Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney has called time on an illustrious playing career which saw him go from 16-year-old whirlwind to serial record breaker.
Rooney, 35, scored an all-time record 53 goals for England and is also United’s top scorer ever with 253.
He will be full-time manager of Derby, who he joined in a player-coach capacity a year ago from MLS side DC United and made 35 appearances for the club.
Rooney had been the Rams’ interim manager since the club sacked Dutchman Phillip Cocu in November.
The Merseyside-born striker began his playing career with boyhood club Everton, and announced himself on the big stage in spectacular fashion.
He was 16 years and 360 days old when he scored his first Premier League goal – for Everton against Arsenal in October 2002 – making him then the youngest goalscorer in the competition’s history.
We all remembered the name after that.
Sven-Goran Eriksson certainly did gave Rooney his first England cap at just 17 the following year.
And the teenager responded by lighting up Euro 2004 in his first major tournament appearance, threatening to end England’s 38-year trophy drought single-handedly
However, he was forced off in the quarter-final against Portugal and the Three Lions’ chances went with him.
His displays earned him a £27million move to Man Utd, breaking the record transfer fee for a teenager.
Rooney enjoyed great success at Old Trafford, and is the only player to have scored more than 250 goals for the Red Devils – eclipsing Sir Bobby Charlton’s record in 2017.
In 2017 he returned to Everton, before moving to MLS side DC United in 2018.
He won five Premier League titles with Man Utd plus the Champions League in 2008.
Rooney was sadly never able to replicate his incredible Euro 2004 displays at a future international tournament, and was sent off during England’s World Cup quarter-final defeat by Portugal in 2006.
He did however become the Three Lions’ record goal-scorer with 53 strikes.
And the prolific front-man is also England’s most capped outfield player, with 120 international appearances, five short of Peter Shilton’s overall record.
Rooney had a roller-coaster career with several highs and lows – including his red card vs Portugal after he was judged to have stamped on Man Utd team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronnie was caught winking to his team-mates after the incident which threatened to de-rail the team spirit Sir Alex Ferguson had nurtured at Old Trafford.
But the pair swiftly made up and went on to win the Premier League together at United in the following season.
Reflecting on the incident last year, Rooney said: “I knew it was a red card.
“And back in the dressing room I watched the rest of the game on a little TV, thinking: ‘If we win this, I’m suspended for a World Cup semi-final and final and if we lose it’s my fault.’
“It was the worst, weirdest feeling I’ve had in football. I had my phone in my hand and I was getting all these messages about Ronaldo.
“Of course, when he ran over to ask Elizondo [the ref] to send me off I pushed him away.
“In that moment I couldn’t believe what he was doing. But sitting in that dressing room gave me time to calm down and think.
“I put myself in Ronaldo’s shoes. Would I do the same? Probably.
“Would I be in the ref’s face to make sure he got sent off? If he deserved the red, if it would help us win – yes, no question.”
As well as the lows, Rooney also had plenty of highs including scoring some of the most iconic goals of the modern age.
His overhead kick for United against bitter rivals Man City at Old Trafford in 2011 is considered by some as his best ever goal.
But he also had a knack of scoring from his own half, with West Ham fans no doubt breathing a sigh of relief today having seen Rooney ping two in from at least the half way line against their side.
He scored one for United during a 2-0 win at Upton Park in 2014.
And he repeated the feat for Everton in 2017 during a 4-0 win over the Hammers at Goodison Park.
However, not willing to stop there, Rooney wowed American fans with another trademark stunner by beating Orlando’s keeper from a full 12 yards inside his own half.
West Ham boss David Moyes gave Rooney his debut as a 16-year-old at Everton and also managed him at Old Trafford.
Moyes said: “I knew him as a boy and he was a tremendous young player, someone who we were amazed with his abilities for someone so young.
“From 16 onwards, we got him his debut and everyone knows his career from then. Manchester United’s leading goalscorer, England’s leading goalscorer. So he’s had an incredible career.
“If he’s chosen to stop playing I’m sure it will be for the right reasons and because he wants his future to be in management.
“He’s going into a different world now completely and not all the best players have gone on to be the best managers.
“But Wayne’s love of the game, his drive, just his attitude will give him every chance of being successful.”
Rooney’s retirement was recognised by the England official Twitter account, which posted: “A #ThreeLions legend.
“Congratulations on a fantastic playing career, @WayneRooney! Wishing you all the best in management.”
THE SUN
