Biography
Growing up, Wayne Rooney's view of his dreary working-class suburb in Liverpool
was brightened by his countless Everton pennants. Rooney, who was born on October
24, 1985, was mad about his hometown team. Like every English boy, he dreamed of
achieving future greatness playing the greatest game on Earth.
Rooney grew up in a three-bedroom council house (the British equivalent of public
housing) with his parents and younger brothers. Throughout his childhood, he would
eat and drink soccer any moment he could. Even at age 9, while playing for a boys'
club, Copplehouse, it was evident that the boy could dribble. It was at this time
that he was spotted by an Everton scout, Bob Pendleton, who introduced the boy to
the team's youth director. Pendleton's instincts would be proven correct, as the
young Rooney went on to score 99 goals in his last season at Copplehouse.
wayne rooney joins everton
Rooney joined Everton academy and was playing for their under-19 squad by age 14.
His dream of playing for his hometown team had come true. In the 2002 FA Youth Cup,
he was the talk of both his town and country as he scored eight goals in as many
games.
Rooney was becoming something of a revelation in the European football world. In
preseason friendlies, he scored hat tricks against teams both at home and abroad
-- as a reserve player!
Everton boss Bill Kenwright could keep his new young weapon under wraps for only
so long. By August 2002, it was time for Rooney's Premiership debut, against Tottenham.
And what do you know... he created the first goal opportunity of the match with
a pass to Mark Pembridge.
wayne rooney in the premiership
While Rooney's performance in his professional debut was impressive, his first goal
would come under much more splendid circumstances. The afternoon of October 19,
2002, saw Everton pitted against Arsenal, a powerful team that was enjoying a 30-game
unbeaten streak. Rooney was sent in to replace Tomaz Radzinski in the dying moments
of the game. In the final minute, he found the underside of the crossbar off a Thomas
Gravesen pass, winning the game for Everton and shattering Arsenal's streak.
If this wasn't glory enough, this goal made Rooney, at age 16, the youngest scorer
in the history of the Premiership (his record was later broken by James Milner of
Leeds United).
This was only the first record that the Liverpudlian would break. One year later,
in 2003, 17-year-old Rooney became the youngest player to represent England. Seven
months later, he became the youngest to score for his country, in a Euro 2004 qualifier
against Macedonia.
wayne rooney in euro 2004
By the time the 2004 Euro Cup came around, all eyes were on "Roo-naldo." The kid
didn't disappoint. He vanquished the French defense and won a penalty. He scored
against Croatia and Switzerland, making him the youngest goal scorer in Euro history
(a record taken away by Swiss striker Johan Vonlanthen a few days later).
Despite England's ultimate elimination and his own failure to finish the tournament
(due to a broken metatarsal in his foot), Rooney came home a hero. It wasn't long
before the media began to hound Everton about prospective buyers. While the club
had tried to hold onto the star by offering him a 50,000 per week contract (over
$90,000 US), he turned it down.
The giant rich clubs had been salivating at the sight of his aggressive play and
soft-scoring touch and, upon news of his response to Everton's offer, Newcastle
United and Manchester United began clawing at each other for him.
wayne rooney joins manchester united
Newcastle eventually dropped their bid and, on August 31, 2004, Rooney announced
that he would join the most profitable soccer team on Earth. Man. U. acquired the
services of the young star for six years, at a cost of roughly 25 million (over
$46 million US). This sum made him one of the most expensive players in the country.
Rooney debuted for Old Trafford in a Champions League game against Fenerbahce on
September 28, 2004, and immediately proved his worth by scoring his first professional
hat trick.
At the international level, Rooney is set to succeed Paul Scholes at the head of
the England attack. This makes him, by default, the most scrutinized player in the
country.
