Even Legends Have Their Limits
Welcome back to the third and final installment of the Wayne Rooney saga. So far, Wazza’s rise to greatness has been swift. We last left off with Manchester United’s 2008 Champions League final win over Chelsea. Thus, it only seems fitting that we pick back up with that night.
United’s triumph that fateful evening would prove to be one of the clubs’ greatest continental accomplishments. However, only hindsight would eventually allow the same to be true for Rooney. In fact, that night the exact opposite experience became Wayne’s reality.
His Champion’s League metal was, for him, a cause for vacillation from elation to torment. As I mentioned in part two of this story, his goal scoring prowess was sacrificed by Sir Alex for his industry in this game. And the fact he wasn’t involved in a single goal that night, even the shootout, was his greatest disappointment.
Rooney’s Sacrifice
Consequentially, Rooney had convinced himself that despite his vigorous, sacrificial, and ultimately successful team effort, his performance was the reason United didn’t win in normal time.
He didn’t bother to see how his sacrifice allowed the team to play with three attackers (Tevez, Rooney, Ronaldo) and three omnifarious controlling midfielders (Hargreaves, Scholes, Carrick) against Chelsea. A team boasting one of the best midfields in the world with Didier Drogba leading the line. And a team that had lost only 3 games in the Premier league that season.
His positioning was paramount to United’s approach on the night. I don’t need to bore you with the tactical analysis to tell you that his total performance against Chelsea allowed United pin them back for 120 minutes and get under their skin. Rooney’s sacrifice was so much more that he gave himself credit for.
Hindsight is a Bitch
Sadly, wisdom is lost in condescension on all of us when we are young; Rooney was no exemption. Because of his interpretation of his own performance, Wayne struggled mentally immediately after the win in Moscow.
He was overheard after the game by coaches and other players muttering how ‘shite’ he was to himself as he anxiously paced the floor of the afterparty. One of Manchester United’s strength and conditioning coaches recognized the struggle Rooney was battling with, so he approached Wayne to console him.
Wayne promptly broke down in tears as he rested his head on the shoulder of the coach. Rooney’s love for football and ego, were so intertwined at this point in he career that he failed to recognize the bigger picture.
Wayne Rooney Perseveres
Fortunately, not all was lost for Wayne that night. If there has been a single theme of his life so far it has been his strength of personality and perseverance. After seeing his breakdown, Fergie and all of Wayne’s teammates rallied behind him.
After some time to reflect over the summer break, Rooney saw this moment as a foreshadowing of his career to come. This was a huge turning point in his career. Wayne began to appreciably adapt his game after the final in 2008.
A Man on Fire
When the 09/10 season started no one would have guessed that this would have, statistically been Wayne’s best ever season as a professional footballer. He scored 34 goals in 44 games in all competitions.
United would go on to successfully defend their title for the first time since 1990 when Nottingham Forest did so. United, at the time, became only the third club in history to do so. This was also this first season United had to experience without Ronaldo, placing more onus on Rooney to pick up the goal scoring slack.
He did so in soaring style, but it sadly only lasted a season, after Javier Hernandez and Michael Owen were brought in. After winning two trophies that season, Wayne saw United on the up.
Wayne Makes Headlines Again
However, his forethought and ambition would get the better of him at this point. As would his sexual prowess. Perhaps these two incidences are related but only Wayne really knows.
First, in August of 2010, it was widely published in the media that on numerous occasions, dating back to the 2004, Wayne Rooney had repeatedly been adulterous and had solicited sex on multiple occasions. What made these revelations more profound was the fact that some of Wayne’s moments of infidelity came while his wife Coleen was pregnant.
This was all news to the public, despite rumors and firsthand reports for the better part of a decade. But Wayne, true to character always told his wife about his imprudence. He admitted that he always felt guilty and was usually intoxicated or in a brash state in such moments. He always felt remorseful, and Coleen was seemingly always forgiving.
Forgiveness
In later interviews, both Wayne and Coleen would explain how they worked through their troubles. His wife had forgiven him well before most this was even public knowledge.
I don’t particularly feel it is appropriate to dive too much more into this kind of cheap narrative. I believe that as fans that we are not entitled to this level of intimate knowledge of a celebrity’s life. It is my hope that as a reader you can agree that as long as his wife has forgiven him and they are capable as a couple of returning to a happy place, that should be enough for us.
Soon after this media frenzy surrounding Wayne’s personal life, Rooney went on to cause more controversy at Manchester United. Hence why the two, clearly emotional experiences may be related.
