Former Liverpool player Patrick Berger was once famous for his incredible long-range goals and long flowing hair, but now he looks shockingly different. The former midfielder, who was known for wearing long-sleeved jerseys at Anfield, now shows off his tattooed arms. The 52-year-old, who hasn’t worn a Reds jersey in more than 20 years, has completely changed his clean-cut image for a bold, bearded look that will no doubt surprise fans who remember him from his playing days.
Berger was a key figure in Gerard Houllier’s side that won the treble in 2000/01, making 198 appearances during his seven-year spell on Merseyside. The Czech international scored 28 goals for the club, nearly half of them from 18 yards or more.
Berger, who won 42 caps for his country, had spells at Sparta Prague, Borussia Dortmund, Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Stoke City before retiring in 2010. He then played amateur football for Dolny Chablis in the Czech Republic’s sixth division.
His Liverpool career ended on a sour note due to a knee injury, which saw him make just four appearances and see him drop down the table. Despite scoring in his first game against Liverpool, Berger looks back on his time at the club with fondness.
“You have to live one day at a time. I enjoyed my time at Liverpool,” he said of those glory days. “In 2001, things were great on the pitch, we won five trophies and qualified for the Champions League in the final game of the season.
“It was an unbelievable season. We had a great team and the camaraderie was great. That really helped us get through the time. Everything clicked together in the last game.”
“You need luck and we had some luck, but the team was all connected, we were all fighting for each other and we all had the same belief that we could win.
“Watching the FA Cup final, Michael[Owen]had incredible pace and if one of us could spot a pass he would get on it. His left foot wasn’t very strong but he beat two Arsenal defenders and got the goal brilliantly.
“Arsenal were the better team that day, but like I said, we rode our luck and stayed in the game and managed to win. It was an unforgettable year with lots of great memories and lots of lifelong friends.”
“The highlight of my career was firstly signing for Liverpool. It was a dream come true to sign for such a great club. I loved my time at Liverpool and it’s great to still be involved.”
Since retiring his shoes, Berger has remained active in the soccer world. He founded the Patrik Berger Football Agency and has represented players such as Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick and Ondrej Penša.
