Wayne Rooney - The King Of Old Trafford
Wayne Rooney is a versatile forward who plays for Manchester United in the Premiership. He is regarded as one of the hottest talents in the footballing world right now, and is expected to leave an indelible impression on the game by the time he retires.
Rooney was born on the 24th of October, 1985 in Liverpool, England. He shares his birthdate with Chelsea owner and Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and Aston Villa striker Juan Pablo Angel. He grew up in humble surroundings in Croxteth, a suburb in eastern Liverpool ,with his two brothers and parents. Nearly everybody in his area supported the blue half of Merseyside, and the young Wayne was no exception. He was spotted by an Everton scout as a schoolboy and signed by the club at the age of 11. He now dons red, not those of bitter rivals Liverpool, but of Premiership giants Manchester United.
Rooney is a naturally gifted player and can play at many positions on the football pitch. He generally plays in the ''hole'', just behind the main striker, although he can also play on the wings. Not only does he score, but he also provides plenty of opportunities for others to get themselves on the scoresheet. He shows maturity beyond his years, and is a complete team man. You will often see him tackle and run for the ball as if there was no tomorrow, and his fierce determination and grit ensure that opposition defenders need to be on their toes all the time.
Rooney made his Premiership debut for the Toffees on the 17th of August 2002, against Tottenham Hotspur. He caught everyone's attention barely 2 months later, with a stunning goal against Arsenal which made him the then youngest scorer in the history of the Premiership. That goal broke Arsenal's 30 match unbeaten streak, and the substitute had made a name for himself with his last minute strike.
Rooney made his England debut in February 2003, against Australia. That appearance made him the then youngest player ever to play for the Three Lions. Arsenal's wonderkid Theo Walcott now holds that honour. He scored his first senior goal against Macedonia in September 2003, an equaliser to Georgi Hristov's opening goal. England went on to beat Macedonia 2-1, and Wayne Rooney had another record to his name - England's youngest ever goal scorer. His talent continued to grow and Sven Goran Eriksson decided to take the lad to Portugal for the European Championships. Rooney didn't disappoint his manager, as he scored 4 goals and was named in UEFA's team of the tournament. Although England were knocked out by the hosts in the last eight, Rooney's sensational performance was taken notice of by one and all. He became the youngest scorer in the history of the European Championships in the game against Switzerland, but the record lasted barely 4 days and was broken when Johan Volanthen scored for the Swiss against France.
The same year, Rooney moved to Manchester United for an estimated fee of £30 million on the last day of the summer transfer window. Newcastle were also close to securing his signature, but it was United who clinched it in the end. He has improved with every passing year at Old Trafford, and is now a regular first team player. He made his debut for the Red Devils in the Champions League against Fenerbahce. The Turkish side did not know what hit them as Rooney scored a hat trick with United cruising to a 6-2 win. He started playing out wide, and was later asked to play in the centre where he did very well, sitting just behind Ruud Van Nistelrooy. He played a key role in the 2006 League cup win over Wigan Athletic, contributing half of the goals in an emphatic 4-0 win. He wore the captain's armband for the Red Devils for the first time in October 2006, in an European clash against FC Copenhagen. It was a sign of how highly he was regarded by his manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.
One of Rooney's biggest weaknesses has been his perceived lack of ability to keep a check on his temper. He was sent off in a Champions League game against Villareal for taunting referee Kim Nielsen. Horacio Elizondo meted out the same treatment to him during England's quarterfinal game against Portugal in the 2006 World Cup. The reason being a stamp on Ricardo Carvalho, and Rooney also got into a scuffle with Cristiano Ronaldo . The incident was given extensive coverage in the media, and it was predicted that Ronaldo would leave Manchester United as he and Rooney wouldn't be able to play together. Nothing of that sort happened though, and now the two R's are a part of the group which forms the core nucleus of the United side. When the two of them are on song, United are a difficult team to beat. In the 2007-08 season, Ronaldo and Rooney together scored an incredible sixty goals.