When Two Become One
True to style, in the summer of 2010, the Glazers and Ed ‘Fucking’ Woodward didn’t see fit to continue investing into the team. From 2010, until Sir Alex’s retirement in 2013, the greatest players of note to sign for United were Chicharito, a very, very, very young David de Gea and Paul Scholes coming out of retirement for one last hurrah.
Not the kind of business you expect from a team that had won so much so recently.
Rooney, saw a lack of ambition in the United hierarchy and wanted assurances. He felt that he was not just the team captain but the natural leader of the club. Wayne thought he owed it to the fans and his teammates to fight for the future of Manchester United when he saw it begin to crumble at his feet.
His head was certainly in the right place, but his execution was horrendous.
Ali vs Forman
Rooney marched into Sir Alex Ferguson’s office and began immediately caviling about the lack of investment into the team. Not too dissimilar to the current Ronaldo situation, he outright demanded to know the club’s transfer strategy. His petulant whinging was not something that Sir Alex took kindly too.
In true Fergie style he promptly told Wayne to ‘get the fuck out of’ his office. Apparently at that moment Rooney informed Sir Alex of his desire to leave the club.
Months would go by with media speculation rampant. First an adultery scandal, now this. Wayne was clearly not happy in life. Until one fateful press conference in October when Ferguson confirmed Rooney’s request to leave the club.
A Game of He Said, She Said
Rooney, feeling blindsided by The Boss in the media responded by making his feelings quite clear. He outright told the press that he felt United were not following his own ambitions, and the club were not showing the kind of prowess an organization with our history should exude. He also said that if United couldn’t correct the ship he needed a new challenge.
Not only did he announce this all publicly, but he did it in a post-match interview as his teammates were entering the dressing room for all of them to watch on TV. That night he let himself, his teammates, his coach, the entire club and the fans down.
Never had Wayne been so selfish, such a stark contrast to his usual team mentality.
Wayne Rooney Breaks the Fans Hearts
The news hit the Manchester United dressing room ‘like a ton of bricks’ according to Gary Neville. His teammates were both insulted in his lack of confidence in them, and hurt that there was no sign of this coming from Wayne. Worst of all they felt betrayed that he had to announce his feelings to the whole world before talking to them.
As a fan I felt just as betrayed that our talisman would speak so poorly of our beloved Manchester United. Many United fans never forgave him for this moment. I know it took me most of the season, at least.
Again…Wayne Rooney Goes from Bad to Worse
His season would continue to spiral near Christmas when Ferguson left him out of a boxing day game against Blackburn. Raging yet again, Wayne would confront Ferguson in the locker room, a fight he admittedly didn’t win again. Wayne was seemingly becoming a glutton for punishment against Sir Alex.
Shortly after this bust up Wayne picked up a mysterious ankle injury, yet another point of controversy. While Rooney maintains to this day that he was indeed injured, Ferguson implied in the press that there was more going on, and that Wayne might be faking injury.
At the same time Wayne was “coincidentally” in confirmed talks with Manchester City to move to the blue side of Manchester during the next transfer window. Its one thing for Tevez to cross the divide, he was always a mercenary. But Rooney was a hero to United fans, a legend in the making.
As a fan I was devastated by the news of this Judas kiss.
More Smoke with No Fire
The tabloids and mainstream media made a huge stink of it all. But much of this seemed to fade out with time. Whether Rooney was able to quell his temper and understand his place, Fergie was able to talk him off the ledge, or Coleen slapped some sense into him was unknown.
Perhaps it was all of the above.
Eventually, just before Christmas, Rooney made a remarkable U-turn. He quashed the rumors of negotiations with City and publicly committed himself to Manchester United. Shortly after he signed a new five-year deal, making him United’s highest paid player.
But this was not the end of the Wayne Rooney drama for the season.
He’s Back Baby…With A Vengeance
“Just when I think you couldn’t possibly be any dumber, you go an do something like this…AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!” Sorry for the quote from Dumber and Dumber. It just completely sums up how I felt in this moment.
12, February 2011: 78th minute, Manchester United vs our noisy neighbors, Manchester City at Old Trafford. The game was tied 1-1. Paul Scholes recovers the ball in midfield. Scholes feeds a through ball to a wide-open Nani on the right 35 yards from the City goal. Pablo Zabaleta was backing off Nani, affording him way too much space.
