Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney was born in Liverpool, England, on October 24, 1985, and has quickly become one of the world’s brightest footballing talents. The 5’10” star has been nicknamed Roonaldo, as a reference to the Golden Boot winning Ronaldo of Brazil, and El Blanco Pelé, literally ‘the White Pelé’, after his dazzling display during Euro 2004.
Football Career
Brought up in Croxteth, a rough area of Liverpool, Rooney was only nine and playing for the boys' club
Copplehouse in the local Walton and Kirkdale Junior League, when Everton scout Bob Pendleton spotted him. Rooney scored a massive 99 goals in his last season at Copplehouse before joining the Everton academy.
He excelled at Everton and was even playing for the under 19s at the tender age of 15. Rooney became the youngest goal scorer in Premiership history when he scored a last-minute winner against Arsenal at 16 years and 360 days of age. He continued with Everton until 2004, when he transferred to Manchester United after Euro 2004 for £27 million on August 31.
International Career
Wayne Rooney was the youngest ever player to play for England during a friendly against Australia in 2003; he was 17 years and 111 days. James Prinsep of Clapham Rovers held the title before Rooney; way back in 1879, aged 17 years and 253 days.
Wayne Rooney also holds other firsts, including the youngest England scorer at 17 years and 317 days and was also the youngest player ever to score in the European Football Championships in June 2004, with two goals against Switzerland.
Rooney really found his feet on the international stage during Portugal Euro 2004, scoring four goals for England and helping them to reach the quarter finals against hosts Portugal. Rooney broke his foot in this match and England subsequently lost to Portugal on penalties; he took 10 weeks to recover from the injury.
Rooney and the World Cup
Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2006 and much to the disappointment of England fans nationwide, Wayne Rooney
fractured the fourth metatarsal in his right foot in a couple of places during Manchester United's 3-0 loss to Chelsea on April 29, 2006. At just six weeks before England’s first World Cup match against Paraguay on June 10, the nation holds its breath hoping that he will recover in time perhaps for the latter stages of the tournament. Sven Goran Eriksson has vowed to gamble on the fitness of Rooney if there is just a slight chance he will be fit.
Wayne Rooney Awards
BBC Sports Personality of the Year Young Personality award 2002
FIFPro World Young Player of the Year September 2005
