A former Man United legend has started growing his beard as part of a lockdown experiment, and despite being 59 it’s an attempt to annoy his mum.
He’s been told the new look makes him look like Gandalf from Lord of the Rings – or he might be homeless.
But in a new interview with FourFourTwo, Brian McClair is happy to talk about the length of his beard, and admits he has no idea how long his experience lasted.
In response to a question on Facebook about how long McClair will develop his face fair, the former striker replied: “I’m not too sure. I started it as an experiment during lockdown.
“I’ve had it cut several times, but it allows for comments like I’m channeling my inner Gandalf, or allows me to respond to suggestions that I might be homeless.
Brian McClair confused supporters with his experience in lockdown to grow a long beard
McClair was part of four Premier League winning teams during his time at Manchester United
“I think I do it because it annoys my mother…”
In the interview, he talks about his successful career in Scotland and, of course, the glory days that followed being one of Man United’s top representatives.
In the 1990s in Manchester, there were two things on the cultural hit list: Manchester United and Oasis.
Gallagher brothers Liam and Noel, who rose to fame with the Britpop group, have helped a car wash business for footballers at their beloved Man City – and United too.
McClair said he was given a tape of early Oasis songs, before they became world famous, and that his older brother, Noel, was ‘rather a fan of a penguin’ and a coffee during his laundry job of the star’s car.
Although he hasn’t had any interaction with Noel since those early days, he did have a meeting with Liam Gallagher later on – and fellow Man United legend Nicky Butt.
McClair said: “We were somewhere and he was saying to Nicky Butt, ‘I’m the toughest one in Oasis. Do you think you’re the toughest at United? Let’s settle this – we’ll have a fight.”
Noel (L) and Liam Gallagher washed Manchester players’ cars before they became famous
Liam Gallagher has threatened to part ways with Man United legend Nicky Butt in a subsequent meeting
“There had been no conversation or falling out, and Liam was not drunk. It was funny. A fight did not take place. Butty just said “Pfft, whatever…”‘
For the past two years, ‘Choccy’, as McClair is known due to his similarity to lightning, has run the Life With Brian podcast – as another experimental thing the former Celtic and Scotland striker has put on. in place during the pandemic.
In an interview with Mail Sport in February, McClair said he was always happy to interact with fans – if they recognized him and accepted he was who he said he was.
He said it has led to bizarre situations where his friends have been invited for autographs – despite being seated next to them.
McClair was one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s first signings for Manchester United in 1987, and he played at Old Trafford for 11 years, scoring 127 goals during his time there.
His time with the club coincided with one of Man United’s brightest spells as perennial trophy winners, with 15 competitive wins in McClair’s time, including four Premier League titles.
He also returned to the Red Devils, spending over a decade in the coaching staff, eventually as director of the youth academy.