Life for footballers after hanging up their boots for the final time is almost always an interesting topic of discussion. This is something one former Manchester United star is certainly discovering – but not for the reasons you might expect.
While some former Premier League icons go on to succeed in completely different professions, others have become successful managers, or, in less glamorous circumstances, filed for bankruptcy.
For Brian McClair, who carries the wishy-washy reputation of being named by Sir Alex Ferguson as both one of his most underrated players and one of the players who performed worst in training, his story after football revolves around just how undetectable he has become due to major changes in his appearance.
During his time at Old Trafford, the retired Scotland international prided himself on such subtlety, playing an instrumental role as the unselfish, team-first system player who allowed others – namely Ryan Giggs, Eric Cantona, among other headline-grabbers that propelled the club to the pinnacle of the beautiful game – to shine. But now, he has taken the saying “like a different person” to a whole new level.
Brian McClair Looks Unrecognisable in Charity Match
McClair’s appearance has changed so much that some of his former teammates weren’t able to recognise him in a recent legend’s charity match. The 62-year-old was in the dugout for Celtic in their clash against the Red Devils in September, with former players taking to the field in their bid to raise money for a good cause.
Now sporting long white hair with a bushy beard, he admitted that fellow ex-United stars including Dimitar Berbatov and Louis Saha failed to recognise him when heading into the Celtic dressing room. He said, as per the Manchester Evening News (see his drastic change in appearance below):
“I had all the Celtic kit on and saw Louis Saha. He just looked up and said, ‘F****** hell, I didn’t recognise you.’ I said that was me tidied up and making an effort. Then I was outside and Berbatov was there and I said, ‘Hello, you all right?’
“He just looked at me kind of strangely, but then I went back in again and he came over. He said, ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t recognise you, I thought it might have been you but thought no, no, it couldn’t possibly be you.’ It was nice to be recognised anyway even under this cunning disguise.”
Met Brian McClair in Manchester. Discussing which stories we might tell in Cork, Limerick, Galway, Dublin and Belfast next month. As you can see, he’s enthused by all of this. pic.twitter.com/dNSEe5xvjZ — Andy Mitten (@AndyMitten) August 15, 2024
Jaap Stam posted a picture alongside Wes Brown and an unrecognisable former teammate during a recent reunion.
Feb 28, 2026
Discussing his drastic transformation from the short hair and clean-shaven look he displayed during his playing days, McClair previously told The Telegraph: “It started in lockdown. I just thought: let things grow, see where we end up. Then, before Christmas, I decided to have a tidy up, but I never got round to it.
“I was out one night and next thing I saw I was trending on social media as ‘old man down the pub’. I’ve had the trim since. You’ll be disappointed to hear I look a wee bit less as though I’ve been cast away on a desert island.”
Brian mcclair in the gold cup having a pint Proper striker pic.twitter.com/y2888g8Xfb — Bandit bus (@BanditBus) January 16, 2023
The aforementioned charity match that, for a third time, got everyone talking about McClair’s appearance saw him manage a team of ex-Celts including Joe Hart, Artur Boruc, and Georgios Samaras, while United boss Bryan Robson led a side featuring Michael Carrick, Nicky Butt, and Wes Brown.
It was the Scottish side who came out on top, winning via a penalty shootout after the game finished 2-2 in normal time. The triumph marked the second consecutive victory for the Celtic legends over their English counterparts, begging the question of why he never ventured into management after hanging up his boots, having previously served as Blackburn Rovers’ assistant between 1998 and 1999, and later as Director of Manchester United’s youth academy from 2006 to 2015.