Wayne Rooney Success Story

The next season at Everton was also filled with some great performances by Rooney. This had made some of the richest clubs in the world interested in purchasing this teenage football genius. Newcastle offered £ 20 million which was a huge amount but Manchester United closed the deal by paying £ 25 million and securing the services of this rising superstar of football. This was the highest fees ever given to a player under 20 years old whereas Rooney was only 18 years old. Many felt that this was a high price for such a young player with only little experience.

But Rooney answered his critics by scoring a hat-trick in his debut match for Manchester United in the Champions League. He became the youngest player aged 18 years and 355 days to score a goal in the Champions League. His first season turned out to be a huge success as he became the highest scorer with 11 goals. He also went on to win the PFA Young Player of the Year Award for his debut performance. But his team was unable to win even one trophy that year as the best they could achieve was a third place finish in the Premiership Title Race. In the 2005-06 season, Rooney scored 16 goals in 36 games but still his team could only come second in the points table.

In 2006-07 Rooney scored 14 goals and helped his team win the Premiership Title. In 2007-08 he continued his scintillating form and helped him team win both the Premier League and the Champions league by contributing 18 goals throughout all competitions. In October 2008, he appeared for the 200^th time for his club Manchester United. Again in 2008-09 he contributed 20 goals and helped his team win the Premier League for the third time in a row. He was also instrumental in helping his team win the FIFA Club World Cup in 2008 and the Premiership title in the 2010-11, 2012-13 seasons.   

Rooney has also been a vital component of his national team England. In 2003, he became the youngest player to play for England at the age of 17. He made his debut in the Euro 2004 against Switzerland by scoring a stunning brace. This performance was crucial in cementing his place in the side. He is considered by many as the best player of the current England squad. 

Career Highlights

As of October 2013 he has 88 international caps in which he has scored 38 goals. He has won the England Player of the Year Award for two consecutive years 2008 and 2009. As of 2013, he is the fifth highest paid footballer in the world with an annual income in excess of £ 25 million including sponsorship deals. He has gone from the being a teenage prodigy to becoming one of the most successful footballers of the 21^st century.  

Wayne Rooney Best Goals