Former England international and Euro 2022 champion Jill Scott has been announced as the captain of the England team in this year’s Soccer Aid for Unicef on 11 June.
It has been a whirlwind 12 months for the former Lioness. After being part of the England team who were crowned European champions at Wembley Stadium last July, she then collected a second title as she was crowned the 'Queen of the Jungle' on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here in December.
Scott retired from football in August as the Lionesses’ second most-capped player in history, having made 161 appearances for her country after 18 years in senior football. She was given the England captaincy on the occasion of her 150th match against Northern Ireland in 2021 and she is set to receive the armband once again but this time at Soccer Aid.
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The 36-year-old will become the first female player to skipper the England team at the charity football match in its 17-year history as the summer spectacle returns to Old Trafford with a crowd of 74,000 expected. She will be hoping to lead England to their first Soccer Aid triumph since 2018.
Scott said: “The Euros, The Jungle and now Soccer Aid for Unicef – it’s the holy trinity! I’ve won two of them, so just need Soccer Aid now to complete ‘The Treble’! I think of all three, this might be the one I’m most nervous about, though – just look at the names involved! Buy a ticket, support this amazing cause and cheer us on!”
The former midfielder will be joined by fellow ex-England international Karen Carney, Champions League winner Gary Cahill and former Arsenal star Jack Wilshere.
Wilshere, who is now an academy coach for the Gunners after calling time on his career last July, is looking forward to getting back out on the grass again. He explained: “I am really looking forward to lacing up my boots again – and playing with some of my old friends. I can’t tell you how good these legends are and I’m told a few of the celebrities are quite handy too!
“As a father to young children, taking part in this game has extra significance for me – and I would urge people to buy tickets and show their support too.”
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes returns to co-manage England alongside Vicky McClure and these are the players who they will be charged with: Jill Scott (Captain), Paddy McGuinness (Celebrity Goalkeeper), David James (Professional Goalkeeper), Jermain Defoe, Joel Corry, Karen Carney, Gary Cahill, Jack Wilshere, Bugzy Malone, Tom Grennan, Sir Mo Farah, Alex Brooker, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Eni Aluko and Chunkz.
Many more famous faces are set to be revealed in the coming weeks but those announced today for the Soccer Aid World XI FC are, in full: Usain Bolt (Captain) Robbie Keane (Coach), Lee Mack, Steven Bartlett and Kem Cetinay.
The match will once again be shown live on ITV1, STV and ITVX will be hosted by Dermot O’Leary, who will be joined once again by Alex Scott.
