Wayne Rooney’s 19-year-old career as a professional footballer was officially over this January when he announced his retirement. He scored 253 goals for United in all competitions to make him their top goal scorer of all time, with 183 Premier League goals being the most scored by a player for any single club. Rooney's 208 Premier League goals make him the Premier League's second-top scorer of all time. He also has the third-highest number of assists in the Premier League, with 103.
Talking about his awards, Rooney won the PFA Players' Player of the Year and the FWA Footballer of the Year awards for the 2009–10 season, and he has won the Premier League Player of the Month award five times throughout his career. He came fifth in the vote for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or, and he was named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI for 2011. He won the Goal of the Season award by the BBC's Match of the Day poll on three occasions, and his February 2011 bicycle kick against city rivals Manchester City won the Premier League 20 Seasons Awards Best Goal award.
He retired and was announced as the manager of Derby County, where he was playing. He was able to manage the team to narrowly escape relegation and he is still with Derby County.
Looking back at the top 6 moments of Wayne Rooney’s career:
1) Who can ignore Wayne Rooney's first Premier League appearance? Arsenal, the defending champions, travelled to Goodison Park with Thierry Henry, Sol Campbell, and Patrick Viera within their ranks. Instead, it was a Toxteth 16-year-old that stole the stage.
2) As Rooney joined Manchester United in 2004, he was by far the most sought-after teen on the planet. Many people questioned why this incredible 18-year-old was being placed under so much scrutiny because of a record-breaking £35 million transfer fee. All of that was laid to rest as he made his Champions League appearance against Fenerbahce.
3) The fact that Rooney's best tournament for England was in 2004 is a fine articulation of his international career. Although only being a youth at the time, he and Michael Own lead the line for Sven Goran Eriksson's side and lit up the European Championships. Rooney's best performance came in their final group game against Croatia when he scored twice in a 4-2 victory and seemed invincible.
4) Rooney will finish his career with 22 goals against Newcastle, the most of any player in the Premier League. The best was undeniably in 2005 when he scored this jaw-dropping volley past Shay Given.
5) The Treble-winning team gets the most of the attention, but for most people, Sir Alex Ferguson's best Manchester United team was from 2006 to 2009. There was real quality all over the field, but the sight of Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Ronaldo in full flight sparked the most interest.
6) Rooney, who enjoys the amazing, scored the most impressive goal of his career in the Manchester derby in 2011. Nani's deflected cross made its way into the City box, where the scrawny striker completed an acrobatic leap and bicycle finish past Joe Hart. One of the best goals ever scored in the Premier League.
