The unrecognizable ex-Manchester United star admits he’s growing his beard ‘because it annoys my mum’

A former Man United legend started growing his beard as an experiment in lockdown and although he’s 59 it’s an attempt to tease his mum.

He’s been told the new look will make him look like Gandalf from Lord of the Rings – or that he might be homeless.

But in a new interview with FourFourTwo, Brian McClair likes to talk about the length of his beard and admits he has no idea how long his experiment will last.

When asked on Facebook how long McClair will be growing his face, the former forward replied: “I’m not sure. I started it as an experiment during lockdown.

“I’ve had it shortened a few times, but it allows for comments as if channeling my inner Gandalf, or allows me to respond to suggestions that I might be homeless.

“I think I’m doing this because it annoys my mother…”

In the interview he talks about his successful career in Scotland and of course the glory days that came with being one of Man United’s finest representatives.

In the 1990s, two things hit the cultural hit list in Manchester: Manchester United and Oasis.

Gallagher brothers Liam and Noel, of Britpop band fame, were helpers at a footballer’s car wash in their beloved Man City – and also at United.

McClair said he got a tape of early Oasis songs before they became world famous and that older brother Noel was “pretty partial to a penguin” and coffee while washing the star’s car.

While he hasn’t had any interaction with Noel since those early days, he later had an encounter with Liam Gallagher – and Man United legend Nicky Butt.

McClair said: “We were out somewhere and he said to Nicky Butt, ‘I’m the toughest in Oasis. Think you’re the toughest at United? Let’s get that straight – we’re going to have a scrap”.

“There had been no conversations or arguments and Liam wasn’t drunk. It was funny. There was no argument. Butty just said, “Pfft, whatever…”

For the last two years, “Choccy”, as McClair is nicknamed due to the resemblance to Eclair, has hosted the Life With Brian podcast – as another experimental thing the former Celtic and Scotland striker has been building during the pandemic.

In an interview with Mail Sport in February, McClair said he was always happy to interact with fans – when they recognized him and accepted he was who he said he was.

He said it led to bizarre situations where his friends were asked for autographs – even though they were sitting next to them.

McClair was one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s first signings at Manchester United in 1987 and he played for 11 years at Old Trafford, scoring 127 goals during his time there.

His time at the club coincided with one of Man United’s finest periods as a perpetual trophy-winner, with 15 competitive victories during McClair’s tenure, including four Premier League titles.

He also returned to the Red Devils and spent over a decade on the coaching staff, eventually as director of the youth academy.

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