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Wayne Rooney

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Wayne Rooney
File:EPL 3 January Wayne Rooney.jpg
Image © http://soccer-europe.com
Personal information
Full name Wayne Mark Rooney
Height 5'10 (178 cm)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Manchester United
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 Apr 06

Wayne Mark Rooney (born 24 October 1985 in Liverpool) is widely considered to be one of the leading young talents in world football - in September 2005 he was selected by his fellow professionals as the inaugural FIFPro World Young Player of the Year. He currently plays for Manchester United and the England national football team as a second striker, although the 2005-06 season has seen Rooney playing both centrally and on the left and right flanks. He wears the number 8 shirt for his club, vacated by Nicky Butt, and is generally given the number 9 for his country.

Rooney was brought up in a rough urban area of eastern Liverpool called Croxteth, where he and his two brothers attended the local Christian Brothers De La Salle school.

Although he has been under an intense media spotlight since first arriving on the scene in 2002, it was not until his performances at the Template:Ec2 that he gained a reputation on the world stage, as he spearheaded the English attack, scoring 4 goals - England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson compared his impact to that made by the legendary Brazilian, Pelé at a similar age during the 1958 World Cup - this comparison has led to him being nicknamed "El Blanco Pelé" - the white Pelé - by some United fans.

Career

Premiership breakthrough

Rooney gained national prominence in October 2002 when he became the youngest goal scorer in the history of the Premiership at 16 years and 360 days of age, while playing for Everton F.C.. His spectacular goal was a last-minute winner. At the end of 2002 he won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Young Personality award.

This record has since been surpassed twice; first by James Milner, aged 16 yrs 357 days, while playing for Leeds United F.C. on December 26, 2003; second by James Vaughan, aged 16 yrs 271 days while playing for Everton F.C. on April 10, 2005, making him the youngest Premiership goal scorer to date (Mar 2006).

England 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 February 12, 2003, aged 17 years, 111 days. England's youngest ever player previous to this was James F. M. Prinsep of Clapham Rovers, who made his debut almost one and a quarter centuries before, on April 5, 1879, aged 17 years, 253 days.

Rooney is also the youngest England scorer ever (17 years, 317 days). In 2004, Rooney became the youngest player ever to score in the European Football Championships on 17 June 2004 when he scored twice against Switzerland; however the Swiss player, Johan Vonlanthen, broke this record against France four days later. However, Rooney was injured in the quarter finals against Portugal - England were subsequently knocked out. As of 2 March 2006, he has played for England 29 times and has scored 11 international goals.

Transfers

Before turning 17 and becoming eligible for a professional contract, he was playing for £100 a week and living with his family on a council estate. Now, the teenage sensation has raised that several times and earns an estimated £50,000 (€73,500 / $90,000) a week. Following intense media coverage of Rooney at the 2004 European Championships, Everton claimed that they would not transfer his contract for less than £50 million. The club offered Rooney a new contract for £50,000 a week. This, however, was turned down by Rooney on the 27 August 2004, leaving Manchester United and Newcastle United to battle for his services.

The Times newspaper reported rumours that Newcastle's initial bid was made at the request of Rooney's agent, who eventually made £1.5 million from the deal and employs the son of the Newcastle United chairman. This bid was intended to force Manchester United to try to buy the player a year earlier than they had planned. In any event, the Newcastle United bid succeeded in forcing Manchester United to enter the bidding. Rooney handed in a transfer request to Everton and on 31 August 2004 Rooney signed for Manchester United after a deal worth up to £27 million was agreed. The deal took place rapidly, and was concluded just hours before the transfer deadline.

The initial fee of £23m is to be paid directly to Everton Football Club over two years; the rest of the money depends on appearances and/or success at Manchester United and/or England. It is unlikely the fee will reach the maximum £27m due to the complex nature of the contract drawn up by the two clubs. A final fee in the region of £25m plus costs (mainly agents' fees) is more likely. In the club's 2004-05 accounts, Rooney's contract is recorded as having a book cost of £25.066 million as at 30 June 2005, with contingent payables of £4 million, giving a maximum final fee of £29.066 million including costs. [1]

Rooney's transfer fee is the second highest for an exclusively British deal, with only his Manchester United team-mate, Rio Ferdinand, commanding a higher fee. shrek does, however, have the honour of being the most expensive teenage footballer ever, being only 18 when Manchester United signed him.

Rooney made his début for the club on 28 September, 2004 in the UEFA Champions League against Fenerbahçe, scoring a hat-trick and also an assist (the match finished in a 6-2 win for United). For the 2005-06 season, Rooney initially started playing in wider positions than his more favoured central role. Pundits and fans alike agreed that he seemed less effective in such positions, and eventually, after Manchester United's poor run of form early in the season. Sir Alex Ferguson moved him back to his stronger position, playing behind Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy as a second striker. He got his first professional Winners Medal in the 2006 English League Cup. He was also named the Man of The Match in the Carling Cup final against Wigan Athletic, after scoring 2 goals in the final (a 4-0 victory for United), en route to winning his first senior medal. He was also a member of the United side defeated on penalties in the 2005 FA Cup final by Arsenal F.C..

Disciplinary issues

Rooney is also known for his hot temper and ill-discipline on the pitch. In September 2005, against Northern Ireland Rooney launched an on-field outburst at England captain David Beckham, but since then, the pair have played down the bust-up.

His temper problems also came to the forefront in the 0-0 draw with Villarreal during United's Champion's League encounter in Spain. Rooney was sent off for dissent after he sarcastically applauded the referee, Kim Milton Nielsen after he was initially booked.

Rooney has pledged to keep his temper under control and both his club and international managers have defended him, citing his youth as the main reason for his behaviour. It is known that other teams and players are familiar with Rooney's disciplinary problems and sometimes use them against him, teasing him or provoking him. Since the 2004-05 season he has been trying to keep his temper in check, as shown by a drop in cards received so far in the 2005-06 season.

Personal life

Rooney has rarely been out of the media spotlight since his emergence, and has received criticism for his relationship with fiancée Coleen McLoughlin, who is often featured in the tabloid press for her shopping habits.

Rooney's personal life has also often been marred by accusations from the press surrounding his visits to aging prostitutes, which he later unequivocally confirmed. [2]

In April 2006, newspapers suggested that he owed in excess of £700,000 in gambling debts [3], possibly connected to a business partner of Michael Owen [4]. Days later, he accepted £100,000 in libel damages from The Sun and News of the World newspapers which had claimed he had assaulted his fiancée in a nightclub. [5]

Charity work

Rooney has often been involved in raising money for Claire House and Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, and is also noted for his role as ambassador for SOS Children UK. As a member of the Manchester United side, he also takes part in charity and promotional work for UNICEF.

Publishing deal

On 9 March 2006 Rooney signed the largest sports book deal in publishing history with the publishers HarperCollins. He is to receive a £5 million advance, plus royalties, for a minimum of five books to be published over a twelve-year period. The first book, an autobiography, is scheduled to be published after the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Quotes

"Wayne can be the best in the world in 2 years". Sir Alex Ferguson

"I'm not trying to unsettle him or tap him up, but Wayne Rooney is a player I like. It's true I may to do a deal this summer." Arsene Wenger

Profiles

News stories about Wayne Rooney from BBC News Online

Miscellaneous

Preceded by PFA Young Player of the Year
2005 		Succeeded by
current holder
Preceded by
none
 FIFPro Young Player of the Year (Players' Vote)
2005 		Succeeded by
current holder
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