The latest names to sign up to compete on the Stamford Bridge pitch in the Game4Ukraine include Chelsea legend Claude Makelele, plus several other former Blues and greats of the modern era.
The Game4Ukraine promises to bring together some of the biggest names in football and entertainment for a match at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 5 August, with the noble aim of raising funds to restore a school which was badly damaged by the ongoing war in Ukraine and allow children to return to a safe and stable learning environment in Chernihiv Oblast again.
Four of our former players had already confirmed they will be returning to the pitch in SW6 for the game, with Ricardo Carvalho, Michael Essien, Samuel Eto’o and Gianfranco Zola all dusting off their boots, in addition to Chelsea Women manager Emma Hayes taking charge of another ex-Blue Andriy Shevchenko’s team on the day.
However, they have now been joined by four more, starting with Blues legend Claude Makelele, the man who redefined the role of a holding midfielder during an illustrious career spent mostly at Chelsea and Real Madrid, as well as playing a crucial role in our winning back-to-back Premier League titles, lifting the FA Cup and reaching a first Champions League final, between 2003 and 2008.
Lining up alongside Makelele for those two league titles, in addition to for the French national team, was defender William Gallas, and the duo will be taking to the field together again for the Game4Ukraine, alongside Danny Drinkwater, who was part of the Chelsea squad which won the FA Cup in 2018.
There is a more attacking contribution to the Game4Ukraine line-ups from the Blues too, as striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink will be joining them in the action. The Dutchman remains a favourite with supporters for his passion on the pitch and the 87 goals he scored in four seasons with Chelsea between 2000 and 2004.
There will also be an appearance on the day from current Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk, alongside his Ukraine international team-mate Oleksandr Zinchenko, who is captaining the side which will be managed by Arsene Wenger.
In addition, the list of players taking part on the day includes several other leading players of the modern game, with Fabio Cannavaro, Gerard Pique, Robert Pires, Clarence Seedorf and Patrick Vieira all confirmed already, representing eight Champions League victories and four World Cup triumphs between them, alongside Cannavaro’s Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year double in 2006.
It is already shaping up to be quite a line-up at Stamford Bridge on 5 August, with plenty more members of the teams still to be announced. Tickets to see them all in action are now available on general sale here, up to 20 tickets per person, priced £28 for adults and £15 for concessions.
Supporters can also watch the Game4Ukraine in style and luxury, with seat-only packages available for £50 per person and full hospitality from £120 per person. You can find further details on the hospitality options and reserve your spot here.