Tuesday 27 October 2015 12:33, UK
Manchester United have granted Wayne Rooney a testimonial after a campaign by supporters to honour their captain's service to the club.
The game will take place on August 3 next year against yet-to-be-named opponents with Rooney donating all the profits from the match to the NSPCC, Alder Hey Childrens' Hospital, Claire House Hospice, and the Manchester United Foundation through the newly-formed Wayne Rooney Foundation.
Rooney has scored 236 goals in 493 appearances since moving to Old Trafford.
"I would like to thank everyone involved in making this testimonial become a reality," Rooney said.
"Most of all I want to thank the fans for all their incredible support for me and the team since I joined the club.
Most of all I want to thank the fans for all their incredible support for me and the team since I joined the club.
"The match night will obviously be special for me and my family but I hope it will be a night of celebration for all involved and that we can also deliver one or two surprises."
Rooney's representatives said the club awarded the striker the testimonial following a meeting between "like-minded individuals and Manchester United fans" who wrote to executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward asking that a testimonial be awarded following the player's 11-year spell at the club.
Rooney said: "Most of all I hope the fans will come out in force and help raise as much money as possible for these amazing charities, all of which are very close to my heart for different reasons."
Since joining from Everton in 2004, Rooney has won the Premier League five times, the League Cup twice and the Champions League once.
The striker has also gained a host of individual accolades and is now just 13 goals short of Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time scoring record.
"I am delighted that United fans will be able to celebrate Wayne's amazing years at the club in this way," Woodward said.
"From his sensational debut hat-trick to the latest of his 236 goals, he has been a central figure in what has been one of the most successful periods in the club's history, winning everything from the Club World Cup, through the Champions League and League Cup to his five Premier League titles."
Details of the players and managers who will be involved on the day are expected to be revealed over the next few weeks.
