The England World Cup 2018 bid team has signed up Argentine legends Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa to be members of the “ambassador squad”.

The former Tottenham duo are part of a 30 strong group of former and current players who will be used to promote the 2018 bid.

The English bid was officially launched in May this year with a party at Wembley and has so far garnered the backing of all three major UK political parties as well as support from a number of leading figures from the world of football.

Ardiles said: “I’m honoured and will do all I can for the bid. Ricky and I consider England to be our home, certainly the home of football. Although Ricky lives in Argentina now he comes over all the time and will be returning yet again next month. I believe that England will win the bid process.”

The full list of players recruited to the ‘ambassador squad’ will be unveiled in the next few weeks.