George Forsyth

George Patrick Forsyth Sommer (born 20 June 1982) is a Peruvian politician and former international footballer.

Forsyth played as a goalkeeper for Alianza Lima, Borussia Dortmund II, Atlético Universidad, Sport Boys and Atalanta, and he also earned 7 caps for the Peru national team.

Then in 2001, he joined Alianza Lima, where he would begin his professional career.

In that year, he was part of the squad that obtained the national title in the institution's centenary added to the classification for the 2002 Copa Libertadores.

In 2002, he was the third goalkeeper for Borussia Dortmund.

He was part of the Alianza Lima team that won the national titles of 2003 and 2004.

Upon graduating high school in 2004, Forsyth began to study Industrial Engineering at the University of San Martín de Porres, which he did not complete, switching to the Peruvian University of Applied Sciences to study business administration, although he eventually dropped-out to focus on his football career.

Subsequently, he founded several companies including in the field of security (300); in the fashion and clothing field, (G&F); in the field of high physical performance, (VO2); and in gastronomy (a seafood restaurant) among others.

During his adolescence, Forsyth played for FC Lannesdorf 07 in Germany.

After a brief stint at Sport Boys of Callao in 2005, he returned to Alianza Lima to obtain the 2006 Decentralized Championship.

This would be Forsyth's fourth national title, but the first where he was the undisputed holder, being considered the best goalkeeper of the season.

On 20 February 2007, Forsyth made his debut in a Copa Libertadores against Club Necaxa.

with a 2–1 defeat of his team, playing 43 minutes.

At the 2007 Copa Libertadores, he played 3 games, receiving 6 goals, playing 223 minutes, remaining last without being able to qualify.

In August 2007 he joined Atalanta, debuting on 29 August 2007 in the Italian Cup against Ascoli, with a 1–2 result in favor of Ascoli, and playing 127 minutes.

Forsyth earned seven caps for Peru between 2007 and 2014.

Starting a career in politics at local level, Forsyth was elected lieutenant mayor and district councilman of La Victoria in 2010, and thus gained prominence as the first footballer to be elected to public office in Peru while still playing at professional level.

He played with Alianza Lima at the 2010 Copa Libertadores.

After the elimination in the Copa Libertadores, Forsyth was injured, and was replaced by Salomón Libman as the main goalkeeper.

Forsyth was called up for the last game of the 2010 Torneo Descentralizado against University of San Martín de Porres, ending 1–1.

George Forsyth's political career began in 2010 when he ran for District Councilman of La Victoria, as part of the Alberto Sánchez-Aizcorbe's National Unity list, which won with 34% of the valid votes.

As the first councilman, he served simultaneously as Lieutenant Mayor to Sánchez-Aizcorbe.

After a season plagued of injuries, adding the harsh elimination against Universidad de Chile, Forsyth hoped to fully recover in 2011 in order to return as a starter.

However, Alianza Lima was eliminated in the playoffs towards the group stage of the 2011 Copa Libertadores against Jaguares, with the score of 2–0 in Lima, and also in Chiapas.

Finally, seeing that his chances of returning as the starter goalkeeper were slim, on Forsyth announced his departure from Alianza Lima on 3 March, but that he would return to the club to be the president.

On 31 July 2011, with the departure of Gustavo Costas to Saudi Arabia and the arrival of Miguel Ángel Arrué as Alianza Lima's new coach, Forsyth was called up as starter for a match against Unión Comercio, that ended 0–0.

In 2014, he briefly served as the district's acting mayor when the incumbent ran for mayor of Lima.

In 2014, he became acting mayor, under the license of the then mayor Alberto Sánchez for his run for mayor of Lima at the municipal elections.

In this position, he became the first active soccer player to assume a high municipal position in Peruvian history.

In 2018, Forsyth was elected as mayor of La Victoria for We Are Peru.

At the 2018 municipal elections, Forsyth retired from football and was nominated for mayor of the La Victoria by the We Are Peru party.

He was subsequently elected as mayor with 34.6% of the vote.

Forsyth's tenure has been described as "tough-on-crime", with the ex-footballer assuming office in January 2019.

He resigned in October 2020 in order to run for President of Peru in the 2021 general elections with National Victory, the succeeding party of National Restoration.

At the election, he placed eighth after attaining only 5.6% of the vote.

Forsyth was born in Caracas, Venezuela.

His father, Harold Forsyth, is a Peruvian diplomat, ambassador to the United States and China, and former congressman.

His mother, María Verónica Sommer Mayer, is a former Miss Chile beauty pageant winner and her family is of German descent.

He was born in Caracas while his father served in the Peruvian embassy in Venezuela.

Forsyth lived a privileged childhood and was not exposed to the lifestyles of common Peruvians until he began his football career according to Americas Quarterly.