Legendary footballer Wayne Rooney announced Friday he was calling it a career. Rooney had been serving as the caretaker of Derby County Football Club in November. He has since signed a two-year contract to take over as full-time manager, effectively ending his esteemed playing career:
“When I first arrived back in the United Kingdom I was completely blown away by the potential of Derby County Football Club,” Wayne Rooney said in a statement, via ESPN. “The stadium, training ground, the quality of the playing staff and the young players coming through and of course the fan base that has remained loyal and supportive.
“Despite other offers I knew instinctively Derby County was the place for me. To be given the opportunity to follow the likes of Brian Clough, Jim Smith, Frank Lampard and Phillip Cocu is such an honour and I can promise everyone involved in the club and all our fans, my staff and I will leave no stone unturned in achieving the potential I have witnessed over the last 12 months of this historic football club.”
The Englishman will go down as one of the greatest players in English Premier League history.
Wayne Rooney broke into the Prem with Everton in 2002. He was just 16 at the time, but scored six goals and had five assists at the highest level of competition.
It was not long before Manchester United came calling. The Red Devils signed Rooney in 2004, and he promptly went on to become the greatest goal scorer in club history.
Wayne Rooney scored 183 goals and tallied 98 assists in 13 seasons with United. He returned for a final season at Everton before coming to the United States to play with D.C. United in the MLS.
The Liverpool native then headed to Derby County as a player-manager. He will dedicate all of his time to managerial pursuits, thus ending one of the greatest careers in English football history.
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