Wayne Rooney
Club: Everton
Shirt Number: 18
Position: Forward
Date of Birth: October 24, 1985
Birthplace: Liverpool
Height: NA
Weight: NA
PROFILE
This young forward is seen as the best young prospect at Goodison Park for many, many years. The coaching staff truly believe they have a player with the world at his feet, and the evidence so far is compelling.
Brought into the first team squad for the pre-season friendlies prior to the start of the 2002/3 season, Rooney has been a revelation - despite still being only a 16-year-old.
The academy graduate, who had been on the bench previously without featuring, netted eight goals in eight games in the Youth FA Cup in 2001/02.
Went on the club's tour of Austria and scored a hat-trick against SC Weiz. He scored another pre-season hat-trick against Queen's Park less than a week later.
By this time Rooney had only four reserve team games under his belt, a measure of what is set to be a meteoric rise for the young forward.
The player has been dubbed Everton's answer to Michael Owen - because of his electric pace and not a dodgy hamstring!
Everton deputy chairman Bill Kenwright said in July 2002: 'I did a radio interview yesterday and I tried to play down Rooney, but you can't play down Rooney. How can you play down the greatest thing around in football? He will make an impact this season and I hope he does.
'You have to try to protect him from us, our fans and our hopes, but we have a great manager and I hope he will get that point across.'
A bright prospect? I think you could say that.
His Premiership debut came in a 2-2 home draw with Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day of the 2002/03 season - and Rooney created the first goal for Mark Pembridge.
His first ever goal came in October 2002 against Arsenal. The Gunners looking to stretch their unbeaten run to 31 games when Rooney replaced Tomasz Radzinski for the final ten minutes.
Then, in the last minute, Rooney superbly controlled a long ball from Thomas Gravesen, turned, and fired an unstoppable shot in off the underside of the crossbar to win the game for Everton. The stuff of legends.
Rooney's success in his inaugural senior season continued at international level when he was fast-tracked into the England team - becoming the youngest player to represent the Three Lions when he made his debut against Australia in February 2003 at the age of 17. |