Former Manchester United captain and record goalscorer Wayne Rooney will be among the players returning to Old Trafford this week
Wayne Rooney will return to Old Trafford for a charity match involving Manchester United legends and Celtic legends this weekend.
Saturday's fixture will be played to raise funds for the Manchester United Foundation. Rooney will be joining forces with fellow greats including Michael Carrick, Antonio Valencia, Dimitar Berbatov, Nicky Butt, and Paul Scholes.
Rooney's team will be managed by legendary United midfielder Bryan Robson alongside ex-striker Andy Cole. The Celtic team will be led by Paul Lambert.
The United Legends team regularly play fixtures but this will be Rooney's first appearance. A spokesperson said: "One of the club and country’s greatest ever players, Rooney’s name is one to transcend generations of not just United supporters, but football fans worldwide, as one of the most celebrated players to have graced the game.
"Wayne will temporarily switch the dugout for the pitch when he returns to Old Trafford as a player for the first time in seven years on 7th September – and having previously spoken of his admiration for Celtic, the Scottish side provides an apt opponent."
It comes after Rooney took over at Plymouth Argyle in his latest club management role. Rooney signed a three-year contract with the Championship club after being sacked by Birmingham City last season.
Former club captain Rooney spent 13 years with United, scoring 253 goals in 559 games, which meant he bettered Sir Bobby Charlton's previous haul of 249 goals. Former United player Valencia opened up earlier this summer on his excitement at returning to United having previously been involved in a charity match against Liverpool legends at Anfield in 2022 - a match in which Rooney did not play.
"I'm so much looking forward to it," Valencia told United's official website. "Every time that I get the invitation, I make sure that I can be there. It's going to be fun to see so many friends, the stadium and my former team-mates. I'm really anticipating it. It was really great last time, an incredible game against a historic rival of ours and just to be able to help the Foundation.
