Former Chelsea star looks unrecognisable after Premier League winner vowed to become monk

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Former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman committed to becoming a monk after ending his career and now looks unrecognisable in a shock transformation. The 46-year-old long displayed his commitment to religion, specifically through the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Kezman has numerous tattoos dedicated to the church and regularly wore an undershirt portraying Jesus Christ during his playing days. The former striker enjoyed a nomadic footballing career that spanned nine countries, but he'll certainly be remembered best by Premier League fans for the one season he spent at Stamford Bridge.

After establishing himself as one of Europe's deadliest finishers at PSV Eindhoven with 129 goals in 176 games, Kezman earned a £5million move to the Blues in Jose Mourinho 's first season in charge.

However, he could never translate his potency in front of goal in the Netherlands to England, scoring just seven goals in 41 games. He did, however, pick up a Premier League winner's medal and the League Cup trophy - while scoring the winner in the 3-2 final win over Liverpool .

Believing he had a higher calling than his sporting career , Kezman previously revealed his intention to become a monk. Speaking to the Standard in 2012, he insisted: "I want to become a monk. It is God's decision. But if God calls me, I will do it."

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Despite his passion for the vocation, Kezman instead went down the route of becoming a football agent, with Al-Hilal star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic his most notable client. It's been almost 21 years since he left west London for Atletico Madrid, and the former forward now looks drastically different from his younger days .

Kezman sports a receding hairline and quite the shaggy, partially grey beard, which makes him near unrecognisable to the player who starred for various clubs across the world . Despite not living up to expectations at Chelsea , Kezman once revealed his delight in his experience at Stamford Bridge, albeit regretting his failure to repay the faith of the fans.

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"I am very happy and proud of my time in Chelsea in one year, but now it is behind me," Kezman previously told the Evening Chronicle. "I am very sad because of all the supporters in Chelsea, but it was a year with a lot of stress. For one year they were all behind me, giving me support in the stadium and on the street as well.

"I owe them more goals - one day it might happen, I might be back to Chelsea, you never know. But for now, I want to play and Mourinho was not going to give me a chance."

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Former Blues team-mate Glen Johnson discussed how Kezman's frustration at Chelsea left him taking his anger out in the dressing room. The ex-England defender told Betting Expert: "I don't remember what game it was but I remember what the dressing room was like! He smashed a few lockers up, put a few holes in the seats.

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