50 Fun Facts About Wayne Rooney

In which area of Liverpool was Wayne Rooney born?

He grew up an Everton fan there and joined the club's academy at nine.

In what year was Wayne Rooney born?

He was 16 when he made his Everton debut and still 18 when he left for Manchester United.

Which Everton scout spotted the nine-year-old Rooney at Copplehouse boys' club?

Rooney had scored 99 goals in his final season for the junior side before Everton signed him.

At what age did Rooney join Everton's youth set-up?

Two years later he was the club mascot for a Merseyside derby against Liverpool.

What did Rooney's T-shirt read after he scored in the 2002 FA Youth Cup final?

The slogan came back to haunt him when he joined Manchester United two years later.

Rooney's first senior goals came in a League Cup tie against which Welsh club?

The brace on 2 October 2002 made him Everton's youngest ever goalscorer at the time.

Rooney's first Premier League goal, at 16, ended whose 30-match unbeaten run?

It made him the league's youngest scorer, a record since passed by James Milner, James Vaughan and Max Dowman.

What was the total reported fee, including add-ons, when Rooney joined Manchester United in 2004?

It was then the highest fee ever paid for a player under 20.

Rooney scored a hat-trick on his United debut against which club?

The 6–2 Champions League win on 28 September 2004 also saw him lay on an assist.

Rooney's first United trophy was a 4–0 League Cup final win over which club?

He scored twice in the 2006 final and was named man of the match.

Why was Rooney sent off against Villarreal in the Champions League in 2005?

The referee had booked him for an unintentional foul moments earlier.

Rooney won the Golden Ball at the 2008 Club World Cup after scoring the winner against which club?

The final was played in Yokohama; he had scored twice against Gamba Osaka in the semi.

Against which club did Rooney first score four goals in a single match, in January 2010?

Three of the four came in the last ten minutes of the 4–0 win.

Rooney's celebrated February 2011 overhead kick won a derby against which club?

Ferguson called it the best goal he had ever seen at Old Trafford.

Rooney's 2011 bicycle kick lost the FIFA Puskás Award to a goal by which player?

It did win him a third BBC Goal of the Season and the Premier League's 20 Seasons Best Goal award.

Whom did Rooney pass in 2011 to become the top-scoring Englishman in Champions League history?

Two goals against Oțelul Galați did it; Harry Kane finally overtook him in 2024.

Which manager named Rooney United's club captain in 2014?

Nemanja Vidić's departure opened up the armband that summer.

Whose record for most Premier League goals for one club did Rooney take in January 2016?

Fittingly, the record-breaking goal was the winner at Anfield.

Rooney captained United to the 2016 FA Cup with a 2–1 extra-time win over which club?

It was the first FA Cup of his career, and he played all 120 minutes in central midfield.

In November 2016 Rooney became only the third player to reach 100 Premier League what?

Both assists that day were for Zlatan Ibrahimović at Swansea.

Rooney's record-breaking 250th United goal was a late free kick against which club?

It rescued a 1–1 draw at the Bet365 Stadium in January 2017.

Whose Manchester United scoring record of 249 goals did Rooney break?

Charlton presented him with a commemorative golden boot a week later.

Rooney's final United appearance was as a substitute in a 2–0 win over which club?

That 2017 Europa League final completed his set of every major club trophy.

Rooney scored the final ever goal at which stadium in May 2017?

United lost 2–1 on the last day of the season before Tottenham's old ground was demolished.

How many goals did Rooney score for Manchester United in total?

He got there in 559 games, with five league titles along the way.

Who was the only player before Rooney to reach 200 Premier League goals?

Rooney hit the milestone for Everton in a 1–1 draw at Manchester City in 2017.

Rooney's 60-yard goal from his own half for Everton in 2017 beat which goalkeeper?

It completed a hat-trick against West Ham; he also scored from his own half for United and D.C. United.

Rooney's first MLS goal beat which former United teammate in goal?

He left that game against Colorado with a broken nose after a clash of heads.

Rooney left MLS in January 2020 to become player-coach at which club?

He was named captain immediately and assisted a goal on debut against Barnsley.

How many points were deducted from Rooney's side in 2021–22, sending them down to League One?

The club spent almost the whole season in administration; Rooney resigned that June.

Which club sacked Rooney as manager in January 2024 after two wins in 15 games?

He had brought Ashley Cole and John O'Shea onto his staff; the club was relegated that season.

Rooney left which club by mutual agreement on 31 December 2024?

The team was bottom of the Championship with just two away points from 13 games.

Rooney made his England debut in 2003 against which nation?

At 17 years and 111 days he was England's youngest ever player; Sven-Göran Eriksson used a different XI in each half.

Rooney became England's youngest ever goalscorer against which country in 2003?

He was 17 years and 317 days old in that Euro 2004 qualifier.

Who took Rooney's record as the youngest Euros scorer just four days after he set it in 2004?

Rooney still finished with four goals and a place in the Team of the Tournament.

Rooney's 2006 World Cup red card was for stamping on which Portugal defender?

Club teammate Cristiano Ronaldo was seen winking at the Portugal bench after the dismissal.

Rooney's only goal at Euro 2012 came against which co-host nation?

A ban for a red card against Montenegro had kept him out of the first two group games.

Rooney's first and only World Cup finals goal came against which country in 2014?

It was a 75th-minute equaliser in a 2–1 defeat at the Arena Corinthians.

Whose international retirement opened the England captaincy to Rooney in 2014?

Roy Hodgson handed him the armband; he scored a penalty against Norway in his first game as captain.

Rooney's record-breaking 50th England goal was a penalty against which nation?

It came at Wembley in September 2015 and was also his 300th career goal.

At Euro 2016 Rooney scored a fourth-minute penalty in a shock defeat to which nation?

England lost the round-of-16 tie 2–1 and Roy Hodgson resigned immediately afterwards.

How many England caps did Rooney finish with?

Only Peter Shilton and Harry Kane have more; he scored 53 goals.

Through his grandparents, Rooney was eligible to play for which other country?

He said he turned down an approach at 16, describing himself as 'English through and through'.

Rooney's nickname 'Wazza' was a nod to which earlier England player?

Other early tags included 'the white Pelé' and 'the Wonder Boy'.

Rooney appeared on how many consecutive UK covers of EA's FIFA game series?

The run went from FIFA 06 to FIFA 12; his 'knockout' celebration later featured in FIFA 18.

Rooney has a tattoo of 'Just Enough Education to Perform', an album title by which band?

Coleen arranged for the group to play at their wedding reception in 2008.

Which of Rooney's sons signed with Manchester United in 2020?

All four boys have names starting with K or C: Kai, Klay, Kit and Cass.

In Nike's 2010 'Write the Future' ad, Rooney's face was shown carved into what?

The tabloid headline in the ad read 'JUST ROO IT!', and he was also knighted in the spot.

What was Rooney's highest finish in the Ballon d'Or voting?

That was 2011; Goal later named him one of the best players never to win the award.

Which England manager gave Rooney the number 10 shirt before the 2010 World Cup?

Capello later claimed Rooney 'only plays well in Manchester'.