Wayne Rooney is pulling the plug on his playing career, to concentrate on management. He is regarded as one of the "greats" in English football, despite the odd misdemeanours, but let's sing his praises today as he announces his retirement from playing.
Born in Croxteth, on 24th October 1985, he was involved with Everton's junior football at the age of 9, he played for England U15s, turning professional in 2002 at 16, he then also played England U17s and U19s. Rooney is so influential, nationally, that he appears on the cover of the book featured below.
Moving to Manchester United in 2004, he won, along with Michael Carrick: The Premier League, the FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, The League Cup, UEFA Europa League, FIFA Club World Cup. With 253 goals for United, he is top scorer for the club , with 183 Premier League goals, the most for a single club. He was also 3rd in PL assists when he stopped playing.
His England debut came in February 2003 at Upton Park v Australia, a 1-3 defeat in a friendly. Francis Jeffers scoring our goal. Rooney replaced Michael Owen and was one of 11 subs used by Sven! Only a friendly Sven!! He then subbed for Heskey in a European Qualifier against Liechenstein in another boring 2-0 win in Vaduz and finally made the team sheet against Turkey (an EQ in April) in a 2-0 win, replaced by Dyer late in the game. He played in another EQ tie against Slovakia, winning 2-1, at the Stadium of Light in June 2003. Rooney became the country's youngest scorer ever (17y 317d) in Skopje against Macedonia (EQ) in a thumping 2-1 win, with David Beckham getting the other goal. Further matches in the European Championships included returns versus Leichenstein 2-0 with a Rooney goal, a 0-0 draw with Turkey away and finally a 2-3 defeat by Denmark at Old Trafford with goals from Rooney and Joe Cole.
In the UEFA tournament in 2004, he was the youngest goalscorer, but his and the nation's progress flopped, when he limped off with injury against Portugal in the quarter-final. When he retired from international football, in 2017, he was the all time top scorer for England, but during the final 17 appearances, Wayne only managed 3 goals. However, few would have boasted such an impact on the national side. He was voted England Player of the Year in 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015. His 53 goals are an all time record and his 120 caps rank him 2nd to Peter Shilton.
He has been PFA Player of the Month 5 times and PoTYear, The Football Writers' Association FoTY 5 times, twice, Premier League PoTY, the list goes on...
There's Goals of the Season (remember the overhead volley?), Apologies it does go on......the goal is spectacular but what about the cross---who did that?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km_9ntw05pw
Premier League Season Awards, FIFA Pro World XI 2011, 5th place in the Ballon d'Or 2011.......+++
His senior club career concludes with 569 apps and 237 goals.
Kai, Klay, Kit and Cass, his sons, might carry the family name into professional football, his brother John plays for Stockport County and cousin Tommy is at Macclesfield, so they are keeping the blood line going. Coleen, his better half, a "friend" since school, is keeping him on the straight and narrow.
Not sure how happy I am at his becoming our manager, but he has some good people round him. But very pleased he is not playing anymore. He has been a complete liability fir us.
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