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1. Ford Sponsorship during first season at Everton - 2003

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1. Ford Sponsorship during first season at Everton - 2003

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In his first professional season, Rooney was already recognised as a star player, meaning brands were fast to work with him. His first car was a sponsorship from Ford, which at the time was a popular model. Many teens the same age would admire Rooney and view his image as inspirational.

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Wayne Rooney’s First Car Vs His Most Expensive Ride | Soccer Laduma

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Most footballers’ vehicle evolutions had to begin at some point before they got used to driving around in luxury. In light of that, we look at Wayne Rooney’s first car versus one of his most luxurious rides to date. Check it out!

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Rooney's first goal for Everton against Arsenal shot him to stardom, and was arguably the start of him being a household name, and the start of his image as an 'achieved star'. The widely known commentator Clive Tyldesley remarked, 'Remember the name Wayne Rooney', implying the immediate impact he had in the team, especially as the opponent were unbeaten in almost a year. The goal made him the youngest goal scorer in the Premier League.

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Why Wayne Rooney’s first ever goal against Arsenal was a watershed moment in history

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Rarely does a singular moment send such enormous shockwaves through football. There’s ways of announcing yourself to the world stage, then there’s the way Wayne Rooney did it exactly 15…

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The desire for Rooney increased and he signed for Manchester United, becoming the world's most expensive teenager. This conveys how in demand he was as a star, alongside people becoming real fans of him. This image was good media and PR moment, and rare to see that for a player that's not long been on the football scene, portraying that his star image was already influential at such a young age.

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The idea of Rooney's image as an 'achieved star' and 'hero' would have been extended here, as to score a hatrick on his debut is something very rare, especially as it was the Champions League- globally viewed tournament which would have broadened fanbase and broadcast his talent and star persona to the world.

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Rooney features alongside players Ronaldo and Drogba, two of the worlds greatest, and is presented in a way that would motivate and excite fans for the upcoming World Cup. The advert also reminds fans that he is just a normal person that has worked his way up to stardom.

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5. Premier League victories three seasons in a row - 2006-2009

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5. Premier League victories three seasons in a row - 2006-2009

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Rooney was a key player on one of the best teams in the world at the time in hardest league, asserting his dominance as one of the star players and showing professional talent. This is just one example of the many trophies the team won during his time as a star player.

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By winning this award multiple times, his image stands out from all other players; from this, he became the 'poster boy' for the whole of Premier League due to his individual accolades, not just as a team. He has also been on the cover of FIFA more than any other player, highlighting his incredible star image as a player, and enduring appeal.

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Star image exemplified as he scored the winning goal in Manchester derby which was vital in the race for the title. Proved himself once again with a fearless and talented persona even in crucial moments. This goal remains one of the most well known/ talked about of all time.

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Becoming captain meant that he was the most important player in terms of leadership qualities and determination to support the team. This achievement also proves his longevity at the highest level, from Everton and 16, United at 18 and eventually becoming captain 10 years later, highlighting his dedicated star image.

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Manchester United have named Wayne Rooney as their new captain.

The England international, 28, replaces Nemanja Vidic, who has left the club for Inter Milan , while Darren Fletcher has been named as vice-captain.

Rooney will skipper United in the Premier League opener with Swansea at Old Trafford on 16 August.

"It is a huge honour and a role I will perform with great pride," said Rooney. "I am very grateful to the manager for the faith he has shown in me."

Rooney - confirmed as captain after the 2-1 friendly win over Valencia on Tuesday night - was one of the favourites for the job once Patrice Evra also asked to leave.

The former Everton man has skippered the Red Devils in the past. And while Louis van Gaal's close friendship with Robin van Persie led to suggestions United's boss would hand his fellow Dutchman the armband, Rooney's longevity - he joined for £27m in 2004 - made him a more obvious choice.

"For me it's always very important the choice of captain," said Van Gaal.

"Wayne has shown a great attitude towards everything he does. I have been very impressed by his professionalism and his attitude to training and to my philosophy.

"He is a great inspiration to the younger members of the team and I believe he will put his heart and soul into his captaincy role."

Prior to Vidic, Gary Neville had the job, which has been held by such notable United old boys as Sir Bobby Charlton, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and Roy Keane.

Rooney has won five Premier League titles in his time at United, in addition to the Champions League in 2008. He currently stands third - behind Charlton and Denis Law - on the list of all-time top scorers at the club with 216.

Fletcher's appointment comes after his entire career was in doubt 18 months ago because of suffering from chronic bowel disease

The Scot had surgery to have part of his bowel removed and only returned to action in December.

"It's a very proud moment for me and my family," said Fletcher, 30.

"Wayne and I have always worked well together and we will continue to work closely together in our new roles."

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Manchester United make Wayne Rooney their new captain, with midfielder Darren Fletcher named as vice-captain.

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9. Becomes United's top goal scorer of all time - 2017

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9. Becomes United's top goal scorer of all time - 2017

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This achievement puts Rooney in the history books above the rest of United's greatest players, enforcing his image as a legend and 'celebrated star'.

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Manchester United have honoured Wayne Rooney with a trophy for becoming the club's record goalscorer. United's FA Cup fourth round tie at home to Wigan Athletic was the first game to be played at Old Trafford since Rooney broke Sir Bobby Charlton's long standing club record.

He swung in an exceptional free kick in the Premier League draw at Stoke City to chalk up goal number 250 for the Red Devils.

