Man Utd title winner looks unrecognisable as he joins former club for the third time at 35 in emotional reunion
A FORMER Manchester United star looks unrecognisable after returning to his boyhood club.
The ace spent two years at Old Trafford but crucially that included the 2012-13 season as Sir Alex Ferguson lifted his 13th Premier League title.
He only made five league appearances in his debut season after signing while in a chippy – even scoring and assisting in a 4-0 win over Wigan on his debut.
However, he was granted a winner’s medal after Fergie approved a special dispensation.
The footballer, 35, then scored on the final day of the season in a bonkers 5-5 draw with West Brom, the legendary Scot’s last match as boss.
He continued to play a back-up role in defence under David Moyes the following season.
However, he did rack up eight further Premier League games and 15 appearances in all competitions.
But the Dutchman was sold in 2014 to Dynamo Moscow and he has since had spells in Belgium, America and back in his homeland.
Now, though, he has penned a deal with Vitesse Arnhem in Holland’s second division – and rocks a totally different appearance from his Red Devils days with a new blonde hairstyle after ditching his iconic look.
The defender came through the academy at Vitesse having joined aged 16 following a stint with Ajax and made his name at the club to earn his Old Trafford transfer.
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He returned to the GelreDome in January 2017 but left two-and-a-half years later – only to pen a fresh contract at the club in August 2024 at the age of 35.
But who is the mystery player, who has even launched a clothing brand as a lucrative side hustle?
It is none other than Alexander Buttner.
The left-back was famous for his Mohican during his time in England.
However, he struggled for regular minutes in the starting XI as he found himself behind Patrice Evra in the pecking order.
Buttner added the KNVB Cup with Vitesse in 2017 to go with his Premier League medal.
Despite representing the Netherlands at Under-19s and U20s level, he did not earn a senior cap for his country.
Ironically, Buttner is now a team-mate of his cousin Giovanni Buttner at Vitesse, who were relegated from the Eredivisie last season after finishing bottom.
The duo, born more than ten years apart, played together at De Graafschap and were reunited at Vitesse when Giovanni joined the club in September – a month after Alexander did the same.