Scott Brown, a former Celtic captain has admitted he used to shave his head during his playing days simply to intimidate opponents.
The 38-year-old Scotland midfielder, enjoyed an outstanding career in Scotland, racking up 787 appearances for Hibernian, Celtic, and Aberdeen from 2002 to 2022.
The midfielder is known mostly for his time at Celtic, where he made 619 appearances from 2007 to 2021 and won 22 trophies.
He also bagged 55 caps for Scotland, and after calling it quits from professional football in May 2023 after a short stint at Aberdeen – he took over as head coach of Fleetwood Town in the summer.
During his playing career, he had a full head of hair in his early days at Hibs, and when he made the switch to Celtic in 2007 he eventually went for the bald look which became how everyone knew him. It was then assumed he had lost the ability to grow any hair.
However, there was a shock when football returned after the COVID-19 shutdown and Celtic put out promotional pictures featuring their captain with his head filled with hair.
Fans were left to assume that Brown had gone for a hair transplant like many fellow professional footballers or if he was never actually bald all along.
By the time the first match was played, he had shaved the hair off again but after his retirement and going into management with Fleetwood and now Ayr United, the hair is back.
The 38-year-old has now admitted it was all an intimidation tactic.
Speaking to BBC Scotland: Brown said; “It’s 100 percent all my hair. If you want to touch it, feel free!”
Asked why he then chose to shave the hair off during his career, he explained; “To intimidate people. It worked quite well if I’m honest. During Covid, the kids asked if I actually did have hair and I wasn’t 100 percent sure if I actually could grow it or if I had a receiver”.
“So I thought ‘We’ll give it eight, nine weeks’, and it started to grow. I always had really thought, Brillo pad hair. No style to it whatsoever but it just grows out like a tennis ball.”
Brown explained how he got on the wrong side of Celtic’s media department, saying; “I ended up getting my first pictures going back to Celtic after Covid. Got the pictures with hair and then shaved it for the first game”.
He added; “So you can imagine the media team was not happy with me!”
The 38-year-old, who enjoyed a 20-year glittering career with Hibernian, Celtic and Aberdeen, created a reputation for his no-nonsense, win-at-all-costs mentality, especially during his trophy-laden spell at Celtic Park.
He was a talented midfielder who helped the Hoops lift 10 Scottish Premiership titles, but a crucial part of his game was the intimidation aspect.
The former Scotland captain bagged several accolades, including 10 Scottish Premiership titles, six Scottish Cups, and seven League Cups.
Scott Brown was popular for his dedication to being the tough guy. He shaved his head regularly to maintain this reputation.
What’s next for Scott Brown?
The Scottish former International will be seen on the sideline when his side Ayr United lock horns with Airdrieonians in a Scottish Championship game on Friday, March 29.
