Wayne Rooney will be eternally be remembered as one of the greatest players to have ever graced the game, particularly for his unforgettable spell at Manchester United.
Making 491 appearances in the Premier League for Everton and Manchester United, Rooney amassed a staggering 311 goal involvements (208 goals and 103 assists) — which proves how special a player he was.
WAYNE ROONEY’S PREMIER LEAGUE STATS
APPEARANCES GOALS ASSISTS
491 208 103
As impressive as Wayne Rooney remains from a statistical standpoint, the Englishman’s greatness exceeds his undeniably outstanding goal and assist tally.
The retired forward was a unique footballer — gifted with searing pace, impeccable technique, an extraordinary eye for goal and an unbridled grit that typified him as a player and a character.
Amad Diallo hailed Wayne Rooney as the greatest player to have ever donned a Manchester United shirt in the Premier League era — which is a testament to how finely his career is remembered.
James Maddison paid Rooney the ultimate compliment as well by stating that as far as the English top-flight is concerned, no player is superior to him.
Patrice Evra, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez of Manchester United poses with the FIFA World Club Cup after the FIFA World Club Cup Final match betwe...
Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
Arsene Wenger said Wayne Rooney was “the biggest English talent” he’s seen at 16
Wayne Rooney was destined for greatness from when he was just 16 at Everton after he scored his first Premier League goal in style by coming off the bench and scoring a late winner against Arsenal in 2002 — prompting Arsene Wenger to sing his praises.
The eventual five-time Premier League champion’s strike was a truly special one as he blasted the ball into the top corner past a world-class goalkeeper of David Seaman’s ilk at the time.
Being the class act he is, Arsene Wenger was not sour whatsoever and instead went on to claim that Wayne Rooney was the best English talent he had laid his eyes on during his time in the country.
Wenger said via Sky Sports Retro: “It’s a special goal and a special talent, an English talent, the biggest English talent that I’ve seen here since I’m in England and by far, he has everything what you dream to have. Intelligent, quick reactions, good with running with the ball, moves forward quickly and of course, he’s very accurate in front of goal.”
Arsene Wenger went on to claim that as long as Wayne Rooney stays fit, continues to put in the much-needed graft to become a superstar and stays humble, he will have an outstanding career.
“I hope he will not be injured now within the next two or three years and that mentally, he will be able to cope with what’s happening to him but he’s a huge talent.”
“Well, that’s too early to say [whether he will leave Everton for an elite club] that but I just give you my frank opinion of what I feel and he’s too young to move anywhere now, he first has to prove at Everton how far he can go. He has time in front of him to see first, step by step and feet on the Earth, that’s the most important thing you can wish.”
It’s safe to say that Arsene Wenger’s wishes were fulfilled, with Wayne Rooney going down as Manchester United’s best-ever striker and having a career most players in history can only dream of. Rooney is a true legend of the game and it could be argued that no player in today’s game is remotely similar or potentially even better than him at his unstoppable best.
How many goals did Rooney score against Wenger’s Arsenal?
As much of an early fan of Rooney’s as Wenger was, he would have dreaded witnessing his Arsenal side come up against him.
The versatile attacker would have held the Frenchman in high regard as well but with how fierce the Gunners and United’s rivalry was at the time, he would have wished nothing more than to wreak havoc against them.
Rooney certainly did, scoring 15 goals and providing six assists against them in 35 appearances across all competitions during his career.
WAYNE ROONEY’S RECORD VS ARSENAL
APPEARANCES GOALS ASSISTS
35 15 6
Wayne Rooney, dubbed an “incredible” player managed to fulfil his remarkable potential and in doing so, he also proved that Arsene Wenger’s eye for talent was second to none.