Boro legends return for 150th anniversary match

Almost 100 former Middlesbrough players and managers are returning to Teesside for a legacy game celebrating 150 years of the club.

A crowd of more than 30,000 are expected at the Riverside Stadium to watch club legends including Juninho, Fabrizio Ravanelli, Yakubu and Aitor Karanka.

The game will see two squads of former Boro players go head-to-head, with others featuring in a non-playing capacity including a lap of honour and a presentation of legacy numbers.

Midfielder Geremi said he had been training for the spectacle, adding: “I’ve not seen a lot of the guys for many years, so it will be very exciting to see them and do what we used to do together – play football.”

The club was formed in 1876.

Defender Daniel Ayala said: “I always say that this is the club where I played my best football and where I felt part of something the most.

“It will be great to see some old faces again and catch up.”

Head of commercial Liam McGuinness said it was going to be a “fantastic spectacle”.

“Some haven’t been on the pitch for 40, 50, 60 years, so celebrating all of those memories on the pitch, we think that it’s going to be an unbelievable day,” he said.

A moment will be held to remember those who have passed away.

“It’s massively important for us to recognise those players that are sadly no longer with us so we can pay our respects as a football club, as a team of staff and as a town to them,” McGuinness said.

Teams are due to arrive outside the West Stand at about 13:00 BST and kick-off is scheduled for 16:00.

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