IN his prime Antonio Valencia was gracing the pitch in front of 75,000 fans at Old Trafford.

Now he is returning to the game for the first time since his retirement in 2021… and he will be lucky if there are 750 hardy souls to watch him.

The star won two Premier Leagues at Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty

Former Man Utd star Valencia has announced he is coming out of retirement after five years with his feet up – to play for a Sunday league side.

Wythenshawe Veterans FC announced their latest high profile signing on Easter Sunday as the Ecuadorian right-back put pen to paper.

The Manchester-based club announced it via their X page, saying: “We’re proud to welcome Premier League winner, Antonio Valencia to Wythenshawe Vets.

“A Manchester United legend. Title winner. Now wearing our badge. Welcome to the club, Antonio!”

Wythenshawe, who play in the Cheshire Veterans Football League in the North West of England, have built a strong squad of ex-stars this season.

Adding new recruit Valencia to the gang means Wythenshawe’s veterans squad includes 2.192 Premier League appearances, plus 487 international caps and 24 major honours.

The superstar lineup includes former Newcastle and Senegal legend Papiss Cisse, 40, who scored six goals on his debut for the club at the beginning of the season.

England legend Emile Heskey, 48, also featured for the club in October.

Defender Lescott bagged a hat-trick while Ireland netted eight across two matches.

A host of other top names have been lucky enough to represent The Ammies: Premier League winner Danny Drinkwater, 36, Everton’s former £13.5million man Oumar Niasse, 35, Scotland international George Boyd, 40, ex-Man City defender Nedum Onuoha, 38, and Maynor Figueroa, 42, who played for Wigan Athletic when they were in the top tier.

None of the players are earning a wage from the club – they are doing it purely for the love of the game.

Once used to five-figure-a-week wages, none of them are being paid by Wythenshawe FC.

In fact the chairman’s wife accidentally asked them to PAY £15 a month to play.

Club chairman Carl Barratt told The Sun last year: “My wife asked them to pay £15 subs, because she didn’t know who they were. She sent the normal letters to them.

“But no, we are not asking Stephen Ireland and the others to pay to play for us.

“And we are not paying them. They do get food at the end of the match and we have a bar with Sky Sports.”

Valencia is Wythenshawe’s latest starCredit: The Times

The key requirement all these footballers have for joining Wythenshawe FC’s veterans team is that they are aged 35 or over.

Prior to former pros gracing its pitch, the club’s most famous association was probably with Noel Gallagher, who played a 2023 gig with his band High Flying Birds in nearby Wythenshawe Park, which is a stone’s throw from his childhood home.

The sudden influx of “ringers” is down to Ireland.

Carl, who has been chairman for seven years, explains: “One of our players is best mates with Stephen and he mentioned to him that we want to try to win one of the country cups this year.

“So Stephen and Nedum Onuoha came down to play first and then other players they knew joined in.

“We have a few more wanting to play for us but I can’t say who they are at the moment.”

Many of the former Premier League footballers already enjoy a kickabout with their mates but think it is better to be in an organised 11-a-side league again.

Ireland and Onuoha who were the first to join before many past-icons of the English top flight followed suit.

Legendary Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt was rumoured to be in talks with Wythenshawe last week – in a stunt which could be their most impressive acquisition.

Manchester United and England icon Wayne Rooney was approached to join the club in November.

However their latest star is Rooney’s ex-teammate Valencia who spent ten seasons at United – winning two Premier Leagues, an FA Cup, two league cups and the Europa League.

Valencia is fondly remembered for his ten-year spell at United.

Valencia joined the Red Devils from Wigan in June 2009 and went on to become a club legend.

Across his decade at Old Trafford, the former United skipper made over 330 appearances across all competitions.

Valencia even won the club’s Players’ Player of the Year award twice and was named in the PFA’s Premier League Team of the Year for the 2009/10 campaign.

Valencia brought the curtain down on him time at Old Trafford in June 2019.

He subsequently joined Ecuadorian top flight sight LDU Quito for two seasons before he moved to Mexican team Queretaro.

Since retiring in May 2021, Valencia has made several appearances for United’s Legends team.

And three years ago, fans even begged him to come out of retirement to play for the club’s first team. (The Sun)