Soccer
  • Home
  • Football
  • Six Footballing Facts You Might Not Know About Soccer Aid Ahead Of The Event

Six footballing facts you might not know about Soccer Aid ahead of the 2022 event

Soccer and showbusiness combine as the world’s biggest celebrity football match, Soccer Aid, convenes for its 11th outing on Sunday, June 12.

Soccer Aid for UNICEF has raised millions since its inception in 2006, enabling children around the world to stay happy, healthy and able to play.
It has also given us an opportunity to see just how big a gulf there is between enthusiastic amateurs from the world of entertainment and seasoned ex-pros.
Ahead of the clash between England and the World XI at the London Stadium, Planet Sport digs out six footballing facts about the charity match, which last year raised a record-breaking £13million for UNICEF.

You don't substitute Maradona, even in a charity game

Soccer Aid is renowned for the amount of substitutions that take place during a game.

Despite that, in the ten previous editions of the game, 47 players have managed to see out the full 90 minutes, among them names as diverse as Zinedine Zidane, Diego Maradona and actor Michael Greco.

Eighteen players have managed to do it at least twice, including John Terry and Rudimental's Locksmith, with only five having stayed on for an entire game on three or more occasions.

As co-founder of Soccer Aid, Jonathan Wilkes has made the most of his once-yearly TV exposure, pulling the 'it's my ball rule' to stay on the pitch for the duration six times.

Mark Wright's decent semi-pro background has seen him complete a full 90 minutes four times, while presenter Ben Shephard has also racked up four 90 minutes.

Teddy Sheringham has seen out the full game three times, with Jaap Stam being the only player from the Rest of the World side to do the same.

Jon Moss has produced the only red card

There have been just five bookings since the first Soccer Aid in 2006, with Paddy McGuinness receiving the first in England's 3-1 win in 2012.

Actor Sam Worthington, presenter Stephen Mulhern, Fabio Cannavaro and Edgar Davids have also been on the receiving end of yellows, with Davids perhaps lucky to stay on the pitch after his altercation with Wilkes in 2014.

Only one player has been sent off, with Shephard dismissed for a foul on Dimitar Berbatov in 2016 which brought about a second yellow from referee Jon Moss who was much more likely to see clear fouls in those days.

Former Gunners goalie holds the appearance record

Soccer Aid might be Jonathan Wilkes' baby (or his and Robbie Williams' baby if you prefer), but despite that the *checks Wikipedia* English entertainer does not hold the appearance record for the event. That honour goes to former Arsenal keeper David Seaman who appeared in the first eight games before being replaced by David James for the last two.

Being replaced is nothing new for Seaman, though, with the England keeper playing just the first half of each of those eight games before making way for a celebrity keeper. For the record, he has conceded six goals in those eight halves, with Kasabian's Serge Pizzorno and sprinter Usain Bolt among those to have beaten him.

Ben Shephard, Olly Murs and Jamie Redknapp have all appeared seven times, with Wilkes on six.

Harry Redknapp has found a role he is suited to

Harry Redknapp will be in charge of the England side for the 2022 edition of Soccer Aid, the seventh time he has managed one of the teams.

The former West Ham boss has taken charge of the England side twice previously, in 2008 and 2010, winning one and losing the other on penalties.

He has subsequently been the manager for the Rest of the World/Word XI four times, boasting a record of three victories (two on penalties) and one defeat (also on penalties).
Sam Allardyce has been in the dugout on five occasions for England.

Seedorf's goalscoring record under threat

Former Netherlands international Clarence Seedorf is top of the Soccer Aid goalscoring charts having netted four times in two appearances, including the event's only hat-trick in the Rest of the World's 4-2 win over England in 2014.

Two of his nearest challengers are both in action on June 12, however, with Teddy Seringham having netted three in three and former Love Island contestant Kem Cetinay also on three.

Cetinay scored for the World XI in the 2-2 draw in 2019 before converting from the spot in the penalty shootout and grabbed a brace and the man-of-the-match award in last year's 3-0 victory - the first year one of the teams has failed to score.

World XI used to having World Cup winners in their side

Fourteen FIFA World Cup winners have appeared over the years for the World/Rest of the World side. The full list is: Marcel Desailly, Lothar Matthaus, Diego Maradona, Dunga, Romario, Franco Baresi, Zinedine Zidane, Alessandro Del Piero, Dida, Cafu, Ronaldinho, Fabio Cannavaro, Robert Pires and Roberto Carlos.

The list should swell to 17 following the culmination of the 2022 event with Andrea Pirlo slated to appear for the Rest of the World alongside Women's World Cup winners Heather O'Reilly and Carli Lloyd.

England can boast an Olympic gold medallist in their side, however, with Mo Farah set to appear at the London Stadium ten years on from his heroics at London 2012.

READ MORE: A look at A-list pop stars and their footballer other halves as Shakira and Gerard Pique split

More Articles