Wayne Rooney

The only player to score 200+ goals and provide 100+ assists in Premier League history; Manchester United's record goalscorer.

Wayne Mark Rooney emerged from Liverpool's Croxteth district to become one of England's most celebrated footballers. Born in October 1985, he debuted for Everton as a teenager before making a record-breaking move to Manchester United in 2004. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in Premier League history, Rooney remains the only player to have recorded both 200 goals and 100 assists in the competition. His career was defined by five league titles, a Champions League triumph in 2008, and his status as Manchester United's all-time top scorer with 253 goals.

Quick Facts

Full name: Wayne Mark Rooney
Born: 24 October 1985
Birthplace: Liverpool, England
Height: 1.76 m / 5 ft 9 in
Position: Forward, midfielder
Total caps: 569
Total goals: 237

Lore & Background

Rooney's journey began at Everton, where he scored 99 goals for Copplehouse boys' club before joining the Toffees at age nine. By his final under-10s season, he netted 114 goals in just 29 games. In October 2002, five days before turning 17, he scored a last-minute winner against Arsenal, ending their 30-match unbeaten run and becoming the youngest Premier League goalscorer at the time—a record later surpassed by James Milner, James Vaughan, and in 2026 by Max Dowman. He famously revealed a 'Once a Blue, always a Blue' T-shirt after scoring against Aston Villa in the FA Youth Cup Final.

Reader's Guide

Rooney spent most of his career as a forward but frequently operated in midfield roles, showcasing remarkable versatility. His greatest individual honors include being named FIFPro Young Player of the Year in 2004–05 and selection to the 2011 FIFA FIFPro World XI. In February 2011, his bicycle kick against Manchester City won the Premier League 20 Seasons Awards Best Goal award. He helped United win five league titles, with the final coming in 2012–13 under Sir Alex Ferguson. After leaving United in 2017 to return to Everton, he moved to D.C. United and later Derby County before retiring in January 2021. His international career saw him become England's youngest-ever goalscorer and the nation's record scorer from 2015 to 2023.