United legends in tribute match for Miller
Roy Keane will manage and captain a team of Manchester United legends in a tribute match for Liam Miller next month.
The former Reds skipper will lead a squad of ex-United players for the game against a combined Celtic and Republic of Ireland team, in Cork on Tuesday 25 September.
Among the United legends who have agreed to take part are Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville. Robbie Keane and Neil Lennon will also be involved for the opposition in the match at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, which will be played in front of a sell-out crowd of 45,000.
It is bound to be a poignant occasion as the United family come together to remember Miller, who sadly passed away in February this year at the age of 36.
The midfielder, who made his professional debut with Celtic before moving to Old Trafford, scored twice in 22 appearances for the Reds between 2004 and 2006 and was capped 21 times by the Republic of Ireland. He then left to join Sunderland, who were in the Championship at the time.
Michael O’Flynn, who is the chair of the match’s organising committee, lives next door to Miller’s family in Ovens and has revealed how a meeting with legendary former Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson inspired the idea for the game.
“John O'Shea teed it up for me. Obviously John has still got a connection with Sir Alex,” he told the Manchester Evening News.
“I arranged to meet him in the same place, at Cheltenham, and had a chat with him and again the following day. He gave me his mobile number. He's been in constant contact since and he was doing his homework. One of the first things Sir Alex said to me was: 'Let's do a match!'
“Manchester United have been amazing, so facilitating - right up to Ed Woodward - and he has made a number of staff available with logistics."
Republic of Ireland assistant manager Keane will manage and play for the United legends team, which will also include 1999 Treble-winners Nicky Butt, Andy Cole, Denis Irwin and Ronny Johnsen.
The combined Celtic and Republic of Ireland side will be managed by Martin O'Neill and feature Irish internationals Damien Duff, Kevin Kilbane and Richard Dunne, while Stylian Petrov will be among the former Celtic players.
Proceeds from the Liam Miller Tribute Match will be used to help Liam’s wife Clare and their three children, with Marymount Hospice among the charities also benefiting from the day.
THE CONFIRMED SQUADS:
Manchester United Legends: Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, Ronny Johnsen, Paul Scholes, Denis Irwin, David May, Louis Saha, Rio Ferdinand, Quinton Fortune, Andy Cole, Michael Clegg, Mikael Silvestre, Kevin Pilkington, Dion Dublin, Roy Carroll, Gary Neville, Alan Smith.
Celtic/Republic of Ireland Legends: David Forde, Stephen Carr, Kevin Kilbane, Richard Dunne, Kenny Cunningham, Keith Andrews, Kevin Doyle, Stephen McPhail, Andy Reid, Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Lee Carsley, Colin Healy, Shaun Maloney, Paul Lambert, John Hartson, Neil Lennon, Stylian Petrov, Shane Supple.