Wayne Rooney. The name itself has become interchangeable with the Manchester United of the new millennium.
It’s almost as if United fans who once had a plethora of home-grown, British heroes to choose from – think Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, the Nevilles, Roy Keane, and David Beckham – have for the last four or fives years channelled all their hopes and dreams into one man.
A man from Liverpool, no less.
It is a similar story with England. Rooney has become what was once a spread of names in the national side. They were perennial underachievers, sure, but littered with hope of international glory and world-class talent.
Although the 2016 European Championships represent the new generation of English heroes (they are after all the youngest squad at the tournament), it also represents the passing of the baton, in some respects.
This is likely to be the last time we see Wayne Rooney anywhere near the peak of his powers.
Sure, he’ll probably still be in the side for the World Cup in Russia two years down the track, but by then, he will be 32, and a bit-part player who will have handed on the captaincy.
His game style lends him no favours either. Rooney relies on his endless energy and physicality to allow to him to be the player he is. For footballers nearing the twilight of their career, these are often the traits that disappear first.
Playing in the Premier League, a fast, tough tackling league, doesn’t help either. The slower pace and lower energy of the Serie A is the reason many veterans, like Andrea Pirlo, flourish in Italy in the twilight of their careers.
There is an overarching question that none in the inner workings of football punditry seem to want to answer yet.
What do we make of Wayne Rooney’s career?
For starters, there is no doubting he is a very, very good player. 313 goals in exactly 700 appearances for Everton, England and Manchester United support that.
So do 150 assists, 109 international caps, five Premier League titles, an FA Cup, two League Cups, three Community Shield trophies and of course, a Champions League win.
Rooney, of course, is also the second highest scorer in Premier League history, hitting 192 goals in the competition, behind only Allan Shearer. He has scored 177 for Manchester United, a record for one club.
Seemingly, the boy from Croxteth, Liverpool is already etched as a true legend of the game.
However, although outstanding, Rooney’s club record must be taken with a grain of salt.
While team honours are the ones that every player wants to win, it is the individual awards that are a more true indication of greatness.
Rooney has failed to ever win a golden boot for United. Nor did he ever win a PFA Player of the Year award (although he did win their Young Player of the Year award, two seasons in a row).
As captain, he has lifted a single trophy for his club, a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace in extra time earlier this year.
Further, Rooney, when at the peak of his powers, played in the Sir Alex Ferguson Manchester United side of 2004-13. A side which included among others, Roy Keane, Ruud Van Nistlerooy, Cristiano Ronaldo, Giggs, Scholes, Carlos Tevez, and Robin Van Persie.
In other words, Rooney’s best years for his club came when he found himself consistently surrounded by world class talent, and, as a striker, received some of the best service in the world.
When Ferguson left at the end of the 2012-13 campaign, it coincided with a dip in Rooney’s output. 19 goals in 40 appearances in 2013-14 was followed by just 14 in 37 the following season, and 15 in 41 games last season.
This lack of output, combined with a failure to be recognised individually on the domestic or world stage, paints a picture of a man who falls agonisingly short of greatness.
Further to this argument is an analysis of Rooney’s record in major finals. Other than the League Cup, the fourth trophy in England and for a club like Manchester United, relatively insignificant, Rooney often fails to fire on the big stage.
The Champions League finals of 2007-08 and 08-09 saw Rooney cut a forlon figure up front or on the left for United. While he scored in the 2010-11 showpiece, it was almost his only contribution for the game. In a side whose play revolved around his work rate and energy, United lost the game 3-1.
This stage fright also translates into the international arena. With 51 goals, Rooney is England’s highest scorer of all time, however, a mere five of those goals have come in major tournaments.
More damningly, other than the 2004 European Championships, in which he burst onto the scene as a teenager, Rooney has scored just one goal at a major international tournament. That was an equaliser against Uruguay in the 2014 World Cup.
Ten years between international goals at tournaments is too much for a true great forward of the game.
Rooney has one last chance at the European Championships in France. He was England’s best player in the first game, although they look a more balanced team without him. He is the captain, and, once again, finds himself centre stage.
Leading his country to European glory might be the step that elevates him into the top echelon of players around the world.
Undoubtedly, Wayne Rooney is a very good player. But is he a true great? The question remains.
A poor record in major finals and tournaments, a lack of individual honours and a drop off in performance since the departure of great players and managers paints a negative answer to that question.
Although his career remains active, the jury is ultimately still out on Wayne Rooney’s legacy in the game.
Luke Drummond
Guest
Rooney won the PFA player of year the in 09-10, he was also nominated for it several more times. In addition to this he was nominated as the best striker in the world in 2011 and a top 5 player , making it into the World XI. Rooney has also scored at 3 Major International tournaments, not 2. Rooney performances under Moyes were World class and as an attacking midfield he put up world class numbers and was dragged down by poor management. When playing as a striker he scored 9 in 8 and scored some world class goals while doing it. Rooney under Van Gaal the first season was good, not really playing in a striker role until late which despite not really scoring much performed the role to perfection and was a key reason to United's run that made top 4. The second season he was poor up until 2016 where he was 'dropped' and from where he said he will play his way and not be shackled by Van Gaal after constantly questioning the style of play. In 2016 he scored 7 in 8 games before injury at Striker, then came back after into midfield and performed excellent while dragging United to a cup final Under Moyes and Van Gaal he can't be judged purely on his goal statistics to suggest that when Fergie left his output declined, it didn't, his role changed (Although he was an attacking midfielder final season under Fergie and was key in the second half of the season). He's now dominated 2 games for England in only his 2nd tournament going into fully fit and been the best on the pitch both games. And this is in a midfield role. The midfield role has to also shine line on his career, and we shall see how he performs it in it for the years to come
Freddie
Guest
Watched my first game in 1974 thanks Mr AZ, so probably a lot older, and seen an awful lot more football than you. Point is, whoever said Rooney was a great? He's had a very good career, but I doubt even he would put himself in the same class as Messi & Ronaldo. The writer of this piece seems to think his career has been a disappointment. I think he's probably made the most of his talent, and not many players would achieve what he has done. Competition from Atletico as well? Wow.
