Mauro Shampoo

As Captain of the ill-fated Ibis FC, Mauro Shampoo achieved the dubious fame of being put in the Guinness Book of World Records as the Worst Football Team Ever after failing to win a game for 3 straight seasons. Curiously, by combining his passion for football with his passion for hairdressing he has become somewhat of a national celebrity since retiring, appearing on several TV shows, news programs, magazines and of course in Futebol: A Brazilian Way of Life . Today, we made the quest to downtown Recife to seek out this eccentric legend of Brazilian football.

Nervously stumbling into his salon, we couldn´t see anyone who resembled the moustachioed, grinning face that appeared in the hundreds of photos plastered all over the walls and doors. When suddenly in walked a man in an unconvincing Father Christmas suit and introduced himself as Mauro Shampoo.

He explained that he wore the suit all through December, and for the rest of the year wore only his Ibis football kit; studs and all. We sat down with a cup of coffee to watch a compilation video of his television appearances while he tended to his customers.


Afterwards, he was eager to show us his wide collection of memorabilia detailing both his Ibis career and that of a celebrity hairdresser cutting the occasional Brazilian footballers barnet. We were amiably introduced to his customers, friends and even his wife who runs a female salon in the same shopping centre.

Doug was even brave enough to get a haircut!


All in all, Mauro couldn´t have lived up to our expectations any more. He clearly revels in the attention he receives and is adored by those around him. By his own admission, he certainly is one of a kind. Mauro Shampoo: hairdresser, footballer and man.