What a career, what a player, what an icon. Wayne Rooney, who is one of our idols here at A1 Sporting Memorabilia, closed the door on an illustrious career at Manchester United over the weekend. But Rooney will now return to his boyhood club, Everton, after the England striker signed a two-year-deal at Goodison Park on Sunday, back where it all began.
Thirteen highly decorated years at Old Trafford came to an end this summer for Rooney, as the little boy inside him was calling for a romantic return to Merseyside, with his one love, Everton. Though, I’m sure Manchester United fans can agree, what a thirteen years it has been. 5 Premier League titles, 1 Champions League, 1 Club World Cup, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cups and 1 Europa League. It is safe to say, Wayne has won it all.
It wasn’t just the trophies that came with Rooney’s iconic tenure with the Red Devils, it was the moments and goals that he produced. Countless moments which will not only stick with United fans for a lifetime, but also with football lovers in general.
There are so many Rooney, Manchester United moments that stand out like a sore thumb. His overhead kick in the Manchester Derby at Old Trafford back in 2011, is the most obvious one. The
goal from the half-way line away at West Ham United in 2014 was not far behind either. Or going right back to the beginning, his infamous hat-trick against Fenerbahce at Old Trafford in the Champions League in 2004, will always be remembered fondly.
Rooney really did have his best years under ‘father’ like figure, in Sir Alex Ferguson, as the pair had an unbreakable bond which ran throughout Rooney’s glory years at United. Not only that, but Rooney was always part of an elite Manchester United team during the 2000’s. His first strike partner when arriving at the club being, Dutch legend, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, as Rooney learnt his trade to an impeccable level during his early years in Manchester.
And who can not forget that stunning team of 2008, which saw United win the Champions League for the second time in eleven years, after victory over Chelsea in the final on that night in Moscow. Rooney struck up an sensational relationship between superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, as Manchester United were truly unstoppable on every front.
In 2014, following Rio Ferdinand’s departure from the club, Rooney was handed the captaincy on a full-time basis, as Wayne was seen as the most senior and experienced member of a United team going through a brand new transition following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, one year previous to that.It was an honour that Rooney truly relished for both club and country, as the younger generation coming through at Manchester United, such as Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford had a leader and almost a ‘professor’ to whom they could learn from.
Though, through this new generation coming through at Old Trafford, it most certainly was a sign of the times, as Rooney recognised that life at the Red Devils was changing as each year went by. And there was only one club that he had eyes for.
Thirteen years on, Rooney is back in his home city, and at his childhood club in what promises to be a very exciting season ahead for Everton and Rooney. And it won’t be long before Everton fans get to see one of their biggest success story’s back in a blue shirt.
Everton fans, if you can’t wait till the new season to see Rooney back in action for the Toffee’s then you can get your hands on this hand-signed Wayne Rooney and Duncan Ferguson Everton shirt on our website!