Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Wayne Rooney
Discover the career path of Wayne Rooney, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Wayne Rooney, an English professional football manager and former player, is considered one of the best players of his generation and a British great. He holds the record for most goals scored for Manchester United and was England's top goalscorer from 2015-2023. Rooney also holds the record for England appearances by an outfield player. While primarily a forward, he played various midfield roles throughout his career.
15 hours ago : Wayne Rooney to star in Soccer Aid 2025: England vs World XI
Wayne Rooney will feature in Soccer Aid 2025, playing for England against the World XI. Celebrities and former players are bonding ahead of the charity match. Soccer Aid raises money for children.
1995: Birmingham Relegated to Third Tier
In 1995, Birmingham ended the season being relegated to the third tier for the first time since 1995.
April 2002: Unused Substitute
On 20 April 2002, Wayne Rooney was an unused substitute in Everton's 1–0 away win over Southampton.
2002: FA Youth Cup Final
In 2002, Wayne Rooney scored a goal for Everton in the FA Youth Cup Final against Aston Villa, revealing a T-shirt that read, "Once a Blue, always a Blue."
2002: Professional Debut for Everton
In 2002, at the age of 16, Wayne Rooney made his professional debut for Everton, where he had joined the youth team at the age of nine.
January 2003: First Professional Contract
In January 2003, Wayne Rooney signed his first professional contract, making him one of world football's highest-paid teenagers.
February 2003: Senior International Debut for England
In February 2003, at the age of 17, Wayne Rooney made his senior international debut for England, becoming England's youngest-ever goalscorer.
August 2003: First Goal of the Season
In August 2003, Wayne Rooney scored his first goal of the 2003–04 season in a 2–2 away draw against Charlton Athletic.
February 2004: Scoring Two Goals
In February 2004, Wayne Rooney scored two goals in a Premier League game for the first time in a 3–3 away draw against Southampton.
June 2004: UEFA Euro 2004 and Youngest Scorer Record
In June 2004, at UEFA Euro 2004, Wayne Rooney became the youngest scorer in the competition's history on June 17, 2004, scoring twice in England's match against Switzerland. He added two more goals on June 21 in the match against Croatia but was later injured in the quarter-final on June 24. Despite the injury, Rooney was named in UEFA's Team of the Tournament.
July 2004: Contract Offer and Transfer Request
In July 2004, Everton offered Wayne Rooney a new five-year contract, but he submitted a transfer request on 27 August amid increasing speculation about his move.
2004: First Treble In European Competition
In 2004 Wayne Rooney scored his first treble in European competition in his United debut against Fenerbahçe.
2004: Transfer to Manchester United
In the summer transfer window of 2004, Wayne Rooney moved to Manchester United for £25.6 million from Everton.
September 2005: Champions League Red Card
In September 2005, Wayne Rooney was sent off in a Champions League match against Villarreal for sarcastically clapping the referee.
March 2006: Sports Book Deal Signed
In March 2006, Rooney signed a sports book deal with HarperCollins for a £5 million advance plus royalties for a minimum of five books.
April 2006: Foot Injury Before 2006 FIFA World Cup
In April 2006, Wayne Rooney faced a race against time to recover from a foot injury sustained in a Premier League match to participate in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. England used an oxygen tent to hasten his recovery.
August 2006: Sent off against Porto
On 4 August 2006, Wayne Rooney was sent off in the Amsterdam Tournament match against Porto after hitting Pepe with his elbow.
2006: Scoreless Streak
During the first half of the 2006-07 season, Wayne Rooney endured a ten-game scoreless streak.
2006: Champions League Quarter-Final Win
In April of 2007, Wayne Rooney scored two goals in an 8-3 aggregate Champions League quarter-final win over Roma.
2006: League Cup Goals
Wayne Rooney had scored two League Cup goals back in the 2006 final.
April 2007: Scoring and Assisting against Former Club
In April 2007, Wayne Rooney scored and assisted in a league win for Manchester United at his former club Everton.
June 2007: Squad Number Change
In June 2007, Wayne Rooney was given squad number 10, last worn by Ruud van Nistelrooy.
October 2007: Return from Injury with Goal
On 2 October 2007, after being sidelined for six weeks due to a fractured metatarsal, Wayne Rooney returned and scored in United's 1–0 Champions League group stage win over Roma.
October 2008: Youngest Player to 200 Premier League Appearances
On 4 October 2008, during an away win against Blackburn, Wayne Rooney achieved the milestone of becoming the youngest player to make 200 Premier League appearances.
