Wayne Rooney is set to make a return to Old Trafford this weekend for a charity match featuring Manchester United legends against Celtic legends.
Saturday’s match aims to raise funds for the Manchester United Foundation. Rooney will join forces with fellow former stars such as Michael Carrick, Antonio Valencia, Dimitar Berbatov, Nicky Butt, and Paul Scholes. The United Legends side will be managed by iconic midfielder Bryan Robson, with former striker Andy Cole assisting. The Celtic Legends will be led by Paul Lambert.
Although the United Legends team frequently plays in charity games, this will mark Rooney’s debut appearance with them. A spokesperson noted: “As one of the greatest players for both club and country, Rooney’s name transcends generations of United supporters and football fans worldwide. He remains one of the most celebrated figures in the sport’s history.
“On September 7th, Wayne will trade his coaching duties for a spot on the pitch at Old Trafford for the first time in seven years. With his well-documented admiration for Celtic, the Scottish team provides a fitting opponent.”
This comes after Rooney assumed a managerial role at Plymouth Argyle, signing a three-year contract following his departure from Birmingham City last season. Rooney, a former United captain, spent 13 years with the club, scoring 253 goals in 559 appearances, surpassing Sir Bobby Charlton’s previous record of 249 goals. Earlier this summer, Antonio Valencia expressed his excitement about returning to United, having participated in a charity match against Liverpool legends at Anfield in 2022—a match Rooney did not play in.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Valencia told United’s official website. “Whenever I get the invitation, I make sure to be there. It’s always fun to see old friends, the stadium, and my former teammates. I am eagerly anticipating it. The last time was incredible, an amazing game against one of our historic rivals, and it’s always special to support the Foundation.”
Leave a Reply