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English Premier League giants Manchester United will return to Australia for the first time in 14 years to face an A-League All Stars squad in July.
Destination NSW and Football Federation Australia on Monday announced the Red Devils would play in a friendly match at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium on July 20.
Organisers said United would bring their full squad for the match with the likes of Wayne Rooney, Robin Van Persie, Rio Ferdinand and Nani set to play in front of a certain sell-out crowd.
The club last played in Australia in 1999, against the Socceroos in both Sydney and Melbourne, but big names including the likes of David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and manager Sir Alex Ferguson were left at home.
The A-League team will be selected by fans and could feature the likes of Sydney FC marquee man Alessandro Del Piero, Brisbane’s Thomas Broich and Besart Berisha, Perth’s Shane Smeltz and Melbourne Victory’s Marcos Flores.
But local players with Socceroos commitments, including Brett Emerton and Archie Thompson, would be unlikely to feature because the match clashes with the East Asian Cup, which Australia qualified for on Sunday.
The match is expected to generate an even greater level of hype than the 2007 visit of Beckham’s LA Galaxy.
That match, played in front of more than 80,000 fans, gave the local game a huge boost and officials are hoping next year’s fixture will build further on the hype generated by marquee stars Del Piero and Newcastle’s Emile Heskey this season.
United, who have won a record 19 league titles, sit top of this year’s Premier League after Sunday’s 3-2 win over crosstown rivals Manchester City.
Ferguson’s side will play only the one match in Australia as part of their build-up to the 2013/14 Premier League season.
“Having Manchester United as the opponent for our first ever A-League All Star game will put the A-League on the world stage,” FFA chief executive David Gallop said.
“I’m absolutely delighted Australian fans will get to see the Red Devils in action against the best A-League players.
“It’s a massive opportunity for our players and one the fans won’t want to miss.”
Tickets for the match are on sale to Football Family members on Tuesday and the general public on Wednesday.
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