A FORMER Manchester United captain is the latest Premier League hero to join a star-studded Sunday League veterans team.
Wythenshawe FC have made headlines this season thanks to their cluster of ex-top-flight legends.
The club’s semi-pro first team play in the eighth tier of English football and have never paid a transfer fee.
But their vets are flying high thanks to plenty of famous ringers.
And they have landed their latest new signing in the shape of an Old Trafford icon and 99-cap international.
That is because Antonio Valencia has joined the Over-35s team.
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Valencia spent a decade at Old Trafford from 2009 to 2019, racking up 339 appearances and nine trophies, including two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and the Europa League.
He retired in 2021 after stints in his homeland Ecuador and Mexico.
But now the winger-turn-full-back, 40, is returning to Greater Manchester and dusting off his boots.
And he will have no shortage of experience alongside him when he turns out for the Ammies.
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The Cheshire Veterans Football League team already boasts England hero Emile Heskey, ex-Newcastle United and Senegal striker Papiss Cisse, 26-cap England defender Joleon Lescott, former Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland, Everton’s £13.5million man Oumar Niasse, Scotland international George Boyd, former Man City defender Nedum Onuoha, and Wigan hero Maynor Figueroa.
Leicester City Premier League winner and £35m Chelsea man Danny Drinkwater is also on the books – as is his old Foxes pal Marc Albrighton plus goalkeeper Keiren Westwood, Jordan Stewart, Jefferson Montero, Martyn Waghorn and ex-United man Darron Gibson.
Wayne Rooney was even approached to sign up.
None of the players are being paid to play – but the club’s chairman’s wife accidentally tried to charge them all £15 monthly subs.
The shock influx came about through Ireland’s best mate who plays for Wythenshawe.
They are top of the league with four wins from four – and a goal difference of +32.
That puts them top, despite second-placed Radcliffe FC Old Boys playing seven matches.
The FA website shows most of their matches have been in local cup competitions.
On Sunday, Wythenshawe thrashed Reddish North End Veterans 18-0 in the Manchester FA Veterans County Cup quarter-final, including 11 goals after half-time.
They face AFC Monton Vets in the semis in early February.
