Striker who scored winning goal in the League Cup final looks unrecognisable after shaving off shaggy lockdown beard

10 months ago 60

THIS former Premier League star rocks a drastically different look to when he was starring in the English top flight.

When he arrived in 2004 he sported jet black gelled hair and a thin beard to match.

Former Premier League star grew a shaggy beard during lockdown[/caption]

He grew his beard out post-retirement[/caption]

The former striker even grew a moustache for an appearance on TV[/caption]

His one and only campaign in England brought league and EFL Cup successes.

And in the latter he even rose off the bench in the final to score Chelsea’s winner… against this year’s opponents Liverpool.

It was one of seven goals the Serbian managed in 41 appearances for the Blues.

After just one year in England he departed, signing for Atletico Madrid in 2005 with two medals around his neck.

He never returned to the Premier League, going on to play for Fenerbahce, Paris Saint-Germain and Zenit St Petersburg.

The goal-getter finished his career in 2012 with a stint at South China in Hong Kong.

Since hanging up his boots he has adopted a very different look.

His hair has thinned and greyed, while his once pencil thin beard was allowed to grow thick and bushy during lockdown.

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Even some ardent Chelsea fans may not recognise Mateja Kezman these days.

Now 44, Kezman is no longer actively involved in the beautiful game.

Instead, he focuses on his stunning resort in the Serbian mountains.

Kezman Mountain Houses describes itself as a “luxury mountain cabins complex, quietly tucked away in the peaceful area of Kopaonik Ski Resort”.

Recently appearing on Serbian telly, the former Blue revealed that he has shaved off his shaggy lockdown beard.

Only a moustache remained, although he did wear grey sideburns too.

Mateja Kezman starred for Chelsea during the 2004-05 campaign[/caption]

He lifted the League Cup alongside Didier Drogba after scoring the winning goal[/caption]

Kezman, 44, now operates a luxury mountain resort[/caption]

While Kezman may be something of a forgotten man at Stamford Bridge, fans will be hoping that a current Blue can emulate his 2005 exploits and become a hero against Liverpool this weekend.

One such candidate Nicolas Jackson has admitted that he rewatches his horror misses in a bid to get better.

He wants to match his hero Karim Benzema, admitting this week: “Sometimes I go to sleep watching the same videos — always thinking I should have done better.

“Though when I was young, I saw Benzema playing for Real Madrid. I supported them when I was young and he was missing a lot of chances.

“But, later, he won the Ballon d’Or. I’m not saying I’m at that level. I can’t be at that level now.

“Yet I’ve seen it before so I’m not worried. I just try to improve every day and be where I want to be.”