successive Managers

All we ask is that players give 100 %

Took a lot of undeserved flak from the terraces IIRC

[Keith_M]

Always liked Benny

Did a lot of the hidden work and kept getting picked by successive Managers

All we ask is that players give 100 %

Took a lot of undeserved flak from the terraces IIRC


Is there any possibility, though, that we accidentally signed the wrong Ally Brazil?




27094

[Scouse Hibee]

Hibs thought they were signing a keeper but they signed MakaCalamity by mistake.

[LaMotta]

I heard a story that Mario was playing in a game on a public park when Alex Miller went past and thought it was Joe. Miller drags him off the park with a "wtf do you think you're doing" the reply of "I'm not Joe. I'm his identical twin" was greeted with similar credulity as "the dog ate my homework".

:hilarious

[DH1875]

Robinho is the famous one. On the verge of signing for Chelsea only for Manchester to come in for him at the last minute. Problem for Robinho was that it was the wrong Manchester lol. Interestingly enough, he also seemed to think that Manchester was in London 🤔.

[Eaststand]

I remember hearing a story that Rangers went to sign the Elephant Man but there was some confusion and they ending up buying Davy Dodds instead 😯

GGTTH

[Bushwoof]

From an interview with an Italian magazine a few years back:

"They hated Catholics. All of them. I never understood why they were so filled with hatred. Several of us who were Catholic players and all foreigners were told upon arrival, never to bless ourselves at Ibrox as it could cause problems for us. I began to understand that Rangers was an extreme club very similar to Lazio here in Italy. You know, a right wing club with right wing supporters. I personally am not a practicing Catholic but my wife Anna Maria is, and it used to cause me pain when I heard what they said about my fellow Catholics. Lorenzo Amoruso and Jorg Albertz, just kept quiet and kept their heads down.

I was rapidly disillusioned by Rangers and especially their supporters. As part of my professional duties I was strongly encouraged to attend social functions which meant going to several Rangers supporters clubs. The last one I attended really brought home to me the fact that I had nothing in common with these people. The anti-Catholic feeling was venomous and the songs they sang that evening filled me with disgust. It was at that point I decided not to give my all for a club that condoned such behaviour. I went sick. Walter Smith knew the real reason for my 'illness' and he just ignored it. But I wasn't lying, I was sick, sick of Rangers and sick of what they stood for and that is the truth."

Tbf I think Negri has made his peace with Rangers in recent times.

I hadn't heard that one. It answers the puzzle (for me anyway) as to how Negri managed to score about 30 goals in half a season, and then about none afterwards. I seem to remember there was some story about him getting hit in the eye with a squash ball as an explanation.
Never understood why Amoruso, who seemed like a thoroughly decent bloke, put up with it.

[eastmainsmsh]

Sorry if posted but rumour was that Ac signed luther Blisset instead of John Barnes which seemingly was wrong 😆