It’s now ten years since the brainchild of Robbie Williams and Jonathan Wilkes came to life on the football pitch. The two star-studded squads will once again go head to head in what promises to be another electrifying match on Sunday 5th June, broadcast live on ITV from Manchester United’s legendary Old Trafford Stadium, all in aid of Unicef, the world’s leading children’s organisation.
Joining the England team this year will be pop star Olly Murs, TV and Heart FM presenter Mark Wright, pop star and presenter Marvin Humes; plus comedian Paddy McGuinness, Jonathan Wilkes, and GMB’s Ben Shephard. Dusting off their boots once again will be comedians Jack Whitehall and John Bishop with TV and Heart FM presenter Jamie Theakston in goal.
Unicef UK Ambassador Robbie Williams will be Assistant Manager for the England team.
Tickets are now on sale for fans to see their favourite superstars take each other on at Old Trafford, announcing the match Robbie Williams said: “It’s not often you get the chance to do something so worthwhile on a scale like this and for Soccer Aid to be celebrating its 10th anniversary is just incredible. Every time it gets bigger and better and with a star line up set to play for England, I think I’ve landed the best job. I can’t wait to feel the atmosphere at Old Trafford again, hearing the crowd roar as we take on the Rest of the World. This year we’re going to try and smash our fundraising record for Unicef to help keep even more children around the world safe.”
England are taking on The Rest of the World squad which will be led once again by Unicef UK Ambassador and Captain Michael Sheen. He will be backed up on the pitch by Michelin-starred Chef Gordon Ramsay, pop star and presenter Nicky Byrne and Kiss FM and ITV presenter Rickie Haywood-Williams.
The football legends who will be participating are still to be announced.
The tenth anniversary match promises to be bigger, better and bolder than ever before as the world’s biggest stars from sport, music, television and film play in a jaw-dropping game to raise money and vital support for Unicef’s work for children in danger. The money raised through profits from ticket sales and donations made by viewers during the match will add to the incredible £17 million that has already been raised for Unicef to help provide children with nutritious food, vaccines and clean water, as well as protecting them from violence, exploitation and abuse. The biennial live event will be hosted by Soccer Aid veteran Dermot O’Leary with Sky Sports News presenter Kirsty Gallacher once again pitch side to report on all the red and yellow action as it happens.
This will be the sixth Soccer Aid event, with previous matches held at Wembley in 2008 and at Old Trafford in 2006, 2010, 2012 and 2014 raising over £17 million in total for Unicef.
ENGLAND
Joining the England team this year will be One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, popstar Olly Murs, TV personality and Heart FM radio host Mark Wright, pop star and presenter Marvin Humes plus television presenters Paddy McGuinness and Ben Shephard. Dusting off their boots once again will be comedians Jack Whitehall and John Bishop with TV Presenter and Heart FM DJ Jamie Theakston in goal.
Jose Mourinho will manage the team, assisted by Unicef UK Ambassador Robbie Williams and Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce. Bradley Walsh returns as the moral boosting England coach.
The Soccer Aid line-up for England so far includes:
ENGLAND MANAGEMENT
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|---|---|---|---|
| Jose Mourinho (Manager) |
Robbie Williams (Assistant Manager) |
Sam Allardyce (Assistant Manager) |
Bradley Walsh (Coach) |
ENGLAND CELEBRITIES
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Wilkes (Captain) |
Louis Tomlinson | Olly Murs | Damian Lewis | Paddy McGuinness |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Shephard | Jack Whitehall | John Bishop | Mark Wright | Marvin Humes |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Jones | Jamie Theakston (Goalkeeper) |
ENGLAND LEGENDS
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamie Carragher | Robbie Fowler | Phil Neville | Sol Campbell | Jermain Defoe |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Murphy | Kieron Dyer | David Seaman (Goalkeeper) |
REST OF THE WORLD
England is taking on The Rest of the World squad which will be managed by Leicester City’s Claudio Ranieri. Unicef UK Ambassador Michael Sheen is team captain and he will be backed up on the pitch by Michelin-starred Chef Gordon Ramsay, popstar and presenter Nicky Byrne and Kiss FM host Rickie Haywood-Williams.
REST OF THE WORLD MANAGEMENT
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|---|---|
| Claudio Ranieri (Manager) |
Niall Horan (Assitant Manager) |
REST OF THE WORLD CELEBRITIES
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Sheen (Captain) |
Nicky Byrne | Sergio Pizzorno | Sir AP McCoy | Matthew Morrison |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shayne Ward | Iwan Rheon | Sean Fletcher | Thom Evans | Gareth Thomas |
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|---|---|
| Rickie Haywood-Williams | Patrick Kielty (Goalkeeper) |
REST OF THE WORLD LEGENDS
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronaldinho | Cafu | Jaap Stam | Fabio Cannavaro | Dimitar Berbatov |
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| Edgar Davids | Samuel Eto’o | Dida (Goalkeeper) |
Get involved in #SoccerAid chat by following @Unicef_UK and @SoccerAid on Twitter for the latest line-up announcements.
THE RULES
Each squad has 12 celebrities, six legends – including one goalkeeper – and a professional manager. In the first half each team plays with their professional goalie and in the second their celebrity goalkeeper takes to the pitch (so expect goals!)
There are no rolling substitutions so once a player comes off they can’t come back on unless the match goes to a penalty shoot out.
If the game is tied at 90 minutes the match goes straight to a penalty shoot out between the celebrity players only.