Former NBA Center Pavel Podkolzin has rewritten the record books by becoming the highest football player ever after making his debut for FC Amkal Moscow.
The 7FT 4 in Russian-Bijna a foot larger than ex-England striker Peter Crouch-Verctresse this summer basketball for football and played in Tuesday's Russian Cup Stroptdas to FC Kaluga.
Podkolzin, 40, spent two seasons in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks between 2004 and 2006 before he withdrew from basketball in 2019.
He was persuaded in the sport by Amkal's President, who had previously been his teammate in a basketball competition.
'I play in the Russian cup and to be honest, I don't know what to say. I am grateful for it, “Podkolzin told Baja News. “It's a great opportunity to be in this sport.”
The gigantic attacker had to dive through the tunnel on the way to the field and tower head and shoulders about both his teammates and the players of Kaluga.
At 2.26 meters long it is only 18 centimeters short from the bar itself.
He came close to marking his debut with a goal when he accidentally blended a shot from a teammate in the six-year box.
Podkolzin said after the game: 'They had a good goalkeeper. I will try again in the next game. '
Instead, it was midfielder David Papikyan who arranged the match and scored the only goal of the game in the first half to forward Amkal with a 1-0 win.
Podkolzin was later replaced after contributions to both ends, including an approval in his own criminal area.
Fans were stunned when the highlights of his debut appeared online. One wrote on social media: “Is he bigger than Peter Crouch?” Another joke: “Man plays headers without jumping.”
However, the quality of the head of Podkolzin left a lot to be desired. He wasted a golden chance to score when he tried to nod from a corner home, only for the ball to bounce awkward from his shoulder.
Podkolzin gets another chance to add to his unlikely football story in the next round of the Russian cup, when Amkal travels to Salyut-Belgorod on 9 September.