THIS former Manchester United star looks very different from his Old Trafford days.
He joined the Red Devils in a controversial 2004 transfer.
At the time he sported spiky blond hair and a clean-shaven face.
Aged 42, he now has a very different style.
Recently appearing in an All-Star five-aside match at Universal Studios, Florida, he wore his hair in a ponytail.
He has also ditched his clean cut look, now opting for grey stubble.
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Fans will be delighted to see him back in action, after he recently admitted that he still feels the after-effects of his awful 2006 leg break.
It was “touch and go” whether he would be able to resume his playing career.
But while he left Man United in 2007, he was able to keep playing for another 11 years.
He dropped down the leagues, such was his love of the game – even playing for £500 a week at one point.
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Our former Prem favourite is… Alan Smith.
The forward burst onto the scene with boyhood club Leeds United in 1998.
He helped the Whites to the Champions League semi-finals, but watched things fall apart as financial issues subsequently took hold.
Following Leeds’ relegation in 2004 he dismayed fans by joining huge rivals Man United in a £7million deal.
He went on to win a Premier League title with the Red Devils, despite suffering an awful broken leg after being struck by a John Arne Riise free-kick.
Smith left United in 2007 after making 93 appearances, scoring 12 goals.
His next stop was Newcastle, where he continued to adapt his game into a withdrawn midfield role.
He played five seasons at St James’ Park, which included a relegation and subsequent Championship title win.
As he got older he dropped down to League One with MK Dons, before eventually finishing his career at Notts County in League Two.
He went on to perform a player-coach role with County, even taking charge of a game as caretaker manager.
The injury made me a better person
Alan Smith
Following his 2018 retirement, Smith emigrated to Orlando, Florida.
He has worked coaching kids at the XL Soccer World Academy.
On what life has been like since his horrible leg break, he told the Mirror: “The injury made me a better person after doing so well so young.
“I learnt at any time, football can be over. I am lucky through sheer grit and determination I carried on playing.
“The good people I met lower down the leagues probably drove me on to stay in football longer. But by the end, the day-to-day training was doing more harm than good.
“I couldn’t compete at a level I felt I could easily before. I get out of bed and can’t walk properly, my ankle is stiff all the time.”
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Smith remains pals with former Leeds team-mate James Milner.
The duo smiled for a snap as they played golf together in New Jersey last year.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
