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That was 16 years ago: Wayne Rooney, active for Manchester United in 2005
Photo: Jon Super / AP
Sometimes noisy careers end quietly.
Like Wayne Rooney.
The record goalscorer for the English national team and Manchester United, who was always good for scandals off the pitch, made the last game of his more than 18-year career on November 25th for the second division Derby County.
With a 0: 3 at Middlesbrough FC.
At the time, Rooney, 35, was already an interim coach at the East Midlands club.
That the game in Middlesbrough was the last appearance of the active footballer Rooney has only been finally certain since Friday.
Derby County said that the ex-professional will look after the team full-time in the future, as head coach, with a contract for two and a half years.
In order to fully concentrate on the new job, Rooney decided to end his playing career, the club announced almost casually.
One of the most colorful careers in English football ended in the fine print.
At the beginning of this career there was the hype.
At the age of 16, Rooney, who grew up in the Croxteth district of Liverpool, made his debut in the Premier League for his favorite club, Everton, to the accompaniment of pompous music.
British media, always looking for the next savior, compared the milk-faced striker to Pele.
Rooney lived up to the hustle and bustle and led the Toffees on one of his first appearances with a wonderful long-range goal to victory against the then almost indomitable Arsenal.
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Ready for New Deeds: Wayne Rooney in 2020
Photo: John Walton / imago images / PA Images
After two seasons for Everton, Rooney moved to Manchester United.
The approximately 37 million euros that the then industry leader of English football paid as a transfer fee was a record for a teenager.
At Old Trafford, Rooney became a "complete United hero," as the Guardian would later put it.
Under coach Sir Alex Ferguson, he won everything there was to be won: five times the English championship, the FA Cup, the 2008 Champions League and the Club World Cup.
The striker scored a total of 253 goals in his 13 years for the club, more than any other footballer who ever wore the Red Devils jersey.
Rooney was always an instinct footballer, not a training champion.
Over time it became more cumbersome.
He has always preserved his unpredictability, the chaotic element of the indomitable, the rowdy.
That wasn't always to his advantage.
This is evidenced by his extensive map statistics and incidents in private life.
Lots of goals, but no national election title
After retiring from Manchester United and briefly returning to Everton, he played for a year and a half in the United States at DC United in Washington.
During this time, Rooney was arrested for drinking in public.
Ms. Coleen is said to have threatened to only let him outside the door with surveillance.
It's not for nothing that Rooney's nickname »Wazza« is based on that of Paul »Gazza« Gascoigne, the stereotype of the ingenious English footballer with a changeable lifestyle.
Like all other English professionals since 1966, Rooney has to live with the stigma of not being able to lead the national team to a title.
Even he was not the hoped-for savior.
His career remained unfinished.
In his many tournament appearances, Rooney only impressed in one, his first, and only briefly - at the 2004 European Championship, he scored four goals in the preliminary round.
He injured himself in the quarter-finals against Portugal, England were eliminated on penalties.
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Old Trafford: From 2004 to 2017, this was Wayne Rooney's football home
Photo: Peter Byrne / imago images / PA Images
With 53 goals Rooney is the best scorer in his country, but in his biography there is only one World Cup goal.
He succeeded in 2014, but could not prevent the qualifying round.
In the run-up to the 2018 World Cup, when it became apparent that coach Gareth Southgate was relying on young staff, Rooney withdrew from the national team - and England debated which place in the national hall of fame he actually deserved.
While some thought that Rooney was getting too little recognition, others always considered him overrated.
What has always distinguished him has been dedication, passion and understanding for football.
These qualities could also suit him in the career after his career.
Rooney has already moderated nine games as interim coach for Derby County.
The yield is decent with three wins and four draws, the team has left the last place in the table.
One reason for this is to go back to basics.
As a trainer, Rooney trusts simple solutions.
His address is direct.
He also has a heart for young players.
He could benefit from the fact that the trend in English football is currently basically towards new coaches with an illustrious professional biography.
Manchester United trusts the 1999 hero Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Arsenal FC relies on their former captain Mikel Arteta, and Frank Lampard directs Chelsea FC.
Incidentally, he recommended himself to Derby County for the post at Stamford Bridge.
From the second division to the Premier League - Rooney should also strive for this path.
Icon: The mirror