Fadida
Guest
Agree
AZ_RBB
Guest
Harsh on Ronaldo but even harsher on Messi . Messi has played for two teams. Barca, stuffed full of world class players and Argentina, also stuffed full of world class players. What on earth is your standard for great footballers? Also there is competition for trophies in Spain from Atletico as well. If you followed football prior to 2016 you would be aware that the Big 4 league titles have been shared amongst the same handful of teams for many years now.
Pet er Cotton
Guest
Stuffed up my post a little. Ronaldo's helper at ManU was Assistant manager Carlos Queiroz, a Portuguese gentleman. Strange coincidence? I think not. At the end of the day, if English coaches had any idea of what they were doing, surely they would have won at least one additional trophy since 1966? They have not really even got close!
Freddie
Guest
Who ever claimed Rooney was a true great? Probably the best English player of his generation, no more - but I do laugh at the comparison with Cristiano Ronaldo, who is a great player no doubt, but has won lots of individual awards playing for a team stuffed full of world class players, and in a league where, Barca aside, there is very little competition for trophies. At international level, sure, Ronaldo has done more, but he's hardly set the world on fire.
Pet er Cotton
Guest
Ronaldo was 18 when he arrived at ManU. His footballing playing skills had been developed in Portugal, and were honed or fine tuned after he left. Mostly, I suspect, by himself, perhaps with the help of Continental football coaches. He had one at ManU, referred to by Van Nistellroy as "Cristiano's daddy". Football development history suggests that Ronaldo would have progressed regardless of which club signed him. Who knows what would have happened if he had moved to Germany, France, Spain, etc? . His mental playing skills were developed at ManU, but that would have happened in many parts of Europe. Many foreigne
Fan
Guest
Rooney was without doubt a very good player. But i can describe his career in ONE word! "OVER" He wont even be a regular at MU next season, forget about England.
Sara
Guest
Excellent article and really encompassed all aspects of Rooney. Excited to see future articles from this guy.
Pet er Cotton
Guest
Excellent analysis Mid. Cheers.
Midfielder
Guest
Peter See my post to Fidida above...
Midfielder
Guest
Fadida True but Ronaldo is a once in 30 year player ... think about it arguably a dozen players at best since late 50's until now are in Ronaldo's class ... IMO as the author has written the key to his game was a combination of speed and strength, when added to his technical skills he was certainty a player to watch... and especially in the right team with players feeding you the ball all day in good positions... That he never reached the greatness we apply to our legions is true but he is one of many players with promise that never reach that level... I would also add that Ronaldo and say Toti ... Toti also has never reached the same class as Ronaldo ... because maybe he did not have the speed and physical strength. What you find with all the greatest is a combination not only of great technical skills but also speed and strength and a very strong mind set. Me thinks aside from the difference in technical skills I think Rooney has never had the strength of mind and self belief of say Massie or Ronaldo... Rooney is one of many players who approach but never gain greatness ... but IMO tis unfair to highlight him and say its because he is English ... Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, George Best also came out of the English system... as did Paul Gascoigne who was a highly technical player but had issues that played on his mind. Ryan Giggs came thu this system and was never allowed to show his greatness as he never made a world cup or played in a strong national side.. Rooney is one of many players who fall short ... but just because Ronaldo has technical skills, never forget his speed, physical strength and arguably most importantly his strength of mind add just as much to his greatness..
me too
Guest
Hold on, Ronaldo and Rooney developed together at United into world class players. Ronaldo played there for 7 years. Left at 24. He developed his silky skills in England. The difference between he and Rooney has nothing to do with their development at United from age 20 and all to do with the very different type of player they are. You could certainly point the finger at youth development in England, but not at the senior level where players of very different attributes ply their trade - from the likes of Keane, Henry, Ronaldo, Rooney, Bale, Cantona, Begkamp, Lampard, etc
smell the fear
Guest
didnt Ronaldo spend most of those years in the UK?
Pet er Cotton
Guest
Excellent article that summarises Rooney's shortcomings, and highlights one of the negative aspects of the physical approach adopted by the English style of footballer development. Fadida's comparison of Rooney and Ronaldo being at similar levels as 20 year olds illustrates the difference in English and Continental approaches to footballer development. Ronaldo's silky skills became finely honed over the years, silky skills that Rooney did not possess at the outset. It will be interesting to observe the progress made by the newly emerging English "golden generation" in coming years. Can't see them getting anywhere near the world's top four anytime soon.
Fadida
Guest
A very good career but ultimately a great disappointment he failed to become the player he was promising to be. As 20 year olds he and Ronaldo were at a similar level. Ronaldo has since left him for dead and become an all time great. Rooney has got fat and taken up smoking
Smell the fear
Guest
Very good and detailed description