Liverpool cult hero looks unrecognizable after ditching locks and growing beard

A Liverpool cult hero looks completely unrecognizable over two decades on from his seven-year spell at Anfield.

The 50-year-old former Czech midfielder has put the days of long, silky brown hair and a headband behind him for a shorter, curly look, and a full beard. The 195-time Liverpool appearance maker has also covered himself in tattoos, with two full sleeves on his arms on display on a fishing trip.

He played 42 times for his country, scoring 18 goals, and he was one of the stars of Euro 96, where the Czech Republic reached the final - but lost 2-1 to Germany in extra time. Primarily operating as an attacking midfielder, he scored 71 goals and provided 64 assists at club level across spells at Slavia Prague, Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Stoke City, and Sparta Prague.

During his time at Anfield, he won the FA Cup, League Cup, and Uefa Cup, while netting 35 times for the Reds before departing in 2003 to play for Portsmouth, Aston Villa, and Stoke, before wrapping up his playing career in 2010 at his boyhood club, Sparta.

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However, he did return to Anfield in March 2022 to play in a legends charity match against Barcelona, but he was unable to help his former team defeat the Spanish side, who secured a 2-1 victory. Icon Steven Gerrard got on the scoresheet from the penalty spot and the game gave the Czech an opportunity to reunite with compatriots Vladimir Smicer and Milan Baros. Have you figured it out yet?

Unrecognizable Red: Patrik Berger

It's none other than Patrik Berger, who now spends a lot of considerable time fishing and cycling during his retirement. He still remains very active in the Liverpool scene, though, making regular radio and TV appearances to speak about his beloved Reds.

Berger was caught between Liverpool and Sparta during the Anfield club's recent Europa League campaign, where they eventually crashed out to eventual winners Atalanta. Liverpool met Sparta in the round of 16.

For the former midfielder, it was a win-win situation, and Liverpool came out on top in the end as 11-2 winners. You would've thought your boyhood shipping 11 goals across two legs would sting - but apparently not!

"It doesn’t really happen that often where you can have two teams that you played for and that you have in your heart, that they are going to play against each other, so I was absolutely delighted," Berger admitted to Liverpool's website following the draw. "In a way, it’s like I can’t lose, no matter who is going to go through – I will be cheering for either of the teams!

"But obviously it is great generally for Czech football, for Prague, for the Sparta Prague fans and also for the players as it’s the dream draw, basically: that is why you are playing football, you want to play against the best and that is what they are going to do, facing Liverpool over here in Prague and then at Anfield.”