One Direction singer Niall Horan will play and serve as assistant manager to Leicester City's Premier League-winning boss Claudio Ranieri in the Soccer Aid charity match for UNICEF at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium next month.
In the June 5 match, which will be televised live on ITV, Horan and Ranieri's Rest of the World team will play against an England team which includes the Mullingar man's One Direction bandmate Louis Tomlinson.
Absolutely delighted to say that I'll be joining mr . Ranieris management team for @socceraid . Really is going to be a week to remember .
— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) May 10, 2016
Horan said it was an honour to be part of the Soccer Aid line-up. "This game has become a major event on the calendar for the last 10 years," he said.
Joining Horan on the Rest of the World team are RTÉ2fm presenter Nicky Byrne, actor Michael Sheen and TV chef Gordon Ramsay. Byrne has been part of the Rest of the World squad for the biennial match since 2008 with Sheen and Ramsay also stalwarts.
Nicky Byrne in action against Olly Murs in Soccer Aid 2014
"We have a great team this year and I'm sure the boys are looking forward to the challenge. It's going to be a great week," added Horan.
The England team, managed by former Chelsea boss José Mourinho and Sunderland's Sam Allardyce, also includes UNICEF ambassador Robbie Williams, singer Olly Murs, comedians Jack Whitehall and John Bishop and The Chase host Bradley Walsh.
José Mourinho - Will he be smiling on June 5?
Among the footballers taking part are Brazilian World Cup winner Cafu, Cameroon legend Samuel Eto'o, Liverpool's Jamie Carragher and Robbie Fowler and former Manchester United favourite Phil Neville.
