Wayne Rooney has named a former Everton star in his dream five-a-side team alongside the likes of Manchester United legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Scholes.
Wayne Rooney played for Everton twice in his career, and the two spells came at very different ages and stages of his illustrious career.
The first was the beginning of Rooney’s journey, when he made a name for himself as a young English forward before being snapped up by Manchester United.
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The second came after Rooney had won nearly every accolade in his career. He returned to Everton in July 2017, 13 years after leaving Goodison Park for Old Trafford.
Everton's English striker Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Everton and West Ham United
Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
He played with some superb players at both Manchester United and Everton, which he reflected on with Rio Ferdinand.
Wayne Rooney names Everton’s Thomas Gravesen in his five-a-side team
Rooney was tasked by Ferdinand to pick his all-time five-a-side team, which went as follows:
Michael Carrick
Ryan Giggs
Paul Scholes
Cristiano Ronaldo
Thomas Gravesen
It’s quite a side. Rooney opted to go goalkeeper-less and picked four of Manchester United’s most iconic names, but the final selection might raise a few eyebrows – Thomas Gravesen.
So, who is Thomas Gravesen?
Gravesen is a retired Danish footballer who played for the likes of Real Madrid, Celtic, and Everton during his career.
In 2000, he joined Everton in the Premier League for £2.5 million. At Everton, Gravesen became known for his tough-tackling, no-nonsense approach, earning the nickname “Mad Dog.”
Thomas Gravesen of Everton
Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images
In January 2005, Gravesen made a remarkable move to Real Madrid, becoming a Galactico. However, his time at Madrid didn’t end well, with numerous bust-ups with players, including Robinho.
Brazilian football legend Ronaldo later described Gravesen as “very bad” at football.
After leaving Madrid, Gravesen joined Celtic in Scotland. His stint there was brief, and he was loaned back to Everton in 2007. He retired from professional football in 2009 at the age of 32.
Despite the controversies, Gravesen clearly made a lasting impression on Rooney – that much is certain.