Manchester United Legend Teddy Sheringham to Play in HK Soccer Sevens

Manchester United legend Teddy Sheringham has confirmed he will return to the HKFC Citibank International Soccer Sevens this month, adding another stellar name to what is already the strongest Masters competition in the tournament’s history.

The event will read like a Who’s Who of Champions League winners, English Premier League and FA Cup victors, Scottish Treble winners, World Cup stars and Serie A veterans.

Sheringham will once again play for Hong Kong side CLA Discovery Bay and will be joined in their line-up by ex-Liverpool and Newcastle United ace Peter Beardsley and former Tottenham Hotspur winger Darren Anderton – thus reuniting members of England’s forward line from their visit to Hong Kong in 1996.

CLA Discovery Bay will be guided from the sidelines by current New Zealand national team coach Ricki Herbert – the only undefeated manager at the last World Cup.

Defending champions AEGON Ajax All Stars will have Finnish superstar Jari Litmanen – a Champions League winner with Ajax in 1995, after which he played for Barcelona and Liverpool – together with Aron Winter, who played 84 times for Holland and appeared for Lazio and Internazionale in Italy.

The Rangers All Stars will be looking to regain the Masters Cup they last won in 2008 and have three international newcomers in their squad – Dutch duo Arthur Numan and Michael Mols and German Jörg Albertz.

The Citibank All Stars, meanwhile, will feature ex-Sunderland and England fullback Michael Gray, former Wimbledon and Jamaica striker Marcus Gayle and midfielder Luís Boa Morte, a Premier League regular in recent seasons with Fulham and West Ham and winner of 27 caps for Portugal.

“Teddy Sheringham really enjoyed playing for us at last year’s Soccer Sevens and was always keen to come back, so it is fantastic news for the team and the tournament that he has confirmed he is returning,” said CLA Discovery Bay organiser Neil Jensen. “He is especially looking forward to teaming up again with his old England colleagues Peter Beardsley and Darren Anderton and it promises to be a great moment for Hong Kong fans to see these three in action together ... And we are delighted that Ricki Herbert is flying in from New Zealand to oversee the team. This will be the first time ever that a team in the Soccer Sevens has been managed by a current national coach.”

Striker Sheringham will be forever associated with Manchester United’s 1999 Treble. After helping United secure the English Premier League title, he scored in the FA Cup final against Newcastle and then, four days later, netted the equaliser and laid on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s winner in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

In total, he captured three Premier League titles with United and in the 2000-01 season he won both of the English game’s Footballer of the Year awards. He was capped 51 times by England and also had two successful spells at Tottenham Hotspur.

Teammate Beardsley, meanwhile, will be a busy man during his Hong Kong visit. As well as playing for CLA Discovery Bay, he will be seeking to raise funds for Newcastle’s famous Wallsend Boys Club, which has produced a string of top flight footballers down the years.

In addition, as Newcastle’s football development manager, he will be watching with interest as the club’s young players, once again guided by reserve team coach Willie Donachie, defend their title in the Main competition.

CLA Discovery Bay will also feature former Tottenham midfielder David Howells and ex-Leeds United striker Ian Baird plus two icons of Hong Kong soccer, Dejan Antonić and Tim Bredbury.

The HKFC Citibank International Soccer Sevens will be held at Hong Kong Football Club from 24-26 May. A total of 16 teams will play in the Main competition, in which champions Newcastle will be joined by debutants Manchester City, while 12 teams will contest the Masters category.

All spectators will be allowed into the Soccer Sevens for free on Friday, 24 May, while all children under the age of 16 will be admitted free of charge throughout the tournament. Tickets for Saturday, 25 May and Sunday, 26 May cost $160 per day or $300 for a weekend pass.

Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketflap or in person at Hong Kong Football Club, 3 Sports Road, Happy Valley, or Laxton Events, 1604-5 The Broadway, 54-62 Lockhart Road, Wanchai. The ticketing enquiries hotline is +852 - 3579 8088.