Coronavirus lockdown: San Jose boss Almeyda channels Walter White of 'Breaking Bad' with new look

ByChris Wright ESPN logo
Tuesday, April 14, 2020

With almost all football postponed indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic, star players have found themselves at a loose end.

With many training grounds off-limits, clubs have sent footballers home, where they're adhering to an isolation period for the next few weeks. How are they passing the time?

ESPN will be keeping a daily eye on what the world's best are up to, as well as how clubs are keeping busy by battling in online competitionsagainst each other.

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Matias Almeyda

San Jose Earthquakes head coach Matias Almeyda has bitten the bullet and given himself the obligatory isolation haircut.

After shaving his long locks, the 46-year-old -- whose longtime nickname "El Pelado" can be translated as "The Bald One" -- unveiled his dramatic new lookduring a takeover of the club's Twitter account on Monday.

It wasn't long before people began likening Almeyda's severe crop to that of a certain Walter White.

Indeed, the Quakes themselves even slipped in a quote from the "Breaking Bad" character -- or more specifically his nefarious alter-ego, Heisenberg -- while debuting their coach's image overhaul.

As if to complete his transition into Heisenberg mode, former Argentina international midfielder Almeyda also revealed that he's taking English lessons to help pass the time.

Almeyda becomes the latest in a long line of footballers to go under the clippers with David Beckham, Eden Hazard, Paul Pogbaand Hector Bellerinjust some of the star names to have already shaved their heads while cooped up in isolation.

Something tells us that the longer the barbers remain closed, the more famous domes we'll be seeing.

David Luiz

To help stave off boredom, Arsenal defender David Luiz has taken to making cups of tea in the most David Luiz manner imaginable.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ibra upped the ante in his ongoing freestyle duel with Pogba by pulling off an extended compilation of tricks.

We are not remotely surprised to learn that Zlatan has large images of Zlatan plastered all over his home gym walls.

Florian Thauvin

Marseille winger Florian Thauvin utilised a rather special item of set dressing to elevate his viral dance challenge above the humdrum. The France international just casually threw his World Cup winner's replica trophy into the mix as he jigged about the lounge with his partner,Charlotte Pirroni.

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