Nani throws in a speculative right footed cross. The ball curls towards the penalty spot. Neither Kompany nor Micah Richards tracks the run of Rooney. The ball is behind Wazza, but he rises up anyway. Primed for a cherry of a bicycle kick Rooney strikes the ball. His overhead kick sends the highlighter yellow ball flying towards the opposite corner of the goal.
Joe Heart was rooted to his line while he watched perilously as the ball flew into his upper left corner.
GOAL!
And the Crowd Goes Wild…
Ferguson jumps out his seat yelling ‘fucking hell’ as he celebrates with the rest of the players and staff on the bench. The entire stadium was on its feet. I could hear the cheers from the grounds from my flat about a mile away where I was watching the game at home.
This was perhaps the greatest goal scored in the Premier League era. A resurgent City under new Emirate ownership were staking a claim to the Premier League title and with a single goal United bitch slapped them with one of the most incredible moments of greatness by United’s greatest ever goal scorer.
After the game Fergie admitted that it was the best goal he had ever seen scored by his United. In later interviews Wayne would explain how he considers this his personal best ever goal. And the Premier League voted it best goal scored in the Premier League era.
All Was Forgiven
Wayne Rooney was back baby! and unstoppable! Later that season his emotions would show just how reinvested into Manchester United Wayne was.
On 2, April United were down 2-0 against West Ham. Rooney decided to take the game by the scruff of the neck. (Something lost on our current crop of players). Running on sheer determination, Rooney scored a hat trick, bringing United back from the brink of a loss that could have been a deciding factor in what was a very close title race.
In all of his excitement, Wazza was not shy of shouting numerous profanities at the TV cameras while celebrating. I thought at the time it was his way of releasing all of that pent up negative energy he was receiving from fans and the media for his transfer request earlier in the season.
Maybe Wayne was a Little Overexuberant
But after review by the FA Rooney was handed a two match ban ex post facto for his passionate profane efforts. Despite missing those games, United went on to again defend their title and cement their dominance. The icing on the cake was our talisman holding a rejuvenated and impassioned dedication to United.
And so, after a resurgent Rooney finally found his feet again, fate, the universe or the almighty (take your pick) decided to intervein. Sadly, all great things must come to an end, and for Rooney and United it was a long, slow, painful demise.
The Beginning of the End
From 2011-2013 the greatest moments of note for Wayne Rooney and Manchester United were back-to-back hat tricks in the league against Arsenal and Bolton in the 11/12 season. Only the fourth player in history to do so. And our last league title in 2013
This was also the period in 2012 that Wayne would have seen his goal on the final day of the season against Sunderland win them the title in dramatic fashion. But Sergio Aguero had other plans, scoring two goals in injury time for City to clinch the title from United with the last kick of the season.
With the exception of a few stand out performances from Wazza, this period would begin to spell the end of both Manchester United and Wayne Rooney as dominant forces in the football world. Dolefully, this would also spell the rise of our cross-town rivals to a dominance that to this day has yet to be broken.
The End of an Era
Then, the worst thing that could have ever happened to both the club and Rooney happened. On 8, May 2013 it was confirmed that Sir Alex Ferguson would be stepping down at the end of the season. At the Age of 71, with an impending hip surgery and a lifetime of remarkable memories, the great Sir Alex decided to call it a day.
As much as I love a good tangent, I will resist diving down this rabbit hole as best as I can. I will only say that part of me was devastated at Sir Alex’s retirement, while part of me saw this dystopic mess we are currently in, impending on the horizon.
Ferguson had an imperious grip on Manchester United. Even the Glazers’ entitled ineptitude couldn’t fight that. But after years of poor investment from the owners and his own health beginning to decline Sir Alex walked away.
Manchester United is Crumbling at Wayne’s Feet
His control of the club was so singularly autocratic that when he left, the black hole at the center of the club was so large that it continues to consume the Manchester United to this day.
Hence, I thought it obvious that in his absence it would potentially take a decade or more to recover (reference Liverpool post 90’s, Arsenal post Wenger). Moreover it was just as obvious that whomever the next coach was, the would certainly be a patsy for the ensuing disaster.
No one could follow up the act that was the greatest manager to ever live.
Enter David Moyes.
Moyes and Rooney Reunite
We already know that Rooney and Moyes have a checkered past. True to style, the British tabloids love to drudge up old news, and when Moyes was hired there was no exception. The media had us believe that a showdown of epic proportions between the two old foes was about to consume the club.
Speculation about Rooney departing United was again becoming clamorous. And the Glazers had reiteratively done nothing to reinforce their claims of a ‘greater Manchester United’ when Rooney previously threatened to leave.
