Download Jaap Stam, Edwin van der Sar and Patrick Kluivert VTs and images here
- The Dutch trio join the likes of Usain Bolt, Robbie Williams, Sir Mo Farah and Yaya Touré who will also take part.
- Tickets for the match are on sale now. Visit com/socceraid or call 0161 444 2018
- All public donations to Soccer Aid for Unicef will be matched by the UK Government
- Soccer Aid for Unicef will be broadcast exclusively on ITV
12th April 2018 – Three of Holland’s most decorated players have announced they will take part in Soccer Aid for Unicef this summer. Patrick Kluivert will make his debut for the Soccer Aid World XI, with Jaap Stam returning at the heart of the defence in front of goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar who has also starred previously.
The Dutch triumvirate – two of which, Stam and van der Sar, enjoyed successful club careers with Manchester United at Old Trafford – will team up with compatriot Clarence Seedorf who has already announced that he too will play for the Soccer Aid World XI.
An imposing central defender, Jaap Stam won a range of trophies with some of Europe’s top clubs across a 15-year career. Included in this was a three-year stay at Manchester United, where he is remembered fondly as part of the ’99 treble-winning side.
Edwin van der Sar was one of the finest goalkeepers of his generation. He enjoyed spells with Ajax, Juventus and Fulham before a move to Old Trafford materialised in 2005. During six years with the Reds he won four Premier Leagues, a UEFA Champions League and a League Cup.
One of Europe’s most clinical finishers ever, Patrick Kluivert scored goals for the likes of Ajax, AC Milan and Barcelona during a glittering career which saw him win domestic league titles in Holland and Spain, as well as the ’95 UEFA Champions League. He also played for Newcastle United, Valencia, PSV Eindhoven and Lille OSC. By the time he retired from international football in 2004, he had scored 40 goals in 79 appearances, including the Golden Boot at Euro 2000.
The UK Government will match every £1 donated by the public through its UK Aid Match scheme, doubling the difference for children in danger around the world.
Penny Mordaunt, International Development Secretary, said: “We are excited to be involved once again this year in what promises to be the biggest Soccer Aid for Unicef to date. The UK Government will match public donations pound-for-pound, meaning that, together, we can double the number of children around the world who will benefit from Soccer Aid.”
Jaap Stam, Soccer Aid World XI, said: “Soccer Aid for Unicef is a brilliant initiative and I am delighted to be playing once again. This year we want to raise more money than ever before, so please come out and support us. Having lost in 2016, we’re out to win the trophy back this year and the Soccer Aid World XI is looking strong. I think we’ve got a great chance!”
Edwin van der Sar, Soccer Aid World XI, said: “I’m really excited to be back playing at Old Trafford. I’ve won one and lost one Soccer Aid match so far, so I’m keen to make it two wins, but this game is a lot more significant than that. The work Unicef does around the world can only continue with your help, so please come along with your friends and family to support their work.”
Patrick Kluivert, Soccer Aid World XI, said: “Old Trafford was such a great place to play football and I can’t wait to get back out on the pitch in my first Soccer Aid match. The atmosphere was always electric and I am sure the fans who come along on June 10th will really make some noise.”
Additionally, Soccer Aid for Unicef co-founder Jonathan Wilkes has confirmed that he is unable to take part in this year’s match due to existing work commitments abroad. Jonathan and Robbie Williams created the Soccer Aid concept in 2006 and since then Jonathan has been integral to the development of the charity which has raised £24million.
Jonathan Wilkes, Soccer Aid for Unicef co-founder, said: “Unfortunately due to work commitments, I can’t play in this year’s match. Nonetheless, I’d like to say a big thank you to everybody who is taking part this year and especially the fans who have donated money over the years to make Soccer Aid the success it is – let’s make this the biggest and best one yet! It’s also great news that donations will be matched pound for pound by the UK Government, doubling the difference for children in danger around the world.”
Over the coming weeks, the England vs. Soccer Aid World XI rivalry is set to intensify further, with some of football’s biggest legends and celebrities set to join Usain Bolt, Robbie Williams, Sir Mo Farah, Olly Murs, Brendan Cole, Gordon Ramsay, Clarence Seedorf, Robert Pirès, Joe Wicks, Mark Wright, Yaya Touré, Michael Owen, Paddy McGuiness and now Jaap Stam, Edwin van der Sar and Patrick Kluivert in what is set to be a game like no other.
The international friendly match will take place at Old Trafford on Sunday 10th June, just four days before the FIFA World Cup in Russia begins. Tickets are on sale now and the game will be broadcast live on ITV. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 BST.
