Wayne Rooney has exclusively told talkSPORT he has ‘one regret’ from his glittering career – that he didn’t play as a striker in his final season at Everton.
In 2002, the world stood in unison to applaud the 16-year-old boy who, in the dying seconds of the game, plucked the ball out of the sky and sent a swirling shot crashing in off the crossbar.
Not only had Rooney just scored the winner, it was against defending Premier League champions Arsenal to bring a 30-game unbeaten run to a shuddering halt.
2
Rooney burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old
Such was the striker’s meteoric rise, it was not long before Manchester United came calling and Rooney became the world’s most expensive teenager in 2004.
After 559 appearances and 253 goals for the Red Devils, Rooney ignored lucrative offers from China and MLS to return to Goodison Park in 2017.
But his Everton homecoming did not go to plan for the former England captain, with the Toffees struggling at the wrong end of the table.
Rooney fell down the pecking order under manager Sam Allardyce and, when he did get time on the pitch, he was often played in a deeper role to help out Everton’s midfield.
And looking back on his illustrious career in the Premier League, Rooney says that’s the only thing he would change.
“I loved playing football and being involved in the game,” Rooney told Drivetime on Thursday.
2
The striker went on to become Manchester United’s record goalscorer after a £30million move in 2004
“But, if I was maybe a little bit more selfish, then my stats would probably be a bit better if I played as a number nine throughout my career.
“I think my only regret, really, was my last year at Everton.â€
Given his precocious ability on the ball, managers at club and international level opted to drop the 33-year-old into midfield to utilise his range of passing.
However, England’s record goalscorer wanted to play as a central striker to showcase his predatory instincts in front of goal.
And Rooney believes he should have insisted on playing up front during his last season at Everton – even when the team was faltering.
LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS
He continued: “I started off playing as a striker and then the team wasn’t doing well and then, all through my own fault really, speaking with the manager we both felt it would be better if I went into a midfield role to try and help us get control of games really.
“When really, I think I should have turned round and said: ‘I want to be up top and scoring goals’.
“I had done it in the first half of the season but, when I went into the midfield role, I didn’t do it so much.â€
Listen back to a clip of Wayne Rooney’s interview on talkSPORT above
Former England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney reveals 'biggest career regret' in talkSPORT interview. Listen back to a clip of Wayne Rooney's interview on talkSPORT above.
Former England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney
Former England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney has hailed Raheem Sterling and praised Pep Guardiola for his influence on the Manchester City star's career. Sterling has been in outstanding form for City over the past few years
Wayne Rooney news: D.C. United star reveals MLS career plan
Former England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney reveals 'biggest career regret' in talkSPORT int Wayne Rooney has exclusively told talkSPORT he has 'one regret' from his glittering career - that he didn't play as a striker in his final season at Everton.
Wayne Rooney hails Manchester City manager - talksport.com
Wayne Rooney has revealed that the biggest regret of his Premier League career was not being 'more selfish,' especially during his final season at Everton. The former England captain is of course a bonafide Premier League legend, scoring 208 goals and laying on 103 assists in the English top flight alone, in a career which spanned 16 years
Wayne Rooney reveals he never understood why Raheem Sterling
Wayne Rooney is planning to return to Manchester United or Everton, but only in a coaching capacity as he intends to see out his playing career in MLS with D.C. United.. At 33 years of age, the
News list for former england and manchester united captain
England legend Wayne Rooney revealed the "only regret" he has following a record-breaking playing career that's seen him win some of football's biggest competitions. At the age of just 16, Rooney broke in the Everton first-team and soon got himself on the front covers of newspapers in England upon becoming the Premier League's
Rooney reveals the 'only regret' of his Premier League career
Wayne Rooney reveals his big Everton regret and what he thinks of Marco Silva The former England star returned to Everton last season following 13 years with Manchester United and began on the
News list for former england and manchester united captain wayne rooney reveals biggest career regret in talksport interview / Wayne Rooney has revealed he never understood why Raheem Sterling received so much criticism during his early England career.
Wayne Rooney reveals the 'only regret' of his career
Wayne Rooney has revealed he never understood why Raheem Sterling received so much criticism during his early England career. The former Three Lions captain joined talkSPORT to discuss the Manchester City star's phenomenal form this season.
Wayne Rooney EXCLUSIVE: Former England captain claims Louis
gistjunction.com/2019/03/21/wayne-rooney-exclusive-former-england-captain-claims-louis-van-gaal-was-tactically-the-best-manager-he-worked-with/
Rooney has said Van Gaal was the best tactical coach he worked with "I think Moyes was a bit of a surprise choice but his record at Everton over ten years was great," the former England captain said. "He got them into the Champions League, finished top half almost every year and did a fantastic job.
Wayne Rooney reveals his big Everton regret and what he
0 comments:
Post a Comment