NAME Wayne Rooney
BIRTHDAY 24/10/1985
BIRTH CITY Liverpool, UK
HEIGHT 178 cm
WEIGHT 78 Kg
CLUB Everton
POSITION Striker
NUMBER 18
PREMIERSHIP DEBUT 17/08/2002 Tottenham
FIRST PREMIERSHIP GOAL 19/10/2002 Arsenal
ENGLAND DEBUT 12/02/2003 Australia
FIRST ENGLAND GOAL 06/09/2003 Macedonia
DID YOU KNOW? Rooney was the Everton mascot at a Merseyside derby in 1996/97
Wayne Mark Rooney (born 24 October 1985 in Liverpool) is an English rooneyfootballer. He currently plays for the English Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team. He normally played as a second striker to Ruud van Nistelrooy for his club team before van Nistelrooy's move to Real Madrid, although during 2005-06, he showed his versatility as a player by shifting to the midfield and playing on both flanks. He wears number 8 for Manchester United and wears number 9 the English national team.
Rooney was brought up in an urban area of eastern Liverpool called Croxteth, where he and his two brothers attended the local De La Salle Catholic School.
His boyhood team was always Everton; his love for his home town club was famously bore out when he wore a T-shirt reading "Once a blue, Always a blue". However, he would end up playing just two seasons with Everton before demanding, and then executing, a transfer. This has left him on unfavourable terms with Everton fans, as they showed when he returned to Goodison Park and he was booed severely.
Although he has been under an intense media spotlight since first arriving on the scene in 2002, it was not until his performances at Euro 2004 that he gained a reputation on the world stage, as he spearheaded the English attack, scoring four goals. Rooney is also on the cover of the FIFA 07 in the United Kingdom.
Rooney has also been compared to George Best and Paul Gascoigne in terms of talent.
Wayne Rooney in the Premiership
After excelling for Liverpool Schoolboys and The Dynamo Brownwings, Rooney was signed by Everton shortly before his 11th birthday. Rooney gained national prominence on the 19th of October 2002 when he became the youngest goal scorer in the history of the Premier League at 16 years and 360 days while playing for Everton (though this record has since been surpassed twice). His goal against then-champions Arsenal was a last-minute winner and brought to an end the London side's 30-match unbeaten run. At the end of 2002 he won the BBC Sports Young Personality of the Year award. On 26 December 2002 he "achieved" the record of becoming the youngest player ever to be sent off in a Premiership game. This is also his only standing record in the Everton books.
National team career
He has also figured prominently in recent England international matches, after having become the youngest ever player to play for England, in a friendly against Australia, on 12 February 2003, aged 17 years, 111 days. This record has since been surpassed by Theo Walcott, who came off the bench to play in England's friendly against Hungary on 30 May 2006. England's youngest ever player previous to Rooney was James F. M. Prinsep of Clapham Rovers, who made his debut almost one and a quarter centuries before, on 5 April 1879, aged 17 years, 253 days. Rooney is also the youngest England scorer ever (17 years, 317 days).
His reputation as one of the world's most exciting young players was further enhanced by his impressive performances for England at Euro 2004 in Portugal. At the tournament Rooney became the youngest player ever to score in the UEFA European Football Championships, when on 17 June 2004 he scored twice against Switzerland; although the Swiss player, Johan Vonlanthen, broke this record against France four days later. Unfortunately Rooney was injured early in the quarter final match against Portugal and England were subsequently knocked out on penalties.
World Cup 2006 - Wayne Rooney
There was concern for Rooney's fitness ahead of the 2006 FIFA World Cup after the fourth metatarsal on his right foot was broken, possibly in several places, following a seemingly innocuous challenge from Paulo Ferreira during Manchester United's 3-0 defeat away at Chelsea on 29 April 2006, putting him out of action for an estimated six weeks. This was also the first match he played in the re-branded Nike Total 90 'Supremacy'. The boot's safety went under the spotlight after many considered it unsafe to wear.
A bone scan on 25 May 2006 suggested he would not be expected to return in time for the World Cup group ties, with a decision to be made on his return to training after these games had passed. Shortly afterwards his international manager confirmed he would travel with the squad to Germany, and would return to have another bone scan on 7 June. Ahead of this scan, Wayne claimed to be feeling fine and was "300% confident" of his own fitness. Rooney was reported to be back, doing light training on 2 June, working on kicking the ball and running.
On 7 June, Wayne Rooney had his second scan, with reports saying he would play in the World Cup as he boarded a flight to Baden-Baden to regroup with the England squad.
On 8 June, Sven-Göran Eriksson said that he was "injury free" and that "he just needs to get back his fitness before he can play". Eriksson hinted at a possible involvement in the later group stage matches and almost certainly, should England progress, in the second round of the competition.
