Former Tottenham and England defender is set to return to the Stadium of Light for Sunderland’s Ronaldinho & Friends fixture
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The Echo can reveal that former Tottenham Hotspur captain Michael Dawson is currently set to return to the Stadium of Light next month as part of the Ronaldinho & Friends fixture.
Dawson, who faced Sunderland regularly during his Premier League career, is among the latest high-profile names lined up for the end-of-season event on Wearside - though, as with all exhibition fixtures, final line-ups remain subject to change. The former England international was a familiar opponent at the Stadium of Light during his time with Spurs and is now in line to make his return in a very different setting.
Sunderland will host the Ronaldinho & Friends game on Monday, May 25 (5pm kick-off), just 24 hours after their final Premier League fixture of the season against Chelsea. The exhibition match will see Ronaldinho captain a side of former stars against a UK Icons team led by Jermain Defoe.
As previously revealed by The Echo, several Brazilian greats are also expected to be involved, including Fábio Rochemback, Maicon and Gilberto Silva. They join a growing list of names linked with the event, alongside Djibril Cissé, Kléberson, Heurelho Gomes, Manchester United twins Fábio and Rafael, as well as Fernando and Anderson.
The event continues to gather momentum, with further additions anticipated in the coming days as organisers finalise both squads. Tickets are on sale now via Sunderland’s official website, starting at £25 for adults and £20 for concessions. Hospitality packages are also available, including access to Quinns Sports Bar and executive boxes.
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Sunderland AFC’s Chief Business Officer, David Bruce, said: “It is an absolute privilege to host this game and welcome one of the most iconic legends of the sport. The Stadium of Light is known for hosting big occasions, and this event with Ronaldinho is no different.”
Marcel Nalyan, Chief Curator of the Ronaldinho & Friends game, added: “Ronaldinho’s love for football has never faded, not even with the close of his professional career. It had been a long time since he last visited the UK, and he had longed for the chance to play there once more. When the opportunity with Sunderland arose, he said immediately: ‘Let’s do it!’ From the very beginning, he loved everything about the fans on Wearside, the stadium, and all that comes with it.”