Early Years

Wayne Mark Rooney was born on 24th October 1985 in Croxteth, Liverpool. Wayne was the eldest of three children of mother Jeanette and father Wayne senior. His family were all die hard Evertonian’s and it was Rooney’s dream to play for the toffees. Wayne came from a working class family and grew up in a rough part of Liverpool called Croxteth. He signed for Everton’s youth team at the age of 11 after impressing for his local team Dynamo Brownwing’s and Liverpool schoolboys.

Wayne Rooney first came to the public attention with a man of the match performance in the second leg of the FA Youth Cup against Aston Villa in May 2002. Everton lost the final 4-2 on aggregate but the young Rooney made an impression and if it wasn’t for Villa keeper Wayne Henderson, Rooney would have had a hat-trick. Wayne finished the competition with 8 goals in as many games.

Everton

After a successful campaign with Everton’s youth team Wayne Rooney was promoted to the senior squad. On 19th October 2002 Rooney hit the headlines with a stunning 25 yard strike past David Seaman, giving Everton a late 2-1 win at Goodison Park and ending Arsenal’s 30-match unbeaten run in the process. Rooney was 5 days short of his 17th birthday when that rocket flew in, which made him the youngest premiership scorer at the time.

Wayne Rooney went on to play 33 league games scoring 6 goals in his debut season for the toffees, 37 appearances and 8 goals in all competitions. The British public had seen enough of what the young scouser could do and his stock was rising. In Wayne’s second season he went on to play 34 league games scoring 9 goals in what was to be his final season in an Everton shirt. Rooney finished the 2003/04 season and joined up with England for Euro 2004 in Portugal and by the end of the tournament speculation had reached fever pitch. Everton declared they wound not sell the youngster for less than 50 million.

Rooney handed Everton a transfer request and on the final day of the transfer window, 31st August 2004, Wayne Rooney became a Manchester United player in a record deal for a teenager. The total deal was money upfront as well as bonuses depending on the player’s progression that would take the deal to around the 31 million mark.

Manchester United

After recovering from an injury at Euro 2004 Rooney made his Manchester United debut on 28th September 2004 in the Champions League against Fenerbahce. He scored a hat-trick and set up another as United battered the Turks 6-2.

His first season at Man Utd with the pressure of being the most expensive teenager in world football, produced a return of 17 goals in 43 appearances in all competitions. The season finished trophy-less but Rooney picked up the PFA Young player of the year award and FIFPro young player of the year award.

Rooney finished 2005/06 season with his first taste of silverware as Manchester United battered Wigan 4-0 in the Carling Cup final, which saw Rooney score 2 goals and be named man of the match. He finished his second season at United scoring 19 goals in 48 appearances in all competitions.

Rooney’s third season saw him break the 20 goal barrier for the first time in his professional career, 23 goals in 55 appearances in all competitions. Wayne also signed a 2 year contract extension which will keep him at Old Trafford until 2012, although Wayne has stated on many occasions that he has no desire to leave United. The 2006/07 season was significant as Rooney got his hands on the Premiership trophy for the first time. He also picked up the PFA Young player of the year award for second season running.

After Ruud Van Nistlerooy’s departure in 2006 the number 10 jersey had been vacant for a year. The start of 2007/08 season saw Rooney take over the mantle as the number one striker at the club and the new owner of the number 10. Unfortunately Rooney got injured on the opening day of the season against Reading and spent the next 2 months out injured. An ankle injury in November ruled him out for a further 4 weeks, restricting his Premiership appearances to 27 games for the season.

England

Wayne Rooney made his international debut against Australia in a friendly on 12th February 2003 aged just 17. He broke the record for the youngest player to play for England, although that record has been broken again since by Theo Walcott. Wayne scored his first goal for England against Macedonia on 6th September 2003 in a European Championships qualifier.

Rooney came to the world’s attention in the European Championships in Portugal 2004. He scored 4 goals in England’s 3 group games with Rooney-Mania taking over the nation. Rooney suffered a broken metatarsal in the quarter finals against Portugal and England went out on penalties.

The 2006 World cup campaign was disappointing for England and Wayne Rooney. A broken metatarsal sustained in Manchester United’s visit to Chelsea at the end of season looked to have ruined Wayne’s hopes of making his debut in the world cup. However, after intensive treatment and time spent in an oxygen tent Rooney made a come back in England’s second group game. The tournament took a turn for the worse as England drew Portugal in the quarter finals. England was looking for revenge but it was Portugal who prevailed as Wayne Rooney was sent off for stamping on Carvalho in the 62nd minute. England managed to take the game to extra time but Portugal won on penalties leaving English supporters heart broken.