Behind the Bastards Part Two: The Evilest Football Player of All Time
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Aug 21, 2025 Dive into the dark journey of Alexandre Villaplane, who moved from football fame to a life of crime and became a notorious mass murderer. Explore the moral complexities of athletes who succumb to scandal and the impacts of gambling and match-fixing. The discussion also touches on WWII's shadow over Paris, detailing the trauma of those involved with the Indish Legion. With humor and serious reflections, the podcast exposes the intertwined worlds of sports, crime, and the legacies we inherit from tumultuous times.
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Rise To World Cup Stardom
- Alexandre Villaplane rose from Algerian-born amateur to captain of France and led them at the first World Cup in 1930.
- He celebrated a peak moment but his life unraveled afterward as gambling and partying took over.
Illusory Wealth Left Him Vulnerable
- Villaplane's wealth came from fake jobs and patronage, not stable professional pay, making him vulnerable in economic collapse.
- That fragility pushed him toward gambling, debt, and the underworld as the Depression hit.
Match-Fixing Scheme At Antibes
- Villaplane masterminded a sports-betting and match-fixing ring after taking an ownership stake at Antibes.
- The scheme collapsed mid-season, Antibes lost its title, and Villaplane was fired and suspected as the ringleader.