2008: Stretford Leaves Proactive
In 2008, Paul Stretford left Proactive and took Rooney with him.
April 2009: Rooney's Final League Goals of the Season
On 25 April 2009, Wayne Rooney scored his final league goals of the season against Tottenham, contributing two goals, two assists, and setting up a penalty in a 5-2 comeback victory for Manchester United.
November 2009: First Hat-Trick in Three Years
On 28 November 2009, Wayne Rooney scored his first hat-trick for three years in a 4–1 away victory against Portsmouth, with two of the goals being penalties.
January 2010: Four Goals Against Hull & League Cup Winner
On 23 January 2010, Wayne Rooney scored all four goals in Manchester United's 4–0 win over Hull, his first time registering four goals in a single match. Then, on 27 January 2010, he scored the winner against Manchester City in the League Cup. Also on 31 January 2010, Rooney scored his 100th Premier League goal against Arsenal.
February 2010: European Goals and League Cup Win
On 16 February 2010, Wayne Rooney scored two goals against Milan. On 28 February 2010, he scored against Aston Villa, resulting in Manchester United winning the League Cup final 2–1.
2010: Controversy at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Wayne Rooney was at the center of controversy after criticizing England fans for booing the team following a draw against Algeria on June 18. He later apologized for his actions. England was eliminated in the second round.
2010: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Campaign
In the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, Rooney was England's top scorer, netting nine goals.
January 2011: First Goal from Open Play
On 1 January 2011, Wayne Rooney scored his first goal of the season from open play in a 2–1 away win over West Bromwich Albion.
May 2011: Premier League Title Secured
On 14 May 2011, Wayne Rooney scored a penalty against Blackburn, securing Manchester United's record 19th top division title.
October 2011: Champions League Goals
On 18 October 2011, Wayne Rooney scored two goals in the Champions League group stage match against Oțelul Galați.
February 2012: 500th Career Game
On 11 February 2012, Wayne Rooney marked his 500th senior career game by scoring two goals as Manchester United beat rivals Liverpool 2–1 at Old Trafford.
September 2012: My Decade in the Premier League Published
In September 2012, Wayne Rooney's third book, My Decade in the Premier League, was published.
October 2012: Fifth-Highest Goalscorer for England
In October 2012, Wayne Rooney became England's fifth-highest goalscorer of all time after scoring his 30th and 31st international goals in a 2014 World Cup qualifier against San Marino. He also captained England for the first time in a competitive match.
December 2012: Goal Against Reading & Manchester derby
In December 2012, Wayne Rooney scored twice and provided an assist in a 4-3 win against Reading on 1 December. Also, Rooney scored a brace in the Manchester derby at the City of Manchester Stadium on 9 December 2012 which United won 3–2.
2012: Euro 2012 Qualification and Red Card
In 2012, during the Euro 2012 qualification campaign, Wayne Rooney was sent off for a tackle against Montenegro. He later apologized to UEFA for his actions.
2012: Contract End
In April 2007, Rooney signed a two-year contract extension the month after scoring against Bolton Wanderers that tied him to United until 2012.
February 2013: Goal Against Brazil
In February 2013, Wayne Rooney scored in a 2–1 win against Brazil in a friendly match at Wembley.
July 2013: Transfer Speculation and Moyes' Announcement
In July 2013, David Moyes, the new Manchester United manager, publicly stated that Wayne Rooney was not for sale amidst interest from clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain. Chelsea confirmed on July 16th, 2013, that they had made a bid for Rooney, but Manchester United rejected it.
October 2013: England's All-Time Top Goalscorer in Competitive Internationals
On 11 October 2013, Wayne Rooney became England's all-time top goalscorer in competitive international matches when he scored his 27th competitive goal in a 4–1 World Cup qualifier against Montenegro.
February 2014: Contract Extension with Manchester United
In February 2014, specifically on the 21st, Rooney solidified his commitment to Manchester United by signing a contract extension. This new agreement ensured he would remain at Old Trafford until 2019, solidifying his role in the team's future.
March 2014: Rooney Reaches Third Place on Club's All-Time Scoring List
On March 22, 2014, Rooney achieved a significant milestone by scoring two goals for Manchester United in a match against West Ham. This accomplishment elevated him to third place on the club's all-time scoring list, with a total of 212 career goals.
July 2014: Named Manchester United Club Captain
In July 2014, following Nemanja Vidić's departure, Louis van Gaal, the new manager, appointed Rooney as the club captain of Manchester United. This was ahead of the 2014–15 season, marking a new chapter in Rooney's leadership role at the club.
