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teammates (typically the honoree's club and national team) to participate in the match or with the associated festivities. All proceeds from the match go to the player which depending on the applicable country laws may be tax-free. These matches have become less frequent as changes have occurred in football that make the original purpose less needed or appreciated. Wages have increased, players may not stay with a club as long as they had formerly and those top players that have the esteem of the public and in the past had financial need for such assistance make it less likely for the public to support the purpose of these matches. However, testimonial matches for players who have given many years of service to the club (i.e.
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Clubs typically grant testimonials to players upon reaching ten years of service with a club, although in recent years they have been given to players for particular circumstances such as approaching retirement. Typically, the club invites (depending on the career of the honoree) current or retired
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The practice started at a time when player compensation, even those at top professional clubs, was at a level that made it difficult to maintain it as a primary form of employment therefore retirement savings might not exist. These matches are generally well-attended and the gesture by the club can
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give the honoree income that enables a retirement income base or enable the honoree an opportunity to establish themselves in other employment when they finished playing. This is still the main objective of testimonials in
Australia, Ireland and some other countries.
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Testimonials in top-level football have continued to honour a player but have increasingly become charitable affairs, in which the player gives part or all of the proceeds to charitable activities. For example, longtime
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143:– but these are not testimonials as they are not organised by a club. There are some other cases of matches to honour deceased players as a mourning as Liam Miller's case.
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events), some similar matches have been arranged to honour a particular player at the end of their career, with the proceeds going to charity – examples being
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360:"Diego Maradona restrained by security after clashing with Juan Sebastian Veron at Pope's charity game"
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stars, benefited children's and cancer charities. On 4 September 2010, a crowd of 35,682 attended
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416:"Zidane and France 98 teammates beat Fifa 98 team containing Vieri and Bolt – in pictures"
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which have been organised to raise funds for good causes, often in the style of an
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332:"Steven Gerrard stars as Liverpool beat Real Madrid legends in charity match"
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19:"Testimonial year" redirects here. For the Hilltop Hoods song, see
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306:"David Beckham and son Brooklyn play together in charity match"
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83:. Another high-profile charitable testimonial was that of
496:"Arsenal legends reunite for Tomas Rosicky's testimonial"
388:"Henrik Larsson nets hat-trick in Celtic charity match"
444:"Milner and Petrov XIs draw 3–3 in Match for Cancer"
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55:) and are popular with fans have a higher turnout.
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95:on 4 June 2005. This event, which featured many
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280:"Carra on target in derby win - Liverpool FC"
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16:Type of non-competitive sports competition
200:"Lucas Radebe: The original Kaiser Chief"
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518:"United win Liam Miller tribute game"
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107:, after fifteen years of service to
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225:"Should testimonials be scrapped?"
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574:Australian rules football culture
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71:, in a "friendly" in 2002 at the
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34:, often referred to simply as a
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254:"Payback time for footballers?"
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180:Len Cantello Testimonial Match
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569:Association football culture
470:"Hagi takes an all-star bow"
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559:Rugby league terminology
103:'s testimonial match at
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21:Testimonial Year (song)
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133:Match Against Poverty
579:Gaelic games culture
119:In addition to many
286:on 7 September 2010
65:Republic of Ireland
498:. Joe. 9 June 2018
312:. 14 November 2015
121:exhibition matches
368:. 13 October 2016
260:. 21 January 2002
28:testimonial match
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290:12 December
97:rugby union
69:Niall Quinn
36:testimonial
548:Categories
454:26 October
428:26 October
400:26 October
372:26 October
344:26 October
316:26 October
186:References
129:Soccer Aid
93:Twickenham
91:, held at
61:Sunderland
527:1 January
522:BBC Sport
474:BBC Sport
310:BBC Sport
258:BBC Sport
229:BBC Sport
204:BBC Sport
109:Liverpool
147:See also
502:29 July
480:29 July
105:Anfield
87:player
42:History
264:9 July
235:9 July
209:9 July
81:India
67:star
529:2021
504:2018
482:2018
456:2018
430:2018
402:2018
374:2018
346:2018
337:ESPN
318:2018
292:2013
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