Kai Havertz once dazzled as a winger and attacking midfielder for Leverkusen, but he has slowly been molded into a number 9 under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, making adaptability one of his defining traits.
While he’s been compared to players like Thomas Mueller, on a recent podcast he was compared to someone completely unrelated to football – Franz Kafka.
On a recent episode of the Football Weekly podcast, journalist Philippe Auclair made this unexpected observation.
“Who he really looks like is Franz Kafka, and once I’ve put this notion in your mind and you look at the two, you won’t be able to ever forget,” Auclair remarked.
And, bizarrely enough, he’s right.
Franz Kafka, a Czech writer known for his surreal and existential works, has an undeniably unique appearance but might have found his doppelganger in Havertz.
Both have long, straight noses and ears that are slightly outward facing. Their facial structures—slightly oval yet converging at the bottom are also remarkably similar.
Even their chin/jaw shape is the same – except for the fact that Havertz in recent times has sported a stubble while Kafka – clean shaven.
Even their deep-set eyes mirror each other, with the only noticeable difference being Havertz’s slightly longer neck.
This quirky comparison, as niche as it is, has captured fans with some even comparing Havertz to Kafka’s literature.
One user on Instagram commented, “Perhaps. Some sort of “metamorphosis” is happening. 10 into False 9 into #9” – referring to “The Metamorphosis”- a novel by Kafka.
It’s not often that you and I are going to stumble across a comparison like this in a world of football analysis that is so eerily accurate.
Next time you watch Havertz on the pitch, don’t be surprised if Kafka comes to mind!