Union Berlin player Tom Rothe has radically changed his look by cutting off his long blonde hair. The 21-year-old followed the example of star striker Erling Haaland, putting an end to a funny case of mistaken identity within the squad. This was reported by Bild Sport this week.
Rothe posted the result of his barber visit on Instagram. He captioned it: "Damit ihr mich nicht mehr mit Leo verwechselt," which translates to "So you don't confuse me with Leo anymore." This was a nod to his teammate Leopold Querfeld. Both are around 1.90 meters tall, in their early twenties, and previously sported similar blonde curly hair. The resemblance was so strong that even broadcaster Sky mixed them up. After a cup match in Braunschweig, Sky interviewed Leopold Querfeld but incorrectly displayed the name "Tom Rothe" in the lower third. Rothe shared a screenshot of this moment on Instagram.
How did teammates react?
Reactions from the team were swift. Former Union player Ilyas Ansah commented on Rothe's post with "Tolle Entscheidung, Leo!" meaning "Great decision, Leo!". Dmytro Bogdanov, the 19-year-old loanee from Cottbus, simply wrote "Haaland" under the picture. The club itself picked up on the action on its official X account. Union shared both images – the new short haircut and the Sky screenshot – with the caption: "Zukünftig keine Verwechslungsgefahr mehr," or "No more risk of confusion in the future."
What does the change mean for the season?
The humorous incident provides a brief distraction from sporting duties. Union Berlin started the 2026/27 Bundesliga season with a draw and currently sits in 9th place with one point. The team has scored three goals and conceded three in one match. In the table, the Köpenick side is now two points behind leaders Bayern Munich. The next major challenge awaits on November 21st with a home match against third-placed RB Leipzig. You can check the full schedule on our fixtures page.
What does the new look say about Tom Rothe?
The radical haircut is more than just a fashion trend. It signals a fresh start and perhaps increased professionalism, reminiscent of role models like Erling Haaland. For Rothe, who is aiming for a bigger role in Union Berlin's squad this season, the new look could also be a symbol of focusing on essentials. The current squad overview and player stats are available on our squad page. With the opening draw, Union has laid a solid foundation for the coming weeks, even if the defence, with three goals conceded, is not yet optimal. You can follow the exact league data in the current standings.
The focus is now fully on the sporting path. The next home match against RB Leipzig on November 21, 2026, will be a first test for the entire team and perhaps also for Tom Rothe with his new appearance.