September 2014: Named England Captain and Scores Against Norway
In September 2014, following Steven Gerrard's international retirement, Wayne Rooney was named England's new captain. In his first match as captain on September 3, 2014, Rooney scored a penalty against Norway to give England a 1–0 friendly win.
September 2014: Rooney Becomes Third Highest Premier League Goalscorer and Receives a Red Card
On September 27, 2014, Rooney surpassed Thierry Henry to become the third-highest Premier League goalscorer with 176 goals in a 2–1 victory against West Ham. However, in the same match, he was sent off for a foul on Stewart Downing, resulting in a three-game suspension.
November 2014: Rooney Scores in Win Against Arsenal
On November 22, 2014, Rooney scored a goal for Manchester United in a 2–1 victory against their rivals Arsenal. This was their first away win of the season, contributing to the team's success and marking a significant moment in their campaign.
2014: First World Cup Goal
At the 2014 FIFA World Cup, in England's second group match against Uruguay, Rooney scored his first World Cup goal in a 2–1 loss. England was eliminated from the World Cup after finishing last in their group.
2014: 2014 World Cup Qualification Campaign
In 2014, Wayne Rooney ended the 2014 World Cup qualification campaign as England's top scorer with seven goals.
June 2015: Rooney Equals Gary Lineker's Goal Record
In June 2015, in a Euro 2016 qualifier against Slovenia, Wayne Rooney scored his 48th international goal, putting him joint second in England's list alongside Gary Lineker.
June 2015: Contract with Manchester United
Rooney signed a new five-year contract at Manchester United until June 2015.
August 2015: Rooney Scores Hat-Trick Against Club Brugge
On August 26, 2015, Rooney broke an 878-minute scoreless streak by scoring a hat-trick in a 4–0 win over Belgian side Club Brugge in the Champions League play-off. This was his first treble in European competition since his United debut against Fenerbahçe in 2004.
September 2015: Breaks England Goalscoring Record
In September 2015, Wayne Rooney broke Bobby Charlton's England goalscoring record, netting his 50th international goal from a penalty in a Euro 2016 qualifying match against Switzerland, equalling Ashley Cole as his country's fifth-highest capped player.
2015: England's record goalscorer
In 2015, Wayne Rooney became the record goalscorer for the England national team, a title he held until 2023.
January 2016: Rooney Becomes Premier League's Second Top Scorer
In January 2016, Rooney achieved multiple milestones. On January 2nd, he scored in a 2–1 win over Swansea to move ahead of Cole as the Premier League's second-top scorer of all time. Later in January, he surpassed Denis Law in United's top scorers of all time, with 238 goals.
August 2016: Rooney Wins Second Title as Club Captain
On August 7, 2016, Rooney assisted Jesse Lingard's opening goal in Manchester United's 2–1 victory over Leicester City in the 2016 FA Community Shield. This win marked Rooney's second title as the club's captain.
September 2016: Most-Capped Outfield Player for England
In September 2016, Wayne Rooney earned his 116th appearance for England, making him the nation's most-capped outfield player of all time. He also confirmed his retirement from international football after the 2018 World Cup.
November 2016: Rooney Achieves 100 Premier League Assists
On November 6, 2016, Rooney became only the third player ever to achieve 100 Premier League assists, setting up both of Zlatan Ibrahimović's goals in a 3–1 away win against Swansea City. On November 24, Rooney overtook Ruud van Nistelrooy to become Manchester United's all-time leading scorer in European competitions with 39 goals in a 4-0 win over Feyenoord.
2016: Gianfranco Zola Appointed by Birmingham City
In 2016, Gianfranco Zola was appointed by new owners of Birmingham City, replacing Gary Rowett, leading to a decline in results.
January 2017: Equals and Surpasses Bobby Charlton's Goalscoring Record
In January 2017, Rooney reached a major milestone. On January 7th, he scored against Reading in the FA Cup, equalling Bobby Charlton as Manchester United's top goalscorer of all time with his 249th goal. Then, on January 21st, Rooney surpassed Charlton, becoming the outright leading scorer for Manchester United with his 250th goal against Stoke City.
March 2017: Left Out of England Squad
In March 2017, Wayne Rooney was left out of the England squad by Gareth Southgate.
May 2017: Scoring the Final Goal at White Hart Lane and Winning the Europa League
In May 2017, Rooney marked a significant moment by scoring the final goal at Tottenham Hotspur's White Hart Lane stadium on May 14th in a 2–1 defeat. In his last game for Manchester United on May 24th, Rooney came on as a substitute as United beat Ajax 2–0 to win the UEFA Europa League.
