Yahoo News Soccer Aid 2024: Who is Stuart Broad playing for England?
Soccer Aid returns for another year with two teams of celebrities and former professional players going head to head in the charity match.
The game will take to the pitch at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge on 9 June in aid of UNICEF to help give kids a better start to life.
The line-up holds a list of famous faces including a new signing for former English cricketer Stuart Broad who will be joining the England team. The cricket star played Test cricket for the England Cricket team and captained in both one-day international and T20 cricket.
Stuart, 37, from Nottinghamshire, is the second-highest wicket-taker in English Test match history and has the Test cricket record for the most runs in both the 9 and 10 batting positions and joined the list of bowlers to take 600 wickets in the game.
READ MORE: Soccer Aid 2024 date, tickets, how to watch on TV and team line-ups
He retired after giving England a final Test victory in the 2023 Ashes series, writes a column for the Mail on Sunday and is the author of several books including his autobiography Broadly Speaking.
Broad was appointed an MBE in the 2016 Birthday Honours List and a CBE in the 2024 New Year Honours List for both services to cricket. He is part of an elite group of players and is engaged to girlband The Saturday's pop singer Mollie King.
Speaking ahead of this year's game Stuart said: “To put on an England shirt again, even if it’s not a cricket one, will feel pretty cool". He added: "I’ve been playing five-a-side on Monday nights, but it’s a little bit of a step up marking Usain Bolt.
“I saw Harry and he told me ‘I’ve heard Usain has a bit of pace’, so I’ll need to work on that high line. I’d probably class it as diving in at the deep end, playing at the Bridge in front of a full house, live on TV, with some of the world’s best talent.
“It’s not doing things by halves. I’m looking to present myself as a no-nonsense centre-back, win my aerial battles and if I get in trouble just kick it out. I might wear a Forest under-shirt to keep the passion up.”
The cricketer will join the England team with Sir Mo Farah, Steven Bartlett, Jermain Defoe, Jill Scott (Captain), David James (Professional Goalkeeper), Gary Cahill, Joe Cole, Karen Carney, Sam Thompson and, Bobby Brazier.
You’ll also see Miniminter, Paddy McGuiness (Celebrity Goalkeeper), David Seaman (Goalkeeping Coach), Tom Grennan, Jack Wilshere, Alex Brooker, Erin Doherty, Steven Bartlett, Danny Dyer, Theo Walcott and Ellen White at the match for the team.
England have won five times since the game began in 2006 but their last victory hasn't been since 2018 with World XI on a record five-year winning streak.
The World XI FC line-up features celebs and former pros including returning team favourites Usain Bolt (Captain), Jesus Perez (Coach), Roman Kemp, Martin Compston, Lee Mack, Theo Baker, Tommy Fury, Maisie Adam, Eden Hazard, Diamond, Roberto Carlos, Kaylyn Kyle, John Obi Mikel, Jason Manford, Petr Cech, Patrice Evra and Michel Essein.
Frank Lampard joins Harry Redknapp and Robbie Williams as England manager and facing them down will be Mauricio Pochettino, returning as manager for Soccer Aid World XI.
Since 2006 - when UNICEF UK Ambassador Robbie Williams co-founded the concept - Soccer Aid has raised over £90m to support UNICEF in providing support to millions of children around the world to have healthy and happy lives.
Robbie Williams said: “Soccer Aid for UNICEF is one of the biggest sources of joy in my life. It is an amazing event. When we launched this nearly two decades ago, I would never have dreamed it would raise as much money as it has.
“The main reason the match continues to be such a success, is because the great British public continue to be so generous in supporting UNICEF’s work helping children around the world have happy, healthy, play-filled childhoods. Once again, I am kindly asking you to buy a ticket to the game on Sunday 9th June at Stamford Bridge – the line-up is as star-studded as ever! Thank you for all of your continued support."
Soccer Aid takes place on Sunday 9 June at Stamford Bridge.
