Twice a blue, always a red - Rooney will forever be a big part of Man Utd history

The record-breaking striker leaves Old Trafford after 13 years to return to Everton but will remain a United great forever

After 13 years, 559 games and a record 253 goals, Wayne Rooney’s wonderful spell at Manchester United has come to an end.

With the confirmation on Saturday that he was returning to Everton came the realisation that his often glorious, sometimes frustrating, always fascinating time at Old Trafford was over. His last action as a United player was to lift the Europa League title in May, and it feels fitting that he should go out on such a high.


So often a divisive figure, Rooney’s value to the club cause was a hot topic right down to the last, but in all truth Jose Mourinho handled the skipper’s gradual demise to perfection. Having given him an early opportunity to stake a claim at the start of the 2016-17 campaign he quickly sidelined him but continued to keep him involved. It was an approach which allowed the England captain to bow out gracefully.




Rooney arrived at Old Trafford with a bang. His hat-trick on debut against Fenerbahce in 2004 will never be forgotten by United fans, and he quickly became a key part of the first team setup. He formed an electric partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side evolved into a team capable of winning a third European Cup triumph.




Wayne Rooney Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United Premier League


Their 2008 triumph in Moscow was undoubtedly his highlight on a team level but his 34-goal returns in 2009-10 and 2011-12 after Ronaldo’s departure for Real Madrid were the clearest signals of Rooney’s ability to be United’s talisman. His goals were so regularly as spectacular as his stats too, with the oft-replayed overhead volley against Manchester City and the unstoppable blast against Newcastle among the stand-outs.

In between times he had caused consternation and controversy by telling Ferguson he had no desire to sign a new contract with the club as neighbours City stood by, and while he did soon put pen to paper on a new deal there were many fans who never trusted him again. As the legendary Ferguson departed, he did so with another Rooney contract wrangle apparently going on in the background but once more the player signed a lengthy deal once his former Everton boss David Moyes took the reins at Old Trafford.

Under Ferguson, Rooney couldn’t stop winning things. He would eventually gain winner’s medals in everything bar the UEFA Super Cup as a United player, but it was the five Premier League titles which thrilled him the most. “Growing up, watching the Premier League as far back as I can remember, feeling the trophy and having the medal around my neck was an unbelievable feeling,” he once remarked.