This Saturday at the Kai Tak Sports Park, the “Red on Red” Invitational will feature a host of stars from the 2000s who once played for Manchester United and Liverpool. While Rio Ferdinand’s “Rio 11” squad includes many familiar names, Nicky Butt holds a particularly special place in the hearts of local football fans.
This former England national team midfielder spent the majority of his career playing for Manchester United and Newcastle United. In the 2010-11 season, he joined Hong Kong First Division side South China, making a total of 10 appearances in local and Asian competitions and scoring 2 goals, helping South China clinch the FA Cup and League Cup.
That same year, South China also brought in former Serbia and Montenegro international Mateja Kežman. The “Butt-Kezman” duo caused quite a stir in the local football scene at the time. Combined with South China’s AFC Cup semi-final run the previous year and the East Asian Games gold medal, these events sparked a brief renaissance in Hong Kong football.
The roster for the “Red on Red” Invitational also features several renowned local football stars, including Butt’s former teammates Chan Siu Ki and Chan Wai Ho.
“Wai Ho is my opponent in this match, right? I definitely have to show him a thing or two, haha! I’m really happy to see them again here—they are both excellent players. After I left South China, I lost touch with them. In the football world, everyone focuses on their own careers, and I’ve been busy with coaching duties (as an assistant coach for Manchester United’s reserve team). But this time, I’ll definitely make the most of the chance to catch up with them and see if we can grab a drink after the game.”
“This match is quite unique. Both teams are largely made up of former stars from two Premier League giants, and the lineups are strong. Having played here myself, this game holds special meaning for me, so I’m really looking forward to playing in Hong Kong again.”
Class of ’92
Butt, who emerged from Manchester United’s youth academy, along with David Beckham, the Neville brothers, Ryan Giggs, and Paul Scholes—fellow graduates of the famed “Class of ’92″—later became key players for the club.
This group of “Fergie’s Fledglings” achieved great success in both domestic and international competitions. Butt started in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final, helping Manchester United stage a dramatic comeback to defeat Bayern Munich and claim the title—a moment that remains one of the most iconic in world football history.
That year, Manchester United secured the treble of the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup, and later defeated South American champions Palmeiras in the Intercontinental Cup, becoming world champions at the club level.
Butt made 270 appearances for Manchester United before transferring to Newcastle United in 2004. He also spent a season on loan at Birmingham City, maintaining a consistently high level of playing time throughout. When Newcastle were relegated to the Championship in 2009, Butt stayed with the club for a season before announcing his retirement from professional football at the end of the campaign.
“I announced my retirement in May, and afterward, I stayed at home, gradually feeling a bit bored. When I received the invitation to play in Hong Kong, I initially refused because I didn’t want to be too far away from my family. However, the offer was very sincere, so I decided to come to Hong Kong first to see the environment.”
“I joined a training session and played a match against Pegasus at the Hong Kong Stadium. I really enjoyed that week’s experience and met many great people, especially given South China’s long history and high profile in Hong Kong. I had been feeling bored at home after retirement, and my wife told me, ‘If you really want to go, give it a try.’”
Experiences in the Hong Kong First Division
On November 30, 2010, Butt made his debut for South China in a First Division match against TSW Pegasus, marking his return to professional football after a six-month retirement.
He remembers this match vividly: “During those four or five months after retiring, I basically did nothing—absolutely nothing—just took time off, spent time with my kids, played golf, and drank. So, when I arrived here, I had to regain my fitness immediately, which meant training non-stop. Honestly, my condition wasn’t great for that match. I scored a free-kick but also missed a penalty. Overall, though, it felt good.”
Butt ultimately accepted South China’s invitation and officially joined the team in the latter half of the season. He revealed that at the time, the club’s owner, Steven Lo, allowed him to return to England every six weeks to visit his family and ease his homesickness. While at South China, Butt mainly played in AFC Cup matches but also featured in First Division and League Cup games.
In April, he led South China to a League Cup victory over TSW Pegasus at Yuen Long Stadium. “I have absolutely no regrets about coming to Hong Kong. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here—my teammates and the fans were incredibly kind to me.”
“The level of Hong Kong players back then was quite impressive. They had significant talent. For example, Chan Siu Ki was a very capable striker—his strength and technique were excellent. I’m not sure about the standard of Hong Kong football now, as my experience dates back over a decade. But based on what I observed then, players would practice or play for over an hour and then go home.”
“At the time, I thought that if players here wanted to challenge themselves in European football, they would need to strive to become more professional in every aspect—not just through relentless training but also in recovery, diet, and lifestyle. During my time here, I believed the team had the technical and physical ability to compete at a higher level, but they fell short in terms of mentality and professionalism. That was the biggest difference between Hong Kong and European football at the time.”
Not Here to Be a “Party Boy”
After Butt and Kežman played for South China, several world-class stars have since joined local Hong Kong clubs in recent years. Uruguayan striker and World Cup Golden Boot winner Diego Forlán played for Kitchee for half a season in 2018, while former Real Madrid midfielder and Spanish international Asier Illarramendi also joined Kitchee this season.
For fans, seeing stars they once only watched on TV or at Old Trafford now playing in local Hong Kong matches—accessible by a bus ride to the Hong Kong Stadium or Mong Kok Stadium at affordable ticket prices—is undoubtedly a wonderful experience. But how do these stars themselves perceive their involvement in the Hong Kong league?
“I think playing in Hong Kong is a great thing. We have a meaningful role in supporting young players—for example, by sharing our own experiences and guiding them on how to become more professional. For us, it’s also important to have goals to strive for in the later stages of our careers, to be able to contribute to the team, and to have a defined role. As long as you remain professional and don’t come here with a ‘party boy’ mindset, I believe it’s a positive experience.”
It has been nine seasons since South China voluntarily relegated themselves to the First Division in 2017. Butt openly expressed his hope for the club’s return to the Hong Kong Premier League: “I’ve tried to watch South China’s matches, but it’s hard to find them on TV. Sometimes I search online for their latest updates and scores. I know they’ve faced some decline in recent years and are no longer in the top league. As a former player, I always hope for the club’s progress and would love to see South China competing in the top division again. After all, South China is one of Hong Kong’s most historic clubs.”
Profile
| 姓名 | 畢特 Nicky Butt |
| 位置 | CM |
| 擅長腳 | 右腳 |
| 出生日期 | 1975/1/21 |
| 職業隊 | 曼聯（1992-2004） 紐卡素（2004-2010） → 伯明翰城（2005-06） 南華（2010-11） |
| 國際A級賽上陣 | 39（英格蘭） |
| 執教球隊 | 曼聯（預備組助教）（2012-16） 曼聯（看守助教）（2014） 曼聯U23（2016-17） 曼聯（青訓總監）（2016-21） |