Patrice Evra is widely recognized for his time at Manchester United, even after playing for several clubs throughout his career.
During his eight years at United, he played crucial roles in the final seasons of Sir Alex Ferguson’s management, contributing significantly to the team’s success.
From 2006 to 2014, he helped the team win five Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, and seven domestic trophies, appearing in 379 matches across all competitions.
Even though he left Old Trafford 12 years ago, Evra recently returned to support the club in opening a new pitch in one of the world’s most isolated areas.
According to BBC Sport, Evra attended the event on behalf of United and DHL, the club’s long-term partner, to inaugurate a professional-grade, all-weather pitch.
This facility is located in Mae Suek, Thailand, where around 11,577 people live in 11 villages, requiring a 140km round trip to reach the nearest major city, Chiang Mai.
Additionally, it takes a two and a half hour round trip to the closest usable football pitch, due to extreme weather making local fields unsuitable.
As part of the “Delivering Dreams” campaign launched earlier this month, Evra joined DHL and United in their efforts to make football accessible to isolated communities.
Reflecting on the experience, Evra said, “Seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces when they played on this beautiful football pitch for the first time was unforgettable.”
He added, “I didn’t have the chance to play on such a pitch when I was their age. This is an amazing campaign, and I’m honored to be part of it.”
This initiative is part of United’s ongoing efforts to expand their presence in Asia, following their recent post-season tour where they played against the ASEAN All-Stars in Malaysia and the Hong Kong national team.