Unicef, the world’s leading organisation for children, has joined forces with ITV to make the pro-celebrity football match bigger and better than ever, with more potential to raise money and vital support for children in danger. Soccer Aid for Unicef is produced by Initial, part of Endemol Shine UK, for ITV.
100% of all public donations to Soccer Aid for Unicef will be doubled by the UK Government, up to a total of £5 million, and go towards supporting the vital work protecting children around the world. So far, £24 million has already been raised through Soccer Aid over the last 12 years.
Swiss watchmaker Hublot and Global Sports Brand PUMA are Official Soccer Aid World XI Partners, with both brands acting as kit sponsors for the Soccer Aid World XI team.
Tickets for the Soccer Aid for Unicef football match on Sunday 10th June 2018 at Old Trafford are available now at www.manutd.com/socceraid or by calling 0161 444 2018 with tickets priced between £10 and £50.
Visit socceraid.org.uk to find out more and follow @SoccerAid on Twitter and Instagram, ‘Soccer Aid’ on Facebook and use the hashtag #SoccerAid for regular player and match updates.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
For more information on Soccer Aid for Unicef please call 0207 375 6030 or email [email protected]
- Download Jaap Stam, Patrick Kluivert and Edwin van der Sar VTs and images here.
To buy tickets for Soccer Aid for Unicef match at Old Trafford on Sunday 10th June 2018, please visit www.manutd.com/socceraid or call 0161 444 2018. Calls will be charged at your local rate.
Ticket prices range from £20 to £50 for adults, with under 16s priced at £10 and over 65s half price on all seats. Hospitality packages also available. Proceeds raised through ticket sales will not be Aid Matched.
About Soccer Aid Productions Limited
The multi-stakeholder project of Soccer Aid for Unicef will be run by newly-formed Soccer Aid Productions, a collaboration between Unicef UK and Triple S Events part of the Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group.
About ITV Responsibility
ITV, as an integrated producer broadcaster, creates, owns and distributes high-quality content on multiple platforms. We operate the largest commercial family of channels in the UK and deliver our content through traditional television broadcasting as well as on demand via the ITV Hub. For more information please visit itvplc.com.
ITV’s social purpose is to use its influence on popular culture to create positive change. Our on-screen social cause strategy is focussed on health and wellbeing, to inspire, engage and empower people to make a difference to their own and other people’s health. For more information please visit itvresponsibility.com.
About Initial
Initial is one of the UK’s leading entertainment content creators and producers. Part of Endemol Shine UK, the UK’s largest television production group, Initial is behind hit shows such as Big Brother, Tenable and Total Wipeout. Initial has been the producer of Soccer Aid since its inception in 2006 and has produced all 6 events for ITV.
About Hublot
Hublot, the Swiss luxury watchmaker, is to be the official timekeeper of the Soccer Aid for Unicef match at Old Trafford on 10th June. From in-house watch complications, including award-winning minute repeaters and tourbillons, to revolutionary materials such as patented and scratch resistant Magic Gold, coloured Texalium carbon fibre, and transparent sapphire cases to world class collaborations such as Ferrari, FIFA™ World Cup, UEFA Champions League and Europa LeagueTM, Hublot characterises itself through the “Art of Fusion” philosophy, bringing tradition into the future. On a commercial level, the network of stores currently stands at more than 80 exclusive boutiques around the world (Geneva, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Paris, London, Berlin, Moscow, New York, Miami, Beverly Hills, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumpur, Ginza, Frankfurt, Zermatt…). For more information, visit www.hublot.com
About PUMA
PUMA is one of the world’s leading Sports Brands, designing, developing, selling and marketing footwear, apparel and accessories. For over 65 years, PUMA has established a history of making fast product designs for the fastest athletes on the planet. PUMA offers performance and sport-inspired lifestyle products in categories such as Football, Running and Training, Golf, and Motorsports. It engages in exciting collaborations with renowned design brands to bring innovative and fast designs to the sports world. The PUMA Group owns the brands PUMA, Cobra Golf and Dobotex. The company distributes its products in more than 120 countries, employs more than 11,000 people worldwide, and is headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany. For more information, please visit: http://www.puma.com
About UK Government Aid Match
Donations to Soccer Aid for Unicef made by the UK public from Friday 6th April until Friday 6th July 2018 will be matched by the UK Government up to £5 million. UK Aid Match funding will go towards UNICEF programmes in Swaziland and Lesotho.
The UK Aid Match scheme is run by the Department for International Development, and brings charities, the British public and the UK government together to collectively change the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. For every £1 donated to a selected charity appeal, the government will also contribute £1 of UK aid to enable the charity to go further in changing and saving lives.