Wayne Rooney may be struggling in charge of Plymouth Argyle right now, but the 38-year-old’s stellar career on the pitch has resulted in plenty of memorable moments.
5 Greatest Wayne Rooney Performances
From announcing himself on the international stage, to a debut hat-trick in the Champions League, here are five of the most memorable performances in Wayne Rooney’s 689-game, 290-goal career spanning almost two decades.
Wayne Rooney: Champions League Debut
Nothing announces a player’s arrival at a new club better than a debut goal, but Wayne Rooney has never been one to do things by halves and a single goal on his Manchester United debut wasn’t enough for the youngster. After his £27 million move from Everton, Rooney made his debut in the Champions League against Fenerbahce and took just 17 minutes to make his mark as he blasted his new club into a 2-0 lead.
He had doubled his tally before the 30-minute mark and he completed the perfect debut with a second-half free-kick as the Red Devils cruised to a 6-2 rout of the Turkish outfit.
Wayne Rooney: International Sensation
A 17-year-old Wayne Rooney became the youngest goalscorer in European Championship history when he netted against Switzerland back in 2004, but his performance a few days later against Croatia was what cemented him as the Three Lions’ real golden boy. Trailing by a goal, Rooney – then with Everton – kicked off England’s comeback by assisting Paul Scholes for the equaliser, but he wasn’t satisfied with that.
He sent England in front with a driven effort from the edge of the box before racing clear of the Croatian defence for a cool finish, helping England to a 4-2 win and earning him a move to United later that summer.
Wayne Rooney: Once a Blue
Rooney’s return to Goodison Park had its moments, but not many could surpass an incredible performance against West Ham in 2017, a club who will have been glad to see the back of him. He opened the scoring by heading in a saved penalty and slotted in a second from inside the box later that half, but it was the third goal that was his pièce de résistance.
Running on to a Joe Hart clearance and with the Hammers’ keeper well outside his box, the veteran striker took his chance, hitting it first time from beyond the halfway line to seal his hat-trick in the most spectacular fashion.
Wayne Rooney : THAT Overhead Kick
It may have been the season that the noisy neighbours finally clinched their first Premier League title, but United’s earlier meeting with their cross-city rivals was defined by one of the most memorable moments in the history of the Premier League. A looping, deflected cross from Nani sailed into the box to be met by a twisting Rooney, who pivoted, producing a stunning bicycle kick into the top corner that left Hart rooted to the spot.
That goal, which was voted the best in the history of the Premier League, secured a crucial 2-1 victory for the Red Devils and helped the title battle go to the final day of the season.
Wayne Rooney: United 8-2 Arsenal
One of the most memorable games in Premier League history saw Manchester United run out 8-2 winners against arch-rivals Arsenal and, unsurprisingly, Rooney played a starring role at Old Trafford. He made it 3-0 from a free-kick and did the same again in the second half to make it 4-1.
Three minutes later he put Nani through on goal for United’s fifth goal, then he played the pass through to Javier Hernandez which led to Carl Jenkinson’s red card, before finally rounding off his performance by scoring from the penalty spot.
By Adrian Mills
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