Man Utd and Liverpool confirm Masters football line-ups as cult event returns

Masters Football is making its long-awaited return after an absence of more than a decade.

The six-a-side tournament was compulsive viewing on Sky Sports back in the 2000s. The events, held in the off-season during June and July and played indoors in front of big crowds, earned a cult following during their initial run between 2000 and 2011.

But the plug was eventually pulled after attendances started to dwindle and all that was left to remember it by was tetchy YouTube clips. Now, the event has returned with 360 Sports TV reviving Masters Football this summer.

The organisers have confirmed the squads for the four competing teams in the inaugural edition, which takes place at Braehead Arena in Glasgow on July 8.

Liverpool, Manchester United, Celtic and Rangers will all be facing off in eight-minute halves on the famous blue carpet with the two teams who finish top of the group meeting in the final.

Liverpool's eight-man squad contains Anfield legends such as Jamie Carragher and Steve McManaman as well as Spanish forward Luis Garcia. United have named seven of their squad and the likes of Louis Saha and Wes Brown make the cut, with one more spot to be confirmed at a later date.

As for Celtic, they have named Stiliyan Petrov and Kris Commons among their cohort whilst Glasgow rivals Rangers have Pedro Mendes and Barry Ferguson within their squad.

Tony Woodcock, a two-time European Cup winner with Nottingham Forest, is a director and co-founder of 360 Sports TV. "It just feels fantastic to bring Masters Football back to life," he said earlier this year. "It has real history and there's been a tremendous buzz over social media recently with petitions to revive the tournament.

"I played in the first ever series of Masters Football which immediately caught the attention of fans up and down the country who delighted in watching their heroes from the past showing off their skills once again. Now I'm so thrilled to be playing a part in bringing this iconic tournament back to the viewing public."

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Woodcock's former Forest colleague and ex-Celtic boss Martin O'Neill is also involved with 360 Sports, along with Brighton midfielder Adam Lallana.

O'Neill said: "It's going to be brilliant that Masters Football is coming back to our screens. I can't wait for it to come back to Glasgow where I have many happy memories and many friends. It's great that the fans will be able to watch such an iconic tournament once again with such fabulous football heritage."

Masters 2022 squads

Liverpool : Sander Westerveld, Jamie Carragher, Stephen Warnock, David Thompson, Steve McManaman, Luis Garcia, Stewart Downing, Jermaine Pennant.

Manchester United : Paul Rachubka, Wes Brown, John O'Shea, Darron Gibson, Quinton Fortune, Karel Poborsky, Louis Saha, TBC.

Celtic : Rab Douglas, Mark Wilson, Kelvin Wilson, Stiliyan Petrov, Kris Commons, Joe Ledley, Carlton Cole, Simon Donnelly.

Rangers : Roy Carroll, Alan Hutton, Carlos Cuellar, Pedro Mendes, Barry Ferguson, Lee McCulloch, Kris Boyd, Michael Mols.