Wayne Rooney

Wayne Mark Rooney (born 24 October 1985) is an English former professional football player and manager. Widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation, Rooney is considered one of the greatest players in Premier League history, having won five league titles and remaining the only player to have recorded both 200 goals and 100 assists in the competition. He spent most of his playing career as a forward but was also used in various midfield roles. He is Manchester United's top goalscorer of all time with 253 goals and was the all-time English top goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League (34) from 2011 to 2024. Rooney was named the FIFPRO Young Player of the Year in 2004–05, selected in the ESM Team of the Season for 2009–10, and included in the 2011 FIFA FIFPRO World XI. In 2025, Goal named him one of the best players never to have won the Ballon d'Or; his highest finish was 5th place in 2011.

After emerging as one of England's top young talents at Everton, Rooney later joined Manchester United in 2004 for £25.6 million. He was named the PFA Young Player of the Year in his debut season before being voted the PFA Fans' Player of the Year in 2005–06 at 20 years old. He was a key figure as United won three consecutive Premier League titles from 2006–07 to 2008–09 and reached three Champions League finals in 2008, 2009, and 2011, winning the 2008 title. Rooney also scored the winning goal in the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup final and was awarded the Golden Ball. After having his most prolific season to that point in 2009–10, he won the PFA Players' Player of the Year. Rooney helped United reclaim the Premier League title in 2010–11 and won his fifth and final league title in 2012–13.

In total, Rooney won 16 trophies with United and became one of only two English players, alongside teammate Michael Carrick, to win the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, League Cup, UEFA Europa League, and FIFA Club World Cup. He won the BBC Goal of the Season on three occasions, and his February 2011 bicycle kick against city rivals Manchester City won the Premier League 20 Seasons Awards Best Goal award. In 2017, he returned to Everton before departing to Major League Soccer club D.C. United a season later. In 2020, he moved to Derby County. After a season and a half at Derby, he retired in January 2021.