Chelsea FA Cup winner looks unrecognisable without iconic moustache 18 years after retiring

THIS former Chelsea star has shed his iconic moustache since hanging up his boots.

A Blues regular between 1997 and 2003, he wore his famous facial hair with distinction at Stamford Bridge.

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He played 179 times for Chelsea after joining from Feyenoord for £2.25million, helping them win the FA Cup, League Cup and Cup Winners' Cup.

But following the emergence of Carlo Cudicini, the stopper's importance waned.

In the 2002-03 season he played just twice in the Premier League.

At the end of the campaign he was released on a free transfer aged 36.

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Rather than hang up his gloves, he managed to find another club in England.

He dropped down a division to join Stoke City.

Initially first choice, the Dutchman then faced competition in his second campaign.

In his third he lost his place altogether with Steve Simonsen assuming first team duties.

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Following his Potters release in 2006, Ed de Goey retired aged 39.

Having clearly gotten comfortable in West London during his Chelsea stint, De Goey began his coaching career with Queens Park Rangers in 2007.

After less than a full season he was axed as goalkeeper coach by Rs chairman Gianni Paladini - and he has not worked in English football since.

He spent four years as Dutch side RKC Waalwijk's goalkeeper coach after joining in 2010, before joining amateur side DHC Delft.

In 2018, he became goalkeeper coach at fifth-tier VOC Rotterdam - having spent five years as a player at neighbours Sparta.

De Goey has also featured on a Sparta podcast entitled "Sparta naar Voren!"

Now 57, he appears clean-shaven, with thinning hair on the sides of his head.

In addition to his other responsibilities, De Goey also runs a goalkeeper school.

The academy is based in Berkel, around a 15-minute drive from Rotterdam.

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