I’m to blame. I was terribly ill when I failed at Liverpool, and I regret what I did following transfer talks.

“The cult hero from Liverpool is no longer recognisable as a manager at all.”

When searching the internet, we frequently come across headlines like this, and nine times out of ten, we’re not impressed with the outcome. However, in Andrea Dossena’s instance, these media outlets might be correct.

The Italian was targeted in this way back during the November international break, and many websites jumped on the bandwagon.

Following the initial sensation that went viral and informed the rest of the world, two more hits appeared in the following 24 hours: “Liverpool icon who scored vs Man Utd now unrecognisable with full head of hair” and “Liverpool cult hero looks unrecognisable in their new manager role – as former full-back is pictured on the touch-line in Italy’s third division.”

Yes, that is true. Dossena was a skinhead defender when Rafa Benitez signed him in July 2008 for a fee of £7 million. After a disastrous spell at Anfield, he was sold to Napoli at a loss eighteen months later. The next season, he faced his old team in the Europa League, with thick, dark locks.