A former Manchester United captain has signed for a Sunday league side alongside a group of ex-Premier League stars including Emile Heskey and Danny Drinkwater
Stephen Killen Senior Sports Content Creator and Neil Docking
14:22, 14 Jan 2026
Antonio Valencia lines up with the Manchester United team in 2013
View 3 Images
Antonio Valencia lines up with the Manchester United team in 2013(Image: John Peters)
A former Manchester United captain has put pen to paper with star-studded Sunday league outfit Wythenshawe Vets over-35s.
Ecuador legend Antonio Valencia is preparing to lace up his boots once more and team up with some of the Premier League's finest in the Cheshire Veterans Football League. The amateur side from Greater Manchester made global headlines after assembling some of the most seasoned and prolific talents the top division has ever witnessed in a single squad.
Ex-Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland has been hailed as a crucial figure in drawing this influx of former professionals to the club. Valencia represents the newest addition to their ranks but seemed to miss their latest triumph in the Manchester FA Veterans County Cup, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Antonio Valencia in his Manchester United heyday
View 3 Images
Antonio Valencia in his Manchester United heyday(Image: Man Utd via Getty Images)
Wythenshawe demolished Reddis North End Veterans 18-0, netting 11 times in the second period alone. The 40-year-old's signing was revealed on social media platform TikTok, building anticipation for the Premier League champion's first appearance. The announcement showcased clips from Valencia's illustrious career alongside the message: "Soon to be running out at the Avensure Community Stadium very soon [fire emoji]."
Their starting line-up reads like a who's who of football, featuring the likes of ex-Liverpool and England star Emile Heskey, double Premier League winner and Manchester City legend Joleon Lescott, another City fan favourite Nedum Onuoha, former Newcastle United hotshot Pappis Cisse, Premier League winner and Leicester City icon Danny Drinkwater, Wigan Athletic's FA Cup winning legend Maynor Figueroa, George Boyd who once helped Hull win promotion to the Premier League, and Oumar Niasse, formerly of Everton.
Before City's 3-0 victory over Liverpool last year, national press flocked to the club following their commanding 13-0 demolition of South Liverpool. In the clash for top spot, former Newcastle United player Cisse netted seven goals, igniting a Golden Boot race between him and Ireland.
Antonio Valencia in a Manchester United Legends match
View 3 Images
Antonio Valencia in a Manchester United Legends match(Image: Getty Images)
The ex-Republic of Ireland international is currently trailing Cisse by three goals in the standings, with respective tallies of 10 and 13 goals from just three league appearances.
Wythenshawe are leading the Premier Division in the over-35s league, edging out Radcliffe Old Boys on goal difference, despite having played three fewer games.
Their league fixtures have been disrupted recently due to poor weather conditions, which dashed hopes of playing their last two league matches against Parklands (Widnes) and Old Strefordians Gregorians in November.
However, they made a triumphant return, scoring a whopping 18 times. It's also rumoured that United's all-time leading goalscorer Wayne Rooney has thrown his hat into the ring to join the Sunday league stars.
Article continues below
In a previous interview with Sky Sports, 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.
"A lot of lads can feel a bit stranded and alone when they come out of football. We all live in the same area so help each other."