Soccer Aid: Wayne Rooney to manage England in one-off game at Old Trafford vs World XI

Rooney will be joined the dugout by co-manager Sam Allardyce and coach David Seaman as they take on a World XI

Friday 21 August 2020 15:00 BST
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Wayne Rooney is currently player-coach at Derby County
Wayne Rooney is currently player-coach at Derby County (PA)

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Wayne Rooney will manage England in the Soccer Aid charity match at Old Trafford in September after being given special dispensation by Derby County, where he is player-coach.

Rooney will be joined the dugout by co-manager Sam Allardyce and coach David Seaman as they take on a World XI to raise money for Unicef.

“Previously, I have never been able to make the dates work, but this year was obviously different,” Rooney said. “I was enormously proud to be asked to manage the England team and although there will be no fans at the match, it is always special to go back to Old Trafford.

“Simply, representing your country is always a huge honour – and this game is no different.”

The game will be played behind closed doors on a date yet to be confirmed after it was postponed from its scheduled kick-off on 6 June.

Some of the players involved this year include former England internationals Kelly Smith, David James and Lianne Sanderson, as well as former Manchester United defenders Patrice Evra and Wes Brown, former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure, and former Spurs striker Robbie Keane.

This year’s celebrities include Olly Murs, Kem Cetinay, Marvin Humes, Joe Wicks, Jason Manford, Joel Dommett, Santan Dave and James Bay.

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