Former Liverpool stars Patrik Berger and Vladimir Smicer will be joining the many international footballers already confirmed in Sydney to play in the #FootballForFires game at ANZ Stadium on 23 May 2020.
The Czech Republic duo are the latest to add their support to blockbuster bushfire relief match at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium, to raise funds and honour thousands of brave volunteer firefighters and State Emergency Service personnel.
Star players from 18 nations, including some of the biggest names in Australian football, will line up in the #FootballForFires match on Saturday, 23 May to say “thank you” to the men and women who have participated in the daily fight at the frontline of the Australian bushfires crisis.
Smicer made over 100 appearances after switching to Liverpool in 1999 and is fondly remembered by Reds fans for his long-range goal in his side’s 2005 Champions League win over AC Milan.
He also made 80 appearances for the Czech national team and starred for his nation in their run to the final of UEFA Euro 1996.
Berger played 148 games for the Reds in seven seasons with the Merseyside club, in addition to making 48 appearances for the Czech national team.
The pair were both part of Liverpool’s 2001 treble-winning side that claimed the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup.
They join a who's who of football greats confirmed for #FootballForFires including Didier Drogba, Dwight Yorke, Claudio Marchisio, Dario Simic, John Aloisi, Dwayne De Rosario, Ji-Sung Park, Simon Colosimo, David Trezeguet, Alecko Eskandarian, Mark Bosnich, Con Boutsianis, Pedro Mendes, Le Cong Vinh, Emile Heskey, Michael Bridges and Geremi. It is also a chance for Australian fans to celebrate and say goodbye to retired Socceroos captain Mark Milligan.
The sides will be coached by current Socceroos Head Coach Graham Arnold, and former Socceroos Head Coach Guus Hiddink.
General public tickets are now on sale for May's #FootballForFires bushfire relief match at ANZ Stadium!
Adult tickets start from just $29 and family tickets from $59. More than 40,000 seats will be made available at these affordable prices.
Get your tickets here
List of players and coaches already confirmed for #FootballForFires at ANZ Stadium, Sydney, on Saturday, 23 May 2020 is:
Coach – Guus Hiddink – Australia 2005 -2006, South Korea, Russia, Turkey, Netherlands, Real Madrid, Chelsea, PSV Eindhoven
Coach – Graham Arnold – Australia (current), Sydney FC, Central Coast Mariners
Didier Drogba– IVORY COAST 105 Caps - Chelsea, Galatasaray, Montreal Impact
David Trezeguet – FRANCE 71 Caps - Monaco, Juventus, Riverplate
Dwight Yorke – TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 74 Caps - Manchester United, Aston Villa, Sydney FC
Claudio Marchisio – ITALY 55 Caps - Juventus
Dario Simic – CROATIA 100 Caps - Inter Milan, AC Milan, Dinamo Zagreb, Monaco
John Aloisi – AUSTRALIA 55 Caps - Coventry City, Cremonese, Osasuna, Sydney FC
Dwayne De Rosario – CANADA 81 Caps - Toronto, San Jose, New York Red Bull
Ji-Sung Park – SOUTH KOREA 100 Caps- Manchester United, PSV Eindhoven
Simon Colosimo – AUSTRALIA 26 Caps - Carlton, Manchester City, Perth Glory, Sydney FC
Tore Andre Flo – NORWAY 76 Caps - Chelsea, Rangers, Sunderland, Leeds United
Alecko Eskandarian – USA 1 Cap - DC United, Toronto FC, Real Salt Lake, Chivas
Mark Bosnich – AUSTRALIA 17 Caps - Aston Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea
Con Boutsianis – AUSTRALIA 4 Caps - South Melbourne, Heidelberg, Perth Glory
Pedro Mendes – PORTUGAL 11 Caps - Porto, Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth, Rangers
Le Cong Vinh - VIETNAM – 83 Caps - Song Lam Nghe An, Consadole Sapporo
Emile Heskey – ENGLAND 62 Caps - Leicester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa
Michael Bridges – ENGLAND - Sunderland, Leeds United, Newcastle Jets
Geremi – CAMEROON 118 Caps – Real Madrid, Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United
Stephen Appiah – GHANA 67 Caps – Fenerbahce, Udinese, Juventus, Vojvodina
Rustu Recber – TURKEY 120 Caps – Fenerbahce, Barcelona, Besiktas, Antalyaspor
Mark Milligan – AUSTRALIA 80 Caps – Sydney FC, JEF United Chiba, Melbourne Victory
Thomas Sorensen – DENMARK 101 Caps – Sunderland, Aston Villa, Melbourne City
Vladimir Smicer – CZECH REPUBLIC 80 Caps – Liverpool, Slavia Prague, Bordeaux, Lens
Patrik Berger – CZECH REPUBLIC 42 Caps – Liverpool, Slavia Prague, Borussia Dortmund, Portsmouth, Aston Villa
