Did You Know? 5 facts about former Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney
Britain Football Soccer - England v Scotland - 2018 World Cup Qualifying European Zone - Group F - Wembley Stadium, London, England - 11/11/16 England's Wayne Rooney applauds fans after the game REUTERS/Eddie Keogh File Picture
SHOOT would like to wish Wayne Rooney many happy returns as England’s record goalscorer celebrates his 33rd birthday today.
The ex-Three Lions skipper, who scored 53 times in 119 caps for his country, is now making a name for himself in the US with DC United.
Rooney has netted 12 times in 19 matches to help steer the Washington club, who he joined from Everton in the summer, into the play-offs.
Rooney is on fire for DC United.
Prior to a second homecoming at Goodison Park, the scouser enjoyed the best years of his career at Manchester United, where he is the club’s leading goalscorer with 253 in 559 matches.
In his 13 seasons at Old Trafford he fired the Red Devils to 16 honours, including five Premier League titles, the 2008 Champions League and 2016 FA Cup.
One of England’s greatest ever players and one of the best in the world of his generation, SHOOT are celebrating Rooney’s birthday by picking out five facts you may not know about the prolific striker…
Roo respects Ron
Rooney looked up to Brazilian legend Ronaldo.
As a young aspiring striker a young Rooney idolised the Brazilian Ronaldo, previously saying: “as an out-and-out forward he was probably the best.”
Although two different players in regards to their style of play, both had an incredible eye for goal with the two boasting a combined 760 career strikes.
Ahead of the Rest
Rooney playing for Everton in the 2002 FA Youth Cup Final, aged 16.
Growing up Rooney always played for the older age groups due to the immense talent he possessed.
In the 1995/96 season he netted 114 times in 29 games for Everton’s Under-10s and 11s and, by the age of 15, he was playing for the Under-19s.
“Remember the Name”
Rooney burst on to the scene with his winner against Arsenal in 2002.
When Rooney struck THAT famous winner against Arsenal at Goodison Park he became the youngest scorer in Premier League history.
That’s since been beaten by James Milner (Leeds United) and James Vaughan (Everton), both of which have gone on to have very different careers.
Roo’s ready to Rumble
Rooney hits the deck following his boxing celebration.
Away from football Rooney is a huge fan of boxing, so much so that a leaked video in 2015 showed him knocked stone cold by ex-United team-mate Phil Bardsley in a friendly sparring session.
The striker hit back at the criticism he received my performing a ‘knockout’ celebration after scoring in the victory over Spurs soon after.
It’s a kind of Magic
The former Toffee is mad about the boy wizard.
Rooney is a huge fan of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter books. The striker revealed his secret during a campaign to promote reading habits in children.
He said: “Harry Potter is almost every child’s favourite book and the same goes for a lot of adults too! JK Rowling is a fantastic author and I would encourage any child to read the Harry Potter books; they are full of excitement and adventure and they really get your imagination going.”