SOCCER AID NETS ROONEY SIGNING
WAYNE Rooney will play in Soccer Aid 2021 when England take on a World XI at the Etihad Stadium in September.
The Derby boss, 35, was the Three Lions manager in last year’s Unicef fundraiser, which the World XI won in a penalty shootout at Old Trafford.
Fara Williams, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes will team up with Rooney, while Micah Richards will join England’s coaching team and Usain Bolt will be back for his third appearance for the World XI.
Rooney, 35, England’s all-time record scorer with 53 goals, said: “Pulling on an England shirt is always special, so I’m delighted to be doing that again in Soccer Aid for Unicef.
“Managing the team last year was great but being around the players made me want to lace up the boots again – now I’ve got that chance, one last time.” Richards added: “Usain Bolt running at Gary Neville. Rooney out of retirement. Me making my coaching debut. What more do you want? This is going to be so good.”
Harry Redknapp will return as World XI manager, and he will be joined by the likes of Roberto Carlos and Patrice Evra.
The celebrities include Olly Murs, Mark Wright, Paddy Mcguinness, Ore Oduba, Kem Cetinay, Liv Cooke and Roman Kemp. Alex Scott will be the host in Manchester.
Since Unicef UK ambassador Robbie Williams co-founded the concept in 2006, Soccer Aid has raised over £47million.
Last year’s game bagged a record-breaking £9.3m. The money this year could help Unicef deliver two billion Covid vaccines to healthcare workers around the world.