Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe will start this year's Great North Run.
Some 60,000 runners are taking part in the half marathon on Sunday, which follows a 13.1-mile (21km) route from Newcastle to South Shields.
Under Howe's leadership the club has qualified for the Champion's League for the first time in 20 years.
Sir Brendan Foster, founder, said he was sure there would be a huge number of fans who would be "delighted" to get the chance to thank Howe in person.
"Eddie will also be the first Newcastle manager to start the Great North Run since Sir Bobby Robson, who was also the last manager to take the team to the Champions League," he said.