the.com/testimonial match
a farewell hug disguised as a football match, played at half speed and full sentiment.
means an exhibition game staged to honor a long-serving player, with gate proceeds traditionally going to them as a career-loyalty bonus.
from born in english football in the late 1800s, when clubs paid so little that a benefit match was the only real pension a player would ever see.
tackling optionaldefenders often let strikers stroll through unopposed.
pre-transfer-fee erainvented because wages alone left players broke at retirement.
opponent choiceoften a boyhood club or all-star friends xi.
modern rarityhuge contracts have made testimonials nearly obsolete.
for instance
giggs testimonial 2001 — man utd hosted celtic, 67000 fans at old trafford.
scholes testimonial 2011 — new york cosmos legends played at old trafford.
totti testimonial 2019 — roma legends vs world all-stars in rome.
maldini testimonial 2002 — milan vs a world xi including zidane and ronaldo.