Ex-Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman has left fans stunned by his shock new look.
Kezman spent 12 months at Stamford Bridge in Jose Mourinho’s first season at the club, picking up Premier League and League Cup winners medals for his efforts.
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The 46-year-old hung up his boots back in 2012 but has since worked as a sports agent, representing players including former Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
His biggest transformation came when he became a monk after declaring his commitment to religion through the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Kezman displays multiple tattoos dedicated to his faith, however the most striking visuals come in his long wavy locks amid a receding hairline and a multi-coloured beard.
And it won’t just be Chelsea fans who are left stunned by the Serbian’s new look with supporters of the 11 other clubs he represented during his 16-year career also likely to be taken aback.
Kezman lined up for Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Fenerbahce among others before calling time on his career.
His breakout season came with Dutch outfit PSV Eindhoven where he spent four years.
He netted 129 goals in 176 games, earning a £5million move to Chelsea as a reward for his efforts.
Kezman struggled to impose himself at Stamford Bridge as the goals dried up, netting just seven times in 41 appearances.
But a Premier League and League Cup double made sure his time in England was not wasted.
Bittersweet
Despite failing to live up to expectations at Chelsea, Kezman later spoke of his pride at representing the club.
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“I am very happy and proud of my time in Chelsea in one year, but now it is behind me,” Kezman previously told the Evening Chronicle.
“I am very sad because of all the supporters in Chelsea, but it was a year with a lot of stress. For one year they were all behind me, giving me support in the stadium and on the street as well.
“I owe them more goals – one day it might happen. I might be back to Chelsea, you never know. But for now, I want to play and Mourinho was not going to give me a chance.”
His former teammate Glen Johnson revealed the depths of Kezman’s frustration during his Chelsea days and how he let out his anger in the dressing room.
“I don’t remember what game it was but I remember what the dressing room was like! He smashed a few lockers up, put a few holes in the seats.,” Johnson told Betting Expert.
“It happens all the time, players aren’t happy about coming off and he hadn’t been playing much at the time and he was given an opportunity but he was frustrated with himself as he’d missed a few chances.”
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But the former striker was already primed for life after football and even signalled his intention of becoming a monk in an interview in 2012.
“I want to become a monk. It is God’s decision. But if God calls me, I will do it,” he told the Standard, as quoted by the Daily Mirror.