July 2017: Returns to Everton
After speculation, it was confirmed on July 9, 2017, that Rooney would return to his boyhood club, Everton, on a two-year contract, after Manchester United allowed him to leave on a free transfer. Rooney was assigned the number 10 shirt for the 2017–18 campaign.
August 2017: Early Retirement from International Football
In August 2017, after his return to Everton, Wayne Rooney announced his early retirement from international football, snubbing a potential recall to the England squad.
February 2018: Appears on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football as a Pundit
In February 2018, Rooney appeared on Sky Sports' "Monday Night Football" as a pundit, garnering praise for his insightful and articulate commentary. He mentioned Anfield as his hardest test.
June 2018: Rooney Signs with D.C. United
On June 28, 2018, Rooney officially signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with D.C. United of Major League Soccer. He was given the number 9 jersey, marking a new chapter in his career in the United States.
October 2018: Named MLS Player of the Month
In October 2018, Rooney was named 'MLS Player of the Month' after delivering positive performances for D.C. United, including a last-ditch tackle and a game-winning assist. This recognition highlighted his impact on the team and his contributions to their success.
November 2018: Final Match for England
In November 2018, Wayne Rooney came out of international retirement to play one final match for England against the United States to promote The Wayne Rooney Foundation. He made his final appearance in the 58th minute of England's 3–0 win, ending his international career with 120 appearances.
2018: Confirmed Retirement
Rooney had planned to retire from international football after the finals in Russia.
March 2019: Rooney Scores Hat-Trick for D.C. United
On March 16, 2019, Rooney scored his first hat-trick for D.C. United in a 5–0 home win over Real Salt Lake, also contributing an assist. This performance marked a significant achievement in his MLS career.
August 2019: Agrees to Return to England as Player-Coach
In August 2019, with two years left on his contract with D.C. United, Rooney agreed a deal to return to England as a player-coach with EFL Championship side Derby County in January 2020.
January 2020: Rooney Debuts for Derby County
In January 2020, Rooney made his debut for Derby County, starting and assisting the first goal in a 2–1 win against Barnsley. He was instantly named captain, marking his leadership role in the team.
November 2020: Appointed as Part of Interim Coaching Staff
In November 2020, following Phillip Cocu's sacking, Wayne Rooney was appointed as part of a four-man interim coaching staff for Derby County. He later took sole control of the team and removed himself from the playing squad.
2020: First Goal of 2020-21 Season
Rooney's first goal of the 2020–21 season came in the fourth match as his 87th-minute free kick proved the difference in 1–0 win away to Norwich City.
January 2021: Retires from Playing to Become Permanent Manager of Derby
On January 15, 2021, Rooney officially retired from playing professional football after being appointed as the permanent manager of Derby County. This transition marked the end of his playing career and the beginning of his managerial role.
February 2021: Acquired 31 Points
By mid-February 2021, Wayne Rooney had accrued 31 points from a possible 54 in his 18 games in sole charge as manager of Derby County.
2021: Relegation to League One
At the end of the 2021-22 season, Derby were relegated to League One after incurring 21 points of deductions.
June 2022: Resigned as Manager of Derby County
In June 2022, with Derby County still in administration, Wayne Rooney resigned as manager.
July 2022: Head Coach for D.C. United
In July 2022, Wayne Rooney was announced as head coach for his former club, MLS side D.C. United.
October 2023: Appointed Manager of Birmingham City
On 11 October 2023, Wayne Rooney returned to English football as manager of EFL Championship club Birmingham City on a three-and-a-half-year contract.
November 2023: First Victory as Birmingham Manager
In November 2023, Rooney secured his first victory as Birmingham manager with a 2–1 win against Sheffield Wednesday.
2023: Mutual Parting with D.C. United
At the end of the 2023 regular season on October 8, Wayne Rooney and D.C. United mutually agreed to part ways after the team failed to qualify for the playoffs for a second straight season.
2023: End of record goalscorer
In 2023, Wayne Rooney lost the title of record goalscorer for the England national team, having held it since 2015.
January 2024: Sacked by Birmingham City
In January 2024, Rooney was sacked by Birmingham City after winning only two games out of 15, leaving the team in 20th position.
May 2024: Appointed Manager of Plymouth Argyle
In May 2024, Rooney became the manager of EFL Championship club Plymouth Argyle, signing a three-year contract.
December 2024: Rooney Leaves Plymouth Argyle
In December 2024, with the team in last place, Rooney left Plymouth Argyle by mutual agreement with the club.
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