On 15 June, Sven-Göran Eriksson and FA doctors declared Rooney match fit in time for the match against Trinidad & Tobago. Prior to the match there was much speculation as to whether his health would be risked by playing him at this stage; the speculation was ended when he entered the match in the 58th minute, replacing Michael Owen. Although Rooney did not score, England's fans were keen to see him running with pace (as if he was match fit many weeks before his medical clearance) and making his presence felt on the attack. On 18 June, Eriksson announced that Rooney would be starting England's next game. Rooney's rush into play was much to the dismay of his club team, Manchester United, who were concerned that a full recovery would be jeopardised.
On 20 June, Rooney started in the final group match, England against Sweden, helping England to a 2-2 draw.
On 25 June, Rooney once again started in England's second round game (knock-out rounds) against Ecuador. Although he failed to score, he looked lively and appeared to be fully fit and definitely match fit.
On 1 July, Rooney was sent off in the quarter final against Portugal while fighting for possession with Chelsea and Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho. Rooney appeared to stamp down on Carvalho's groin and was sent off by referee, Horacio Elizondo. Rooney later announced, through the serialisation of his biography in the Daily Mail, that the stamp on Ricardo Carvalho was unintentional. He became only the third English player to be sent off in a World Cup Finals. Due to his red card, he missed England's opening Euro 2008 qualifiers against Andorra on 2 September and Macedonia on 6 September.
2009–10 Season
On 22 August 2009, he became the 20th Manchester United player to have scored over 100 goals for the club, finding the net twice in a 5-0 away win at Wigan Athletic.
His performance for Manchester United have led many to say he is one of the greatest football players in the world. If not the best player, then in the top two with Lionel Messi of Barcelona
2010 World Cup
The 2010 World Cup was another comparative disappointment for Wayne Rooney. England lost in the second round against Germany, and Wayne failed to find his great form of the previous domestic season. In the lead up to the World Cup finals, much media speculation suggested Wayne Rooney was the key to a good England performance. It is possible this weight of expectation played on Rooney's mind.
2010/11 Season
In November of 2011, Wayne Rooney shocked fans by suggesting he was ready to leave Manchester United, even raising the possibility of moving to Manchester City. In the end, he signed for Manchester United on a new contract making him one of the best paid players in the world.
Despite a disappointing World Cup in South Africa, Rooney is still undoubtedly viewed as one of the best players in the world. The Manchester United striker has been firmly in the spotlight since first breaking into the England side aged 17 and has the potential to stay at the top of the game for years to come. Having worked his way through the Everton academy, a 16-year-old Rooney shot to the world's attention with a stunning goal against Arsenal in 2002 and showed skill beyond his years before Manchester United signed him for around £30 million after the 2004 European Championships - in which he had played a starring role.
The powerful frontman made an immediate impact with a hat-trick on his debut - a Champions League victory over Fenerbache in September 2004 - and went on to help United to three straight Premier League titles between 2006-2009, while also collecting numerous personal awards.
The 2009-10 season represented the pinnacle of Rooney's goalscoring career to date, as he plundered 34 goals in 42 games in all competitions for United. Cristiano Ronaldo's departure to Real Madrid allowed Rooney to flourish as he became the focal point of the Old Trafford attack, and he spearheaded United's forward line in style. Rooney scored the winning goal in the 2010 Carling Cup final and though United missed out on domestic and European glory, he was rewarded for an impressive campaign with the PFA Players' Player of the Year Award.
In September 2008, Rooney became the youngest player in league history to make 200 appearances but after poor form and a tabloid scandal after the 2010 World Cup, he admitted he wanted to leave Manchester United. It took just three days for him to perform a U-turn though, committing his future to the club until 2015 amid a media melee.
Strengths: Powerful and strong on the ball, Rooney's ability to pick a pass, shoot from distance and unselfishly work for the team is unparalleled in world football. His passion can never been called into question.
Weaknesses: He suffers when the red mist descends and has a propensity to lose his cool in key games. Sometimes an impetuous customer, prone to easy frustration.
Career high: His stunning debut hat-trick for Manchester United is a strong contender, but it cannot top being named as the best player in the country by his fellow professionals, as he scooped the PFA Players' Player of the Year Award in for the 2009-10 season.
Career low: Being sent off against Portugal in the 2006 World Cup for stamping on a rather delicate area of Ricardo Carvalho's, after working so hard to be fit for the tournament following a metatarsal injury.
Style: Powerful, hard-working, passionate; an unselfish superstar.
Quotes: "We all know football players at the top level are blessed with high wages, it's no secret. But Rooney would play for 100 euros-a-week. You can see the fire in his eyes. It's that fire which makes him the best of the best." 2009 World Player of the Year Lionel Messi praises Rooney's passion.
Trivia: Rooney has "Just Enough Education To Perform" tattooed on his right forearm. The line is the title of an album by his favourite band, The Stereophonics.
