Erling Haaland has traded his signature long blond locks for a buzzcut. The 26-year-old Manchester City star revealed the transformation on Instagram on August 23, captioning the post, “New season, new trim.”
Haaland explained in a YouTube video that he had considered cutting his hair after the World Cup but was too busy. “The season starts now, so it’s time to get a fresh start,” he said, adding that he wanted a “buzzcut, like I’ve been in the military.”
The dramatic change marks a major departure for a player whose long hair has become part of his trademark look. He even previously encouraged a young Brazilian fan who was bullied for copying his hairstyle, telling him, “Long hair is really nice, so keep it and don’t care about what everyone says.”
However, not everyone approved of the new look. For instance, former Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimović was visibly stunned by the transformation. Ibrahimović jokingly asked, “What did you do? You lost a bet or what? Block me and erase my number.”
Indeed, for many male celebrities, long hair has become a signature look, with some transformations proving more successful than others. Click through the following gallery to find out which male stars rock the long-haired look.