Wayne Rooney

Wayne Mark Rooney (born 24 October 1985) is 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 striker. He wears the number 8 shirt for his club, and is generally given the number 9 for his country.

Career

Premiership breakthrough

Rooney first 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. His spectacular goal was a last-minute winner against the then-League champions Arsenal that consigned them to their first league defeat in almost a year. Coincidentally, Wayne Rooney also played a huge role in ending Arsenal's record unbeaten run, winning a penalty and scoring the second goal, in Manchester United's 2-0 victory over Arsenal in October 2004 - Arsenal's first Premiership defeat in 50 games. At the end of 2002 he won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Young Personality award.

Related Topics:
Everton - Arsenal - Manchester United's - BBC Sports Personality of the Year Young Personality

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* This record has since been surpassed by James Milner, while playing for Leeds on 26 December 2003. He was 16 years 357 days. On 10 April 2005, James Vaughan while playing for Everton, scored a Premiership goal on his debut, making him, at 16 years and 271 days old, the youngest Premiership goal scorer to date (July 2005).

Related Topics:
James Milner - Leeds - 26 December - 2003 - 10 April - 2005 - James Vaughan - Everton

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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, in February 2003 and also set a record as the youngest player to score for England. 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. Rooney has shown a darker side to his game, often losing his temper. This was most notable when he reacted violently in a game against Spain on the 19 November 2004. In that game Rooney was substituted by his manager Sven Goran Eriksson to avoid being sent off

Related Topics:
England - Australia - European Football Championship - 17 June - 2004 - Switzerland - Johan Vonlanthen - France - 19 November - Sven Goran Eriksson

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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 pounds. 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.

Related Topics:
£ - Council estate - € - $ - 2004 European Championships - 27 August - 2004 - Newcastle United

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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. In return for making a bid that would force Manchester United to try to buy the player a year earlier than they had planned, Newcastle would be allowed to bid for a Manchester United defender. Suspicions were further raised because at that point in time Newcastle United had little need for a striker having already got three top class forwards at the club. 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 in spectacular fashion and was concluded hours before the transfer deadline.

Related Topics:
The Times - Manchester United - 31 August - 2004 - Deal

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The initial fee of £22m is paid directly to Everton Football Club, 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 Everton and Manchester United. A final fee in the region of £25m is more likely. He made his debut 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 Manchester United).

Related Topics:
28 September - 2004 - UEFA Champions League - Fenerbahçe - Hat-trick

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Rooney's transfer fee is the second highest for an exclusively British deal, with only his new teammate, Rio Ferdinand commanding a higher fee. Rooney does however have the honour of being the most expensive teenage footballer ever, being only 18 when Manchester United spent their entire seasonal transfer budget on him.

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