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WAYNE ROONEY has revealed that he received death threats after leaving Everton to join Manchester United.
The former forward, now 40, came up through the ranks at Everton, making 77 appearances over two seasons before departing at the age of 18.
Wayne Rooney signed for Manchester United in 2004Credit: AP:Associated Press
Rooney is a lifelong Everton fan and developed his skills at the Merseyside clubCredit: PA:Press Association
He grew up as a fan and famously wore an undershirt that read “Once a Blue, Always a Blue.”
However, when Manchester United came calling, Rooney was determined to leave Goodison Park for the Theatre of Dreams.
Reflecting on the transfer during The Wayne Rooney Show , the former captain discussed the challenging consequences the move had for him and his family, including his wife, Coleen.
The striker-turned-pundit stated: “I received death threats. My parents' house was vandalized and damaged.
“My girlfriend at the time, who is now my wife, faced similar vandalism at her home. I believe that’s where mental strength is essential. The support of those around you is crucial.
“Leaving was tough because I was going to Manchester United, and there is a significant rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester, which made it even harder.
“But I always had the mindset of ‘I don’t care.’ I knew what I wanted and how to achieve it. I had to remain mentally strong.”
Despite the backlash from his former fans, Rooney quickly won over the Manchester United supporters by scoring a hat-trick on his debut against Fenerbahçe.
The transfer also affected Rooney’s future wife, ColeenCredit: Getty
Wazza went on to become Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer, netting 253 goals in 559 appearances for the club between 2004 and 2017.
During this time, he won five Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, and three League Cups.
There seemed to be no lasting resentment towards Everton, as Rooney returned to Goodison Park at the age of 31 in 2017.
Wazza stated at the time: “It's been a while since I said that the only Premier League club I would play for other than Manchester United was Everton, so I am thrilled that this move has occurred.
“Thirteen years ago, I joined United with the goal of winning trophies, and I was fortunate to be part of one of the club’s most successful eras.
“I have returned to Everton because I believe they are building a team that can achieve success, and I look forward to contributing to that reality for the club I have supported since childhood.”
Rooney played one more season at Goodison Park, scoring 11 goals in 40 appearances before signing with D.C. United.
Wayne Rooney's Record-Breaking Career
WAYNE Rooney made a significant impact on the football world when he debuted for Everton in 2002.
He quickly became the club's youngest-ever goalscorer at just 16 years and 342 days old and was named the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year.
The striker joined Manchester United in 2004 and spent 13 years at Old Trafford. He made 559 appearances for the Red Devils and scored 253 goals, making him the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.
After his time at United, Rooney returned to Everton for a season. He also had brief stints with D.C. United and Derby County towards the end of his career.
In addition to his impressive club career, Rooney is England’s second-highest goalscorer with 53 goals in 120 appearances, trailing only Harry Kane.
After retiring, the England icon pursued a career in management.
He took charge of Derby County in 2020 and managed to narrowly avoid relegation from the Championship in his first season.
However, after Derby received a 21-point deduction the following season, he was unable to keep them up and subsequently departed.
Rooney then had a 15-month tenure managing MLS team D.C. United, but he did not make a significant impact and parted ways with the club at the end of the 2023 regular season.
In October 2023, he controversially took over at Birmingham, replacing John Eustace while the club was performing well and sitting sixth in the Championship table
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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