Points or trophies are not at stake, but the match between the FC Bayern Legends and the Manchester United Legends will be mouth-watering for all football fans. The memorable Champions League final in Barcelona in 1999 will be re-enacted on 26 May, exactly 20 years later. At Old Trafford, the Manchester United Legends and FC Bayern Legends will celebrate a reunion in a friendly atmosphere and for a good cause. Both teams will donate the proceeds of the game to the Manchester United Foundation.
"I'm looking forward to seeing my colleagues. Those with whom I played and my opponents, and those whom I've seen from time to time over the last 20 years," said FC Bayern Legends captain Lothar Matthäus: "It's just nice to stage these matches. And there's a reason why we play on this day. The reason is more beautiful for Man United than it is for us of course, but we just have to respect we didn't do what we should have done back then."
Besides Matthäus, many other protagonists from 1999 have confirmed their participation: Stefan Effenberg, Michael Tarnat, Torsten Fink, Giovane Elber, Carsten Jancker, Alexander Zickler, Sammy Kuffour and Markus Babbel. They will be joined by the likes of Roy Makaay, Martin Demichelis, Zé Roberto, Luca Toni, Jörg Butt and Paulo Sergio. Klaus Augenthaler and Michael Henke coach the team.
The Red Devils too boast illustruous names: goalkeeping legend Peter Schmeichel, Jaap Stam, Phil and Gary Neville, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and forwards Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole will be joined by the two scorers from the 1999 final, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer. Coaching legend Sir Alex Ferguson has already pledged his support to the Red Devils from the dugout, speaking of a "great opportunity to meet many old friends and support the work of the Manchester United Foundation."
Stefan Effenberg too is looking forward to returning to the Theatre of Dreams: "Old Trafford is a fantastic stadium with a great, great history, and I think everyone playing football today would really like to play there some day. We have this opportunity now, and it'll surely be a great day." Effenberg spoke of a "great crowd, they've always been respectful towards the opposition. I've always really, really liked to play in England, it's always been a special pleasure."
On 26 May these legends will take a break from retirement, team up for a good cause and show what's in them.
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