Antonio Valencia
Wythenshawe FC’s Veterans team has added another star to its lineup with the signing of former Manchester United captain Antonio Valencia. The Ecuadorian international, who retired in 2021, will lace up his boots once more to join a squad already boasting a wealth of former Premier League talent. The team includes notable names such as ex-Manchester City players Stephen Ireland, Joleon Lescott, and Nedum Onuoha, as well as former England striker Emile Heskey and Newcastle forward Papiss Cisse.
Carl Barratt said: “Without financial aids, a club cannot exist, and I want to make sure that my managers, my players, my volunteers, everyone gets as much support as possible. We rely on funding, we rely on sponsorship, we rely on everything else. When I go to people talking about sponsorship for this season, next season, I’m saying Wythenshawe and yes, they know we’ve got a successful women’s team, know we’ve got a successful men’s team, but they know ultimately at the moment we have a very popular Vets team. Ultimately, brand awareness is something which is key across many sort of businesses and what this does is it makes it an easy sell to them, the Vets team. But likewise, they’re just another team to me. One that I can utilise for the greater good of the club.”
Stephen Ireland said: “We’re all retired and it’s nice to get together to continue to play football, keep fit and also from the mental health side of things. We all live in the same area so help each other.”
The addition of Valencia, who has won the FA Cup and Europa League with Manchester United, is expected to enhance the team’s performance and appeal. After leaving Manchester United in 2019, Valencia played for Ecuadorian club LDU Quito and Mexican side Queretaro, adding international experience to his illustrious career. His presence is anticipated to bring not only skill but also increased attention to the club, aiding in sponsorship and community engagement efforts.
Wythenshawe FC’s Veterans team has already seen success this season, with former Hull City and Burnley winger George Boyd scoring four goals in a recent 7-1 victory over Collegiate Old Boys. The team hopes to continue this momentum with Valencia contributing to their on-field success and off-field initiatives.
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