Serie A icon 'looks like a completely different person' after buzzing iconic beard

Posted Saturday, December 14, 2024 by Dailystar.co.uk

Gennaro Gattuso has sported the beard for the past 22 years

A Serie A icon was left unrecognisable after he buzzed off his iconic beard.

Gennaro Gattuso, who was nicknamed 'Il Pitbull' for his tenacious displays from defensive midfield, has decided to shave his beard for the first time in 22 years. Gattuso, who is at the helm of Hajduk Split, looked like a new man as he got up from the barber's chair.

It's the first time since his early playing days he's sported a clean shaven look, and he's done so for a whopping €10,000 (£8200), which has been donated to charity.

The 'Beard Auction charity campaign' is a humanitarian project dedicated to promoting men's health, supporting the anti-cancer leagues in Split, Vinkovci and Pula.

And Hajduk's players joined their boss, with €150,000 raised for 250 beards and moustaches all shaved. However, it was Gattuso's new look that shocked fans: "I would never recognise him, if I didn't see the name. In fact no one can."

Gennaro Gattuso looked like a new man

"There's no way I would have known that's Gattuso, our Legend," a second shared. While a third said: "He lost all his aura!"

"So you're telling me this is the same Gattuso that used to be handsome? Aging is a scary concept," a fourth shared. And another added: "I don't think I've ever seen him without his beard. It's not Gattuso without the beard!"

Gattuso has been at the helm of the Croatian side since the summer, joining the side after he was sacked by Marseille back in February. While Gattuso spent most of his career at one club, he has bounced around a lot in his managerial career.

He's taken the reigns at Sion, Palermo, OFI Crete, Pisa (twice), AC Milan, Napoli, Valencia, Fiorentina (kind of, he never really started despite agreeing to become their boss), Marseille and now Hajduk.