But, his years of accumulated wisdom and an unadulterated love for United were still prominent in his mind. Somehow, Wayne was persuaded to stay. Likely under the guise of Ed ‘Fucking’ Woodward that he would remain club captain and help to usher in a new era for Manchester United under the next manager.
A Cock Up of Epic Proportions
Well, didn’t Moyes and Woodie fuck that one up royally.
Rooney’s first season without Sir Alex was about as spectacular as Moyes’ charge at the helm.
From 2013 until he left Manchester United in the summer of 2017 would be a mixed bag for United and Rooney. In that time Rooney would watch as David Moyes failed and was sacked. Then Ryan Giggs was given an interim position only to move on to take the vacant Wales job.
Following the Moyes catastrophe, Rooney had to watch as Louis van Gaal was hired to only be fired just as he was developing a rhythm and had won a trophy. The way Rooney tells it, LvG was the greatest coach he ever worked under.
Then the calamity continued as he watched Jose Mourhino rip our club apart before he finally decided he had to leave. This was no longer the United he fell in love with. Aaaaaand Jose was sacked six months later.
Wayne had Lost a Step…or Two
Rooney needed a new challenge, while a careers worth of injuries and vicious intransigence were beginning to show in his performances. Rooney was no longer the force he once was. Watching him for United became like watching a tamed lion at the zoo. All pomp and no circumstance.
In this time of disquietude, he did manage to win the FA Cup under LVG and the Europa League under Jose. Both trophies he had yet to add to his cabinet. He also set the goal scoring record for Manchester United. And he broke Thierry Henry’s Premier League record of most goals scored for a single club in Britain.
Not to mention, as captain of United he was an exemplary pillar of a professional footballer. He took the time to nurture the club’s youth. His philanthropic efforts through the Manchester United Foundation for children skyrocketed.
Was Wayne Ever Fully Appreciated?
Let’s be clear. I fully believe that Wayne Rooney’s leadership post Ferguson was the only influence steadying the ship. A stark contrast from his early contribution to the club. Players and coaches were coming and going. The Glazers and Woodward were fucking up deals left and right. And Zlatan was…well…being Zlatan.
Rooney was the last great remnant of Manchester United’s most prolific period of domination. When he talked people at United listened. He had gone from being the petulant, dominating, immovable object to the wise, steady hand guiding a sinking ship.
But like many players at his age with his level of experience, he simply couldn’t keep up. The pace of the game combined with the rapidly vacillating managerial and player situations at the club were a constant handicap. While his influence on the pitch was waning, his influence in the dressing room needed to be sacrificed.
And Another Legend Leaves United
On 9, July 2017 it was confirmed by the club that Wayne Rooney was returning to his boyhood club Everton.
And so it was, the last player Manchester United had left with any real grit, tenacity, self-drive or experience from the good ol’ days was gone. Sure, Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher, as well as a few others were still floating around. But none of them was Wayne Rooney.
After he was sold it didn’t get any better for Wayne at Everton, nor United post Rooney.
A Cry for Help
In what might have been a cry for help or an irresponsible manifestation of how distraught he was at leaving United, Wayne was arrested on 1, September 2017. Returning to his boyhood club was meant to be a grand homecoming.
But, in my opinion, at that stage in his career Everton put too much pressure on him to lead the team and make a sizable on field contribution.
Wayne explained his mentality through this experience in a recent documentary as being highly emotional as he drank himself over the legal limit. Then in a moment of extremely poor judgement he got behind the wheel of a Volkswagon Beetle with a female friend of his.
More Drinking Problems for Rooney
While driving through Wilmslow, Cheshire an officer on duty noticed one of the Beetle’s taillights was out as the car pulled over to the side of the road. While the officer would not corroborate this publicly, it was widely reported that Wayne was seen snogging with a female passenger as the officer approached the car.
Suspicious after smelling alcohol on Wayne’s breath the officer tested Rooney at the roadside. He blew an alcohol level three times the legal limit. He was promptly arrested and retested at the police station where the reading was confirmed.
Rooney was booked, plead guilty and was banned for two years from driving. He also had to pay a small $200 fine complete 100 hours of community service. Everton also fined him two weeks wages totaling about $300,000
His Powers were Waning
His time with Everton wasn’t much more positive. He managed to pump in 11 goals in 40 games for the Toffees. But Rooney only played with them for the one season before realizing that after 16 seasons in the Premier League, his body needed a more forgiving challenge if he was to prolong his career.
