Wayne Rooney ended a 16-year Premier League career on the back of a couple of unspectacular seasons with Manchester United and Everton – but we shouldn’t forget how good England’s record goalscorer was at his peak.
Rooney scored a respectable 10 league goals in his 12 months back at Goodison Park, but none after December.
Having scored only 13 league goals across his two final seasons at Manchester United and been pushed out of the England reckoning, there is a danger of Rooney’s legacy being tarnished, with the former England captain ending his career with spells at DC United and Derby County, where he has since taken over as manager.
This is a player who scored 53 goals in 119 appearances for England. A player who scored 253 goals in 559 appearances for Manchester United, with whom he won 12 major honours. And most importantly, a player who provided fans with some unbelievable memories.
Particularly in his early years, Rooney was one of the most feared strikers in the game. His pace, energy and downright determination to have the ball saw him go on runs where he would bulldoze his way through defenders and score spectacular goals, many of which are still replayed today.
The one common denominator in any goal, of course, is the poor goalkeeper who has to pick the ball out of the back of the net, and there are many around the world who were on the receiving end of Rooney’s talents in front of goal.
First tournament
Switzerland international Jorg Steil was between the posts at Euro 2004 when Rooney burst onto the international scene. The teenager was being linked with every major club in England when he scored his first two major tournament goals against Steil’s Swiss team.
“Wayne Rooney was not really famous at that time,” says Steil. “We spoke about David Beckham and the others, these were the players you knew about.
“When we played against England, Rooney was still a teenager, but after our game Rooney was known all around the world.
“He was a really aggressive player. I remember a situation with a long ball, I came out for it and he left his right foot against me. I was like, ‘What an asshole!’
“But that was how he was and that’s what made him who he is. He was technical, he was fast, and I remember the second goal when he flew forward and scored a goal against my head!
“I was never the type to think too much about the other team, whoever they had. Beckham, Gerrard, Zidane, Totti, it didn’t matter. One player…
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