Wayne Rooney could become the greatest player in the world if he shows his worth in Germany in the summer.
WAYNE ROONEY FACTFILE
1985: Born October 24, Liverpool.
2001: Progresses through the Everton academy ranks and scores eight goals during the club’s run to the final of the FA Youth Cup.
2002: August 17 – Makes Premiership debut in Everton’s season-opening 2-2 draw at Southampton.
September 14 – Booked for first time in Everton’s 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough.
October 1 – Scores first goals at senior level with two in 3-0 Worthington Cup win at Wrexham.
October 19 – Nets first Premiership goal with stunning late winner as Everton overcome champions Arsenal at Goodison Park.
November 3 – Scores the goal which beats Leeds at Elland Road.
December 14 – Scores one goal and sets up the other as Blackburn are beaten 2-1 at Goodison Park and Everton end a three-match losing streak.
December 26 – Receives first red card of his Premiership career at Birmingham.
2003: January 1 – Receives fifth yellow card in New Year’s Day clash with Manchester City, adding a one-match suspension to the three-match suspension he would serve for being sent off against Birmingham.
January 14 – Football Association confirm Rooney will not be called into the England Under-20 squad for a tournament in the United Arab Emirates, much to the relief of Everton.
January 17 – Signs new deal to stay at Everton until the end of 2005-06 season.
February 8 – Named in 27-man England squad ahead of February 12 friendly international against Australia at Upton Park.
February 12 – Rooney becomes youngest player to win a full England cap when he appears as a second-half substitute against Australia.
March 23 – Scores in 2-1 defeat to Arsenal at Highbury. Called into the England squad for Euro 2004 qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Turkey.
March 29 – Comes on as a substitute for the final 10 minutes of England’s 2-0 win in Liechtenstein.
April 2 – Named in starting line-up for crucial Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey at the Stadium of Light and shines as England win 2-0.
April 10 – News emerges Rooney’s family home in Croxteth was targeted by vandals who fired paint-filled pellets, which hit the wall and the family car on the driveway.
April 22 – Police advise Rooney on his future behaviour, but do not charge him over an alleged spitting incident which took place during the Merseyside derby defeat against Liverpool, in which nine-man Everton lost 2-1 at Goodison.
April 27 – Misses out on the PFA Young Player of the Year award to Newcastle midfielder Jermaine Jenas.
May 11 – Moyes claims Rooney has picked up a medial knee ligament injury in Everton’s 2-1 defeat by champions Manchester United at Goodison Park on the final day of the Barclaycard Premiership season and will not be fit for England’s friendly in South Africa.
May 12 – Named in England squad for friendly against South Africa in Durban on May 22 but withdraws.
September 6 – At 17 years and 317 days, becomes England’s youngest-ever goalscorer with equaliser in England’s match in Macedonia.
October 11 – Doubts raised about his temperament ahead of England’s vital Euro 2004 clash against Turkey but keeps his cool on the pitch as Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side secure 0-0 draw to qualify for Portugal.
2004: May 17 – Named in England squad for Euro 2004.
June 5 – Scores twice before half-time in England’s 6-1 rout of Iceland.
June 17 – Puts in one of the performances of Euro 2004, scoring twice as England beat Switzerland.
June 21 – Nets two goals in 4-2 defeat of Croatia as England qualify for the quarter-finals of Euro 2004.
June 24 – Substituted after 27 minutes of quarter-final against Portugal with what turns out to be a cracked metatarsal.
July 5 – Named in UEFA’s All Star squad of Euro 2004.
July 6 – Offered five-year deal by Everton.
August 23 – £20million bid from Newcastle is rejected by Everton.
August 25 – Everton reject £20million bid from Manchester United.
August 26 – Everton reject improved bids from Newcastle and Manchester United.
August 27 – Hands in transfer request to Everton.
August 31 – Arrives at United training ground for medical and the club confirm they have completed his signing just over four hours short of the deadline. Fee thought to be £27million.
September 24 – Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson confirms Rooney is ‘available to play’ immediately.
September 28 – Scores a stunning hat-trick – his first senior treble – in a 6-2 victory over Fenerbahce in the Champions League, on his United debut.
October 24 – Wins penalty and scores second goal in 2-0 defeat of Arsenal.
November 14 – Nets twice in 3-1 win at Newcastle.
November 17 – Substituted in first half of England’s friendly international against Spain in Madrid, having already received a yellow card and committed two other reckless challenges. As he leaves the pitch, hurls black armband – worn on the day of the funeral of former Liverpool and England captain Emlyn Hughes – to the floor.
2005: April 24 – On the day he scores a stunning winner against Newcastle, named PFA Young Player of the Year.
May 12 – Eriksson insists Rooney was a good role model for children after FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the teenager deserved a ‘clip around the ear’.
May 21 – Manchester United, with Rooney in the team, lose the FA Cup final to Arsenal on a penalty shoot-out, meaning his first season at the club ends without a trophy.
September 7 – Booked for reckless challenge on Keith Gillespie as England lose 1-0 to Northern Ireland in a World Cup qualifier. Also swore at skipper David Beckham who tried to calm him down. Eriksson described the booking as ‘stupid’ and admitted he almost withdrew Rooney at half-time.
September 14 – Sent off playing for Manchester United against Villarreal in the Champions League. Harshly booked for a foul on Quique Alvarez but then sarcastically applauded the decision right under the referee’s nose and was shown a second yellow.
September 20 – Banned for two matches by UEFA.
2006: February 26 – Scores twice as Manchester United beat Wigan 4-0 in Carling Cup final, at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.
March 12 – Scores both goals in 2-0 Barclays Premiership win over Newcastle and set up at least half adozen clear chances for his team-mates.
April 8 – England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson vows to talk to Rooney over allegations he has racked up £700,000 of gambling debts – claims dismissed the next day by Ferguson and then the player’s representatives.
April 17 – Takes Premiership tally to 16 with both goals in 2-1 win at Tottenham.
April 23 – Named PFA young player of the year.
The New Duncan Edwards?
