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Tyson Fury to manage England team at Soccer Aid

Tyson Fury and Wayne Rooney

Tyson Fury will swap boxing for football when he manages the England team at this year's Soccer Aid.

Fury, the former world heavyweight boxing champion, will co-manage alongside football legend Wayne Rooney at the annual TV showpiece for UNICEF on Sunday June 15 at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Tyson, who lives in Morecambe, announced his retirement from boxing in January.

Since then, the outspoken star has been fairly quiet save for videos released on his social media - including of himself and wife Paris training at Salt Ayre Sports Centre in Lancaster - so this will be his first major venture since retiring.

Football fundraiser Soccer Aid for UNICEF was co-founded by pop star Robbie Williams.

Matches between an England and World XI - with former footballers and celebrities taking part - have raised more than £106 million since 2006.

“Tyson Fury: ENGLAND MANAGER! Who would ever have thought it!?" said 'The Gypsy King'.

"I have had some big fights in my career and the prospect of leading my England team to victory this June fills me with just as much excitement as any heavyweight fight!

"Everyone knows that I am a huge Manchester United fan too, so it’s even more special for me that the game is at Old Trafford this year – and I get to manage one of my heroes, Wayne Rooney! How can we lose!?

"The work UNICEF does all around the world is so special and so important. I really hope that you can come along and support us this summer.”

Fury, 36, has also refused to rule out bringing himself on as a playing substitute!

Aside from former England captain Rooney, who will manage the England team alongside Fury and Harry Redknapp, other football legends and celebrities will take part in the occasion.

They include former England women's captain Steph Houghton, and other ex-footballers including Gary Neville, Joe Hart, Toni Duggan, Jill Scott, David James and Paul Scholes.

Celebrities include pop stars Louis Tomlinson and Tom Grennan, TV and radio presenter and comedian Paddy McGuinness, actor Vicky McClure and TV presenter Sam Quek.

The game will air live and exclusively on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.

Since the first match in 2006, reigning champions England have won six times and the World XI seven.

Tickets for the game are on sale now via socceraid.org.uk/tickets

Fury announced his retirement from boxing following the only two losses on his professional record - narrow points defeats to world champion Oleksandr Usyk in 2024.

Prior to that, Fury had been undefeated in his career, winning the unified and lineal titles in 2015, then the WBC championship in 2020.

Outside of boxing, the charismatic star has dabbled in other forms of sport and entertainment in the past, including WWE wrestling, releasing his own music, and sponsoring Morecambe Football Club.

Read more: Tyson Fury announces his retirement from boxing - Beyond Radio

INTERVIEW: Tyson Fury's manager speaks out on boxer's shock retirement - Beyond Radio

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