Former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips has told how the first time he met actor Will Ferrell, the Hollywood star was completely naked.
Talking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast with Sam Allardyce & Natalie Pike, ex-West Brom and Birmingham hotshot Phillips opened up on what it was like to share a dressing room with some of the world’s biggest celebrities. Phillips took part in Soccer Aid in 2012 alongside some major Hollywood stars, including Will Ferrell, and spilled the beans on what was a very unusual interaction with the actor.
The iconic comedy actor who’s appeared in the likes of Anchorman, Elf and Old School, actually played almost 75 minutes in the famous charity game, however, the Barbie star was not the only Hollywood celeb to put on a pair of boots for the event that year. Tinsel town alumni Ed Norton, Woody Harrelson, as well as Austin Powers star Mike Myers, also featured in what was a star-studded edition of the charity event.
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The game featured the likes of Brit celebs such as Robbie Williams and Paddy McGuinness while Roy Keane, Teddy Sheringham and Hernan Crespo were some of the headline names representing the footballing contingent. Yet it wasn’t any name from the footy world that had Phillips speechless as the former Villa man explains.
With the dressing room populated with superstars, Phillips reveals that his first interaction with one of the biggest names in movies was one he will never forget.
“To cut a long story short, I’ve went to go into the shower and I’ve literally opened the door and there’s Will Ferrell standing there naked,” Phillips added, “He stood there and I didn’t know where to look and he’s like ‘you alright? How are you doing?’ and it’s Will Ferrell standing there with nothing on.”
(Image: Action Images)
Phillips then revealed that the story only became more surreal as he was bumping into stars of the screen left, right and centre. He added: “To top it, I walk past him (Ferrell) and there’s Ed Norton trying to get in the ice bath and he’s like ‘how do you guys get in here?’
“We tell him that’s he’s just got to jump in so as he gets in, I turn around and Marvin Humes from JLS is standing in the shower. I thought it can’t get any better than this surely?”
Co-host of the pod, and former Bolton boss, Allardyce also spoke about Ferrell’s influence on the dressing room, however, he was less complimentary about the actor’s skills on the pitch. “He was funny off camera,” big Sam said, “He couldn’t kick a football, and neither could Woody Harrelson, but it was great having those lads come over. You can’t seem to get those celebrities over for Soccer Aid anymore.”
What do you make of Kevin Phillips and Will Ferrell’s interaction? Let us know in the comments section
Soccer Aid wasn’t Will Ferrell’s only foray into football in the UK. The actor has been spotted at games over the years, including Wrexham’s games with actor friends Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. It was in Wrexham where Ferrell was also spotted in a pub.
The comedy legend has also appeared on Sky Sports and at various other footballing events over the years. However, according to reports, Ferrell, 56, has now stepped up his interest further to become an investor in Leeds United.
The Wedding Crashers star is already a co-owner of Los Angeles FC in the MLS, however, reports say he hopes investment with the 49ers will help get the “sleeping giant” of Leeds make their way back to the Premier League.