{"id":8172,"date":"2026-05-14T06:12:35","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T06:12:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=8172"},"modified":"2026-05-14T06:12:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T06:12:35","slug":"chelsea-icons-revealed-for-masters-football-as-fan-favourite-tournament-returns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=8172","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea icons revealed for Masters Football as fan-favourite tournament returns"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_01dda3\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea legends are looking to earn bragging rights when they face off in the European Champions Masters set to take place this month in London<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"33941869\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Claude Makelele will play for Chelsea at the European Champions Masters.\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33941869.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2257245524.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33941869.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_GettyImages-2257245524.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33941869.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_GettyImages-2257245524.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33941869.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2257245524.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Claude Makelele will play for Chelsea at the European Champions Masters.\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Claude Makelele will play for Chelsea at the European Champions Masters.<cite aria-label=\"Image: Photo by Richard Sellers\/Sportsphoto\/Allstar via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Photo by Richard Sellers\/Sportsphoto\/Allstar via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Claude Makelele and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink will star for Chelsea as the iocnic Masters Football returns at the end of May. A number of Blues icons will face off against Liverpool, Ajax and Real Madrid in the Masters European Champions series on May 31.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The classic six-a-side showcase will be played at OVO Arena Wembley and broadcast live on TNT Sports and HBO Max. The tournament will be 14-minute matches in a round-robin format with two teams battling it out in the final.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Other Chelsea icons include Loic Remy and Mario Melchiot while the likes of Andy Carroll, Nwankwo Kanu and Alvaro Negredo line-up for their rivals on the night looking to earn bragging rights for the veterans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Masters European Champions Masters will be the culmination of a huge fortnight of showpiece football finals on TNT Sports and HBO Max.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Remy was a Premier League title winner at the Blues having played between 2004 and 2017. The Frenchman retired in 2023 after being released by Brest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE!<\/strong> <strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"\/><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><u>Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page<\/u><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The broadcaster boasts a host of landmark finals such as the FA Cup, Europa League, Champions League, UEFA Conference League and Women&#8217;s FA Cup before legends of the beautiful game take to the pitch in the round-robin tournament.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Chelsea will have Carlo Cudicini between the sticks with Robert Huth, Frank Sinclair and Jody Morris join the stars of the noughties and tens.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The 2025 Masters saw a host of North West teams battle it out with Liverpool taking on Manchester City, Manchester United and Everton. It was City who ran out winners.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Tickets for the tournament are still available through: https:\/\/www.mastersfootball.com\/<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"HeadingThree_heading-three__PBHLs  __className_bcce38\">Squads for the Masters European Champions 2026 (subject to change):<\/h3>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Chelsea<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">23. Carlo Cudicini, 29. Robert Huth, 3. Frank Sinclair, 20. Jody Morris, 15. Mario Melchiot, 4. Claude Makelele, 9. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, 18. Loic Remy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Liverpool<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">1. Sander Westerveld, 34. Martin Kelly, 38. Jon Flanagan, 19. Stewart Downing, 16. Jermaine Pennant, 37. Jari Litmanen, 7. Rickie Lambert, 9. Andy Carroll, 3. Paul Konchesky.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Ajax<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">1. Maarten Stekelenburg, 20. Demy de Zeeuw, 13. Ricardo van Rhijn, 23. Hedwiges Maduro, 6. Aron Winter, 10. Siem de Jong, 2. Gregory van der Wiel, 9. Nwankwo Kanu<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Real Madrid<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">1. Pedro Contreras Gonzalez, 30. Raul Bravo, 12. Ivan Campo, 24. Javi Balboa, 27. Ruben de la Red, 15. Geremi, 27. Antonio Nunez, 9. Alvaro Negredo<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContentsEmbed_affiliate-contents-container__oTiet\" data-testid=\"affiliate-contents-embed\">\n<div data-testid=\"affiliate-content\" class=\"AffiliateContent_affiliate-content-container__10EX_ affiliate-content\">\n<p>Watch the FA Cup on TNT Sports<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-disclaimer__dG5ST\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-text__8nmDa\">This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. 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