Rooney's wife, Coleen, in October 2006
Rooney met his wife, Coleen Rooney (née McLoughlin), while both were at secondary school.They married on 12 June 2008 after six years of dating, during which Rooney admitted to soliciting prostitution in Liverpool in 2004. '"I was young and stupid. It was at a time when I was very young and immature and before I had settled down with Coleen."He has a tattoo of the words "Just Enough Education to Perform", the title of an album by his favorite band, the Stereophonics; Coleen arranged for the group to play at their wedding reception.The wedding ran into some controversy with the Catholic Church. The couple held a religious ceremony at La Cervara, a converted monastery near Genoa, despite being warned by the local bishop's office against the plan. The bishop's office told the Rooneys that La Cervara is deconsecrated and not suitable for a wedding. It suggested a different church, five miles away.Nevertheless, the couple ignored the advice and Father Edward Quinn, their local priest from Croxteth, presided over a ceremony in which rings were exchanged.
In April 2006, he was awarded £100,000 in libel damages from tabloids The Sun and News of the World, who had claimed that he had assaulted Coleen in a nightclub. Rooney donated the money to charity.
The Rooneys reside in a £4.25 million mansion in the village of Prestbury, Cheshire,which was built by a company owned by Dawn Ward, the wife of former Sheffield United striker Ashley Ward.He also owns property in Port Charlotte, Florida.While Rooney was house hunting in Cheshire after signing with Manchester United, he spotted a pub sign that read "Admiral Rodney", which he misread as "Admiral Rooney." He nonetheless considered it a positive omen for his future home.Rooney owns a French mastiff dog, which was reportedly bought for £1,250.
Rooney's wife Coleen announced on 7 April 2009 that the couple were expecting their first baby.Coleen gave birth to their son, Kai Wayne Rooney, on 2 November 2009.
Rooney's younger brother, John Rooney, is also a professional footballer, who has played with Macclesfield Town, and in January 2011 signed a contract to play in Major League Soccer in the United States.John was selected by the New York Red Bulls in the second round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft.
| 2011/12 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| England | ECQ | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| England | Int | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Season Totals | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2010/11 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| England | Int | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | Comm | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | FAC | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | Prem | 25 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 99 | 40 | 24 | 29 | 5 | 0 | |||||||||
| England | WC | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | UCL | 9 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 34 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| England | ECQ | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Season Totals | 47 | 4 | 17 | 16 | 169 | 72 | 48 | 49 | 7 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2009/10 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| England | WCQ | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | UCL | 6 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 31 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | Prem | 32 | 0 | 26 | 3 | 182 | 58 | 24 | 30 | 6 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | FAC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | Comm | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | CC | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| England | Int | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Season Totals | 50 | 2 | 40 | 7 | 257 | 90 | 39 | 46 | 8 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2008/09 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| Manchester United | Super C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| England | Int | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | CC | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | FAC | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | Prem | 25 | 5 | 12 | 7 | 123 | 40 | 27 | 17 | 7 | 1 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | UCL | 11 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 30 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 0 | |||||||||
| England | WCQ | 5 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| England | ECQ | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | |||||||||
| Season Totals | 52 | 9 | 24 | 17 | 197 | 75 | 66 | 44 | 13 | 1 | ||||||||||
| 2007/08 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| Manchester United | Prem | 25 | 2 | 12 | 13 | 104 | 69 | 36 | 17 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | FAC | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | UCL | 11 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 28 | 9 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Season Totals | 39 | 4 | 18 | 14 | 147 | 86 | 55 | 25 | 11 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2006/07 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| England | WC | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | CC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| England | Int | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | UCL | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 31 | 5 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | FAC | 5 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 31 | 19 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | Prem | 33 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 124 | 64 | 48 | 38 | 6 | 0 | |||||||||
| Season Totals | 56 | 5 | 24 | 14 | 198 | 96 | 76 | 47 | 10 | 1 | ||||||||||
| 2005/06 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| Manchester United | Prem | 34 | 2 | 16 | 10 | 148 | 73 | 50 | 57 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | FAC | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | UCL | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |||||||||
| England | Int | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | CC | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Season Totals | 47 | 4 | 21 | 14 | 184 | 89 | 65 | 63 | 12 | 1 | ||||||||||
| 2004/05 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| England | EC | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| England | ECQ | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | CC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| England | Int | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | UCL | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | FAC | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United | Prem | 24 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 111 | 70 | 42 | 31 | 7 | 0 | |||||||||
| Season Totals | 51 | 7 | 19 | 5 | 126 | 77 | 61 | 49 | 9 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2003/04 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| Everton | Prem | 26 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 94 | 94 | 44 | 37 | 10 | 0 | |||||||||
| Everton | FAC | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| England | Int | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Everton | CC | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Season Totals | 32 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 94 | 94 | 44 | 37 | 11 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2002/03 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| Everton | CC | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Everton | FAC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Everton | Prem | 14 | 19 | 6 | 4 | 63 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |||||||||
| Season Totals | 17 | 20 | 8 | 4 | 63 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | ||||||||||
| 2001/02 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| Everton | Prem | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
