Middlesbrough are set to welcome more than 30,000 supporters to the Riverside Stadium on Sunday afternoon as the club celebrates its 150th anniversary with a special Legacy Game, bringing together some of the most beloved names in the club's history.

A star-studded occasion

Two squads of former Boro players will go head-to-head at 16:00 BST in what promises to be a deeply emotional afternoon on Teesside. The occasion is about far more than the match itself: ex-players and coaches will receive legacy certificates in two separate ceremonies, with a lap of appreciation also scheduled for after the final whistle.

Among those confirmed to attend are several luminaries from the club's Premier League era. Brazilian playmaker Juninho, who became a genuine Boro icon during his spells at the club in the 1990s, will be present alongside Italian forward Fabrizio Ravanelli. Ravanelli, now 57, marked his debut for the club with a hat-trick in a 3-3 draw against Liverpool in August 1996 and remains one of the most vivid figures in the club's modern history.

"I am very excited. When I come back to Middlesbrough it's a fantastic experience," Ravanelli told BBC Radio Tees. "I want to see my friends and especially the fans."

Egyptian forward Mido, another cult figure from the club's top-flight days, is also set to feature. "I'm excited, training very hard. I am excited to see the Boro fans again and some old friends," he said. "I always loved living around Teesside. I loved the people."

Further names include Yakubu, Joseph-Desire Job and Christian Karembeu, with the guest list spanning multiple generations of the club's history.

The 2016 promotion heroes return

Players from Middlesbrough's 2016 promotion-winning squad are also set to take part, among them George Friend, Daniel Ayala, Adam Clayton, Emilio Nsue and goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos.

Friend, who left the club just short of 300 official appearances, has made light of the shortfall. "I left with 299 appearances and I am counting this as one to make it 300 and nobody can say anything against that," he said. The former left-back, whose daughters were born on Teesside, spoke with evident affection for the club. "It's my club. It's part of you. It's going to be a special time."

He also reflected on the unusual circumstances of his Boro departure, noting: "I left at a time when fans weren't even in the stadium," a reference to the Covid-19 restrictions that shaped the tail end of his time on Teesside. The Legacy Game will offer him a proper send-off in front of a packed house.

Legends across the decades

The occasion stretches well beyond any single era. Carling Cup winners Franck Queudrue and Danny Mills are among those attending, as are 1990s favourites Jan Age Fjortoft and Craig Hignett, and long-serving club legends Bernie Slaven and former manager Tony Mowbray.

Hignett, who is hosting a separate evening event at the Town Hall on Saturday night, admitted the weekend would come at a physical cost. "I've had a hip replacement, I know I'm going to be in a little bit of pain after it," he told BBC Radio Tees, "but it will be well worth it."

That remark captures the spirit of the occasion neatly. For dozens of former players and tens of thousands of supporters, the chance to mark 150 years of Middlesbrough Football Club together at the Riverside is something that transcends any lingering aches.

A landmark moment for the club and its community

For a Championship club with a history as rich and varied as Middlesbrough's, a milestone of this kind carries genuine weight. The Riverside has hosted European nights, relegation heartbreak and promotion euphoria. On Sunday it will host something altogether different: a celebration of everything the club has meant to the people of Teesside across a century and a half.

With the stadium expected to be at or near capacity, it has the makings of a genuinely memorable afternoon.

Frequently asked

When is the Middlesbrough Legacy Game?
The Legacy Game takes place at the Riverside Stadium on Sunday at 16:00 BST, as part of Middlesbrough's 150th anniversary celebrations.
Which former Middlesbrough players are taking part in the Legacy Game?
Among those confirmed are Juninho, Fabrizio Ravanelli, Yakubu, Mido, George Friend, Daniel Ayala, Craig Hignett, Bernie Slaven, Tony Mowbray and many others from across the club's history.
How many fans will attend the Middlesbrough 150th anniversary Legacy Game?
The Riverside Stadium is expected to host over 30,000 supporters for the occasion, according to BBC Sport.