We all dream of becoming a professional footballer as a child.
Sadly, the reality is that only a handful will make it. Most of us accept the truth... but not everyone gives up on their dream. Meet Gregoire Akcelrod - a Frenchman who was "so bad at football" but almost blagged a move to a Champions League club thanks to a bogus CV.
Akcelrod created a fake profile for himself and even received a letter from Arsene Wenger's office about a trial with Arsenal. Now 40, the ex-midfielder has become an agent and represented some of the game's biggest stars - including Aurelien Tchouameni.
Living the dream
Akcelrod's story, told to SPORTbible, starts in his native France. The wannabe was obsessed with football and dreamed of becoming the next Zinedine Zidane. He practised every day in the hope that he would eventually represent his beloved Paris Saint-Germain.
Yet Akcelrod wasn't a great footballer. He was that bad his dad banned him from playing. "You're so bad at football, I don't want you to play anymore," he was told aged 10. This came as a shock for a boy who claimed football "was the best moment of the week".
The defensive midfielder didn't accept his dad's verdict and turned his back on his "very rich" family in pursuit of his dream. He started working at McDonald's aged 16 and realised he could make his way into the game by creating a fake website for himself.
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Akcelrod duplicated information about the Brazilian Ronaldo, who was the best player in the world at the time, and Nicolas Anelka. He also reproduced a French newspaper article claiming he was going to Real Madrid when Anelka joined them in 1999.
Akcelrod's tenacity paid off, as he eventually got the chance to represent PSG's amateur side in the 15th tier of French football. That allowed him to have a photoshoot in a bought PSG kit at the Parc des Princes, which gave his fake profile more content.
Arsenal's response
After that, Akcelrod started writing to clubs to get a trial. He pretended to be a striker in the hope that someone would take the bait. Premier League clubs Chelsea and Arsenal turned him down, although Wenger's secretary did write back to him.
"We usually have to see a player in action for his own team or watch him on video before an invitation is sent out," read Arsenal's response. "This is to make sure we are aware of his playing ability and feel certain he measures up to the high standard that is required by a Premiership club... we wish you luck with your career ambitions."
Although Arsenal turned Akcelrod down, he was delighted with their response and framed the letter. "It was incredible that Arsene Wenger had read my letter and answered me," said Akcelrod. "It gave me more hope because for me Arsenal was one of the biggest clubs in England but I was sure some clubs in the second, third or fourth division will answer me."
Akcelrod went on to have trials with Norwich, Bournemouth, Swindon, Dundee United, Sydney and New York Red Bulls, among others. He even got the chance to play alongside Tottenham legend Darren Anderton during his time with the Cherries.
Champions League chance
The desperate star ended up having 25 trials. Remarkably, one of them paid off. Bulgarian giants CSKA Sofia, who were playing in the Champions League at the time, were left impressed and offered him a contract around £15,000-a-month.
CSKA even announced the transfer on their official website. Yet Akcelrod's dream collapsed when one CSKA fan discovered the player was not who he claimed to be. The information was fed to journalists and the club, causing the transfer to collapse.
"I was not fake because I was with them three days on trial but CSKA started to become scared of what happened with the crazy media," said Akcelrod. "The Sunday evening everybody smiled to me. On Monday morning I am the worst person in the world and cannot sit at the players’ table... it was a fan who destroyed my deal."
Route back into football
Akcelrod gave up on his dream of playing professionally after his Bulgarian heartbreak, but his footballing career was far from over. He has since forged a career as an agent after being asked to help a youngster from Cameroon earn a trial at a top European side.
The emerging talent got his chance at Liverpool, which led to others demanding Akcelrod's services. He set up his own company, One Soccer Agency, and has since represented former Lyon defender Bakary Kone and ex-Lille playmaker Eric Bautheac.
Akcelrod's biggest client was Aurelien Tchouameni, who he represented at the beginning of the Real Madrid star's career. "I met him when he was 15 when he was at the academy of Bordeaux and at this time of course nobody knows him," said Akcelrod.
"And it was an amazing experience because it's very interesting to bring a player from small level in France with the youth team to the professional level and to Monaco. The first time I saw him, it’s true that I was sure that he would become professional."
They say never give up on your dream - a mantra Akcelrod lives by.
