Introducing: The Samba Series – The Definitive History of Brazilians in the Premier League

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The False Nine is proud to announce the launch of The Samba Series: an exciting and comprehensive new series featuring every single Brazilian to ever play in the Premier League – the ideal way to build up to the 2014 World Cup this summer.

The Samba Series is the definitive inventory of Brazilian footballers who have played in England since the formation of the Premier League in 1995. From Juninho to Ilan, from Kleberson to Douglas Rinaldi, they are all here and their stories recounted from the fans who knew them best.

This isn’t simply a collection of memories, but  a wider appraisal of the fortunes of the Seleção, charting the success of these exotic imports to the English game beginning with the arrival of Isaías on these shores in 1995 and the pioneering Mirandinha who spent two years at Newcastle United from 1987, at a time when the reputation of English football was at its lowest ebb.

Is it the tough tackling midfielders, in the guise of Dunga, who have prospered more than the flamboyant tricksters, the Zicos, that we normally associate with the heritage of the five-time World Champions?

Have the most successful Brazilians on these shores adhered to the ‘samba’ stereotype? Continue reading