He promptly moved to Major League Soccer side DC United. While in the American Capital he managed 25 goals in 52 games, a much better goal per game ratio than at Everton. But not much really came of his time in America except leading a mediocre team in the goal scoring department.
DC United didn’t win any trophies in his time there. In spite of selling Wazza on their aspirations it has been two decades since they were a real contender.
Rooney’s American Dream
But, his great American adventure wouldn’t have been compete with out a little drama. Yet again, Wayne Rooney found himself at the mercy of the drink. On 16, December 2018, while waiting for a flight at Dulles International Airport in Virginia Wayne stopped at an airport bar to have a drink.
After a few too many his actions became erratic and he began swearing at staff members. The MWAA (airport police) were called. He was arrested for public intoxication and using profanity in public. After paying a fine amounting to about $130 he was released on a personal recognizance bond.
Not even a slap on the wrist.
With two years left to run on his deal at DC he had, had enough of the American lifestyle. Wayne put in a transfer request. He openly admitted that he was too homesick. His heart wasn’t in paying in the MLS anymore.
One Last Dance
I suppose I cant fault him. His wife and kids chose to stay back in Cheshire when Wayne decide to jump the pond. He had also never played outside the UK. Perhaps the culture shock was too much, perhaps he missed his family too much.
So, Wayne Rooney was sold to Derby County. You could fill volumes of encyclopedic manuscripts with the dross that Rooney has had to endure since arriving at Derby. Not something I feel necessary to dive too much into on a Manchester United blog.
Derby Days
The cliff note are as follows: Wayne signed for Derby for two seasons. He was immediately handed the captaincy. In 35 games he scored 7 goals in all competitions.
His first season at Derby was barely worth note. Derby finish 10th while Wazza bagged 6 of his 7 goals for the Rams.
His time at Derby is best represented by his second season with them. Rooney only scored one goal but his impact would go so much further.
Before the end of November of the 20/21 season Derby’s manager, Cocu was sacked as Derby were floundering in the bottom of the Championship table. Rooney was asked at this point to take on a player manager roll with a few other player coaches. After only a few games as co-interim manager he took full reins of the team.
Wayne Rooney Retires a Legend
On 15, January 2021 Wayne Rooney announced that he was retiring from professional football to focus on taking over as Derby’s full-time manager. But, by February the team were in another spiral and they barely avoided relegation.
The 21/22 season would only go from bad to worse. After breaching financial rules early in the season Derby were handed a nine-point deduction. Then the club went into administration after faulting on several debts. They were handed another 12-point deduction for their troubles.
Rooney’s Derby are Relegated
The team were unable to recover from a 21-point handicap. They spent all season in the relegation zone. To offset their books, they had to sell several first team players, without Rooney’s approval.
After a number of players were forcibly sold, injuries and COVID, Derby finished the season with only 5 recognized first team players.
The team was relegated.
As Derby continue to rebuild, Rooney felt it necessary for a new face to lead the club. One that had not been marred or influenced by the distressing reality that Derby has been living in for almost a year now. So at the end of this last season he requested to leave the club.
Wayne Rooney’s Staggering Statistics
Wayne Rooney went on to commit a total twelve years of servitude to the Red Devils.
In that time, he would win five premier league titles, four English League Cups, four community shields, an FA Cup, a Europa League winners medal, a Club World Cup, a Champions League winners medal, a hoard of MOTM and POTS awards, 559 appearances, and a record breaking 253 goals in Red.
Not to mention THAT overhead goal against City, perhaps one of the greatest ever goals scored in the Premier League era.
That’s 17 trophies, 253 goals and 146 assists in 559 games for United. In total for Everton, Manchester United, DC United and England Rooney scored 366 goals and had 188 assists in his career.
To put that into perspective, that equates to 554 direct goal involvements, in 883 games for club and country. That puts Rooney into the top 2% of all time goal contributors in the history of the recorded game. Not too shabby.
The Million Dollar Question
For such an incredible talent his career certainly petered out like sad balloon. I cany only hope that he returns to the managerial frame to take the world by storm again. Perhaps even with his alma mater, Manchester United.
So, the question on everyone’s lips is; what next for Wayne Rooney?
I couldn’t possibly answer that, but I do know that I’ll be waiting at the edge of my seat to see what comes next for Manchester United and England’s most unparalleled goal scorer and sacrificial lamb.
Stay tuned…
Glory, Glory Man United.
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