Wayne Rooney: biography

Wayne Rooney is famous for being one of the best footballers of his generation. He plays in the Premier League for Manchester United, and is England's most feared striker on the international stage. But how did he get there?

Beginnings

Wayne Mark Rooney was born on 24th of October 1985, and he grew-up in Liverpool alongside two brothers. The family were all supporters of their local club Everton, and football dominated their childhood from the moment they learnt to walk. Rooney was also a talented boxer as a youngster, a fact that is likely to have contributed to his physicality on the pitch. He was scouted by Everton at age nine, on the back of a season in the Walton and Kirkdale junior league in which he scored a staggering 99 goals. His form continued at the academy, notching 114 goals in 29 games for the under 10s and 11s. Rooney first met his future wife, Coleen, at the age of 12, and the couple are now married and are parents to son, Kai. However, their relationship has not been without controversy, and Wayne is alleged to have been caught cheating on his pregnant wife in 2011 with prostitute Jennifer Thompson.

Career

Wayne Rooney made his debut for the Everton first team at the tender age of 16, coming on as a substitute against Spurs in 2002. His first senior goals came soon after against Wrexham in the League Cup. He also briefly became the youngest scorer in Premier league history, just before he turned 17, when his strike ended Arsenal's 30 match unbeaten run. International caps followed, and Rooney scored his first goal for England against Macedonia when still only 17 years of age. After impressing with four goals in three games at Euro 2004, Manchester United moved to capture his signature for £25 million that summer. He scored a Champions League hat-t photos wallpapers photos wallpapersrick against Fenerbahce on his debut. A series of metatarsal injuries failed to hamper his career, and the front man has a prolific tally of 144 goals between 2004 and 2011 for Manchester United. He has forged a reputation on scoring spectacular goals and working selflessly for the team.

Achievements

In 2002 Rooney was awarded the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in recognition of his success in the Premier League. He was named in the Euro 2004 Team of the Tournament, and as the FIFA Young Player of the Year in 2004/05. More recently, he was voted England's Player of the Year in both 2008 and 2009. The 2009/10 season saw Rooney being selected as the FWA Footballer of the Year.