10 things you didn’t know about Wayne Rooney

Bet you didn’t know these things about the Man United star

With all the controversy surrounding Wayne Rooney at the moment, we thought it was only fair that we tried to remind ourselves what a superstar he’s been in his career over the years.

At his peak, he was one of, if not the best striker in the world. He burst onto the scene at a very young age, and in 2004 became the most expensive teenager in football history when Manchester United bought him from Everton for £25.6million. It’s fair to say they got their money’s worth.

However, here are 10 interesting things you didn’t know about United’s and England’s (for now) captain.

10) Prolific from the start

In a season while at Everton’s academy, in 1995/96, Rooney scored 114 goals in 29 games for the Under-11s, averaging 3.8 goals per game

9) Suspended

Rooney was once suspended from school for kicking a whole into a wall in a science lab. He was frustrated because he’d had his football confiscated.

8) Cooking skills developed late

Rooney never cooked himself his own meal until he was 18, and even at that point, need then-girlfriend Coleen to help him. It was a steak and chips on a George Foreman grill, in 2003.

7) Childhood nightmares

As a child, Wayne got it into his head that his bedroom was haunted by a yellow-and-green ghost. As a result, he shared a bed with his parents until he was 5.

6) Salary

When he first started to play for Everton full-time, Rooney was paid just £75 per week. Upon signing his first professional contract, that figure went up to £8,000 per week, and now, 14 years later, he earns £300,000 per week (£13million per year).

5) Sleeping Beauty

When he was first called up to the England team in 2003, Rooney fell asleep in his hotel room before the first team meeting of the trip. England staff had to get a spare key from reception to access his room and wake him up.

4) ‘Ugly Arse’

When Rooney scored his first international goal for England, all the players in the squad signed the match ball for him to keep. Steven Gerrard, at Liverpool at the time, wrote on the ball, ‘congratulations Ugly Arse’.

3) Great proposal location

Rooney proposed to his wife, Coleen, on a petrol station forecourt. He followed that romantic moment up by taking her back to his mum’s for a beef dinner.

2) Ireland

Rooney could’ve played for Ireland if he’d preferred as he has grandparents of Irish heritage.

1) China deal

In January 2016, Rooney was offered a massive move to China for a £100million fee. The 3-year deal would’ve seen him re-United with former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksen.

 

By Ben Kelly – @benkelly_10