19 June 2024 , 05:45
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Slovakian football legend Marek Hamsik has undergone a dramatic transformation for Euro 2024, swapping his iconic mohawk for a more professional hairstyle.
The 36-year-old was once easily identifiable on the pitch due to his distinctive spiked hairdo. However, it seems he's now opted for a classic fade instead of his statement trim. Hamsik is fondly remembered for his time at Napoli, where he scored a hundred goals in 408 appearances for the Serie A team.
Having represented Slovakia from 2007 to 2023, Hamsik made a lasting impression at the 2020 European Championships. Despite Slovakia failing to progress beyond the group stages - a 2-1 victory over Poland couldn't compensate for defeats to Sweden and Spain - the midfielder quickly became a fan favourite thanks to his memorable hairstyle and formidable long-range shots.
Now taking on a coaching role with his home country, it seems Hamsik has either grown weary of his old style or decided to adopt a more professional look. The former midfielder was barely recognisable at a recent Euro 2024 press conference, sporting glasses and a short back and sides as he engaged with the media, reports the Daily Star.
Obviously, fans of the retired footballer had a lot to say about Hamsik's revamped image. One quipped on social media: "Hamsik without this Mohawk. Utter woke nonsense," and another chimed in with: "We miss that legendary hair style." The comments continued with a third sharing: "Unrecognisable," and a fourth noting: "I saw him in the dugout and really thought that he was still playing."
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The seasoned player bid farewell to his career on the pitch after his final tussle with Trabzonspor at the close of 2023. That wasn't endgame for Hamsik, however, as he swiftly moved on to managing alongside Francesco Calzona for the Slovak national team. His competitive debut in the managerial domain came against Belgium just this Monday.
Hamsik is hard to recognise without his mowhawk (Icon Sport via Getty Images)Belgium were tipped by many as surefire winners for their Group E opener but Slovakia stunned everyone when they walked out 1-0 victors - Ivan Schranz kicking off the scoring at only seven minutes into the match. Belgian top guns Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Leandro Trossard fell short in their attempts to penetrate the stern Slovakian defence after 90 long minutes, walking away with nothing to show for their efforts.
Hamsik and his famous hairstyle (AFP via Getty Images)At present, Slovakia sit comfortably at second place in Group E, following their win over the Belgians. They could have claimed the top spot if not for Romania's outstanding 3-0 thrashing of Ukraine earlier that day. With an eye on replicating Romania's triumph, Slovakia are set to meet Ukraine this coming Friday, before facing off against Romania in their last group match on Wednesday, June 26.