Rooney received a golden boot - not to be confused with the Golden Boot presented to the Premier League top scorer each season - before kick off on Sunday afternoon.

Rooney reached the landmark figure from 545 United games, during which time he has won the Champions League, FA Cup and five Premier League titles.

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Photos: Wayne Rooney Honoured By Man United After Becoming Club's Highest Goal Scorer

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Manchester United have honoured Wayne Rooney with a trophy for becoming the club's record goalscorer. United's FA Cup fourth round tie at ho...

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Although his star image may have changed by this decision, Rooney had proven himself as a loyal player by going back to his roots, not forgetting what team made him. This may have therefore gained him a lot of respect from Everton fans, as he comes across as a grounded star, however drink driving accusations the same year contradict this idea.

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Manchester United record goalscorer Wayne Rooney has rejoined Everton for an undisclosed fee, 13 years after leaving the Merseyside club.

Rooney, 31, played 559 times for United, scoring 253 goals.

He won five Premier League titles and each of the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup once after joining from Everton for £27m in 2004.

Rooney, who has signed a two-year deal, said he was "ecstatic" and his "first game back will be an emotional day".

"It's a great feeling to be back. I cannot wait to meet the lads, get on the training pitch and then get on the pitch to play," he added.

Rooney's return comes as United look set to sign Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, with a £75m deal for the Belgium international agreed between the two clubs.

Everton confirmed Rooney will wear the number 10 shirt previously worn by Lukaku.

"I'm not just coming back because it's the team I support, the team I grew up playing for - I'm coming back because I feel the club can move forward and be successful," said Rooney, who scored 17 goals in 77 games in his first spell at Goodison.

"I want to be part of it. There will be pressure on me to perform, but I'm ready to go. I believe I can help move this club forward and be more successful on the pitch."

Rooney says when he spoke to Everton manager Ronald Koeman, he "saw it in his eyes that he wanted me to be part of his team".

He added: "It was a no-brainer for me and the only place I was going to go."

Rooney said he told his agent Paul Stretford to "go and speak to them, let's make it happen" when he found out Everton were interested in signing him and it "was obvious I was going to be leaving Manchester United this summer".

"There were other options there but once I knew that Everton wanted me to come back then it was the only option for me," he added.

Why Everton want him back

Koeman began talking about Rooney's potential return as far back as October, stating he would be "pleased" to sign England's all-time leading goalscorer.

On Sunday, he said: "Wayne has shown me that ambition that we need and that winning mentality - he knows how to win titles and I'm really happy he's decided to come home.

"He loves Everton and he was desperate to come back. He is still only 31 and I don't have any doubts about his qualities. It's fantastic he's here.

"We have a lot of young players and sometimes in life you need somebody who you look up to, who you learn from. That was also one of the messages when we spoke about on and off the pitch what his function will be in the team.

"One of the functions for Wayne is to show the rest of the team why he is - and still is - that player."

An Old Trafford exit

Rooney, who was often left out of United's starting line-up by manager Jose Mourinho last season, appeared in 25 league games - the fewest he has played in one season. His total of eight goals in all competitions was also the lowest of his career.

He also lost his place in the England squad, but has not retired from international duty and needs six more caps to equal goalkeeper Peter Shilton's all-time record of 125 appearances.

Rooney was an unused substitute as United beat Southampton to win the EFL Cup in February, and made only a brief appearance at the end of the Europa League final victory over Ajax in May.

In his 13 seasons with United, he finished as top scorer five times and shared the honour with Cristiano Ronaldo in another campaign. He was also named fans' player of the year twice.

"It is no secret that I have long been an admirer of Wayne," said Mourinho. "He has been a model professional throughout his time at the club and will remain in the history books for many years to come.

"It is never easy to see a great player playing less football than he would like and I could not stand in his way when he asked to go back to Everton.

"His experience, focus and determination will be missed and I wish him well for the future."

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward added: "Who can forget his storybook debut hat-trick against Fenerbahce, the spectacular overhead kick against Manchester City and the countless match-winning performances in his time here?

"But after much discussion, the club has decided to accept his request to rejoin his boyhood team."

What is Rooney's United legacy?

editor of fanzine United We Stand: "The move is best for all parties.

"Rooney will be remembered well by United fans when the dust settles, a club legend who scored more goals than anyone and was a leading light in one of United's greatest sides.

"Reaching three European Cup finals in four years shows how good that team was. At his best, between 2004 and 2011, he was the finest British player of his generation.

"Rooney's performances dropped, and being linked with Chelsea and Manchester City did his popularity no favours either, but he's scored some of the greatest goals I've ever seen.

"As a journalist who has interviewed him several times over 12 years, I watched him mature, become more interesting and grow into being a respected Manchester United captain."

Everton beginnings - 'He has everything'

Rooney was brought up by parents Jeanette and Wayne in the Croxteth area of Liverpool alongside brothers Graham and John, with all five members of the household avid Everton supporters.

He joined the Toffees at the age of nine and quickly built a reputation as a precocious talent, scoring 114 goals in 29 matches for the under-10 and under-11 sides.

David Moyes gave him his first-team debut in August 2002, and he quickly became a regular starter, scoring his first Premier League goal - a last-minute winner against Arsenal - five days before his 17th birthday.

I've kept it quiet for the last 13 years, but I've actually been wearing Everton pyjamas at home with my kids.

Wayne Rooney on re-joining his boyhood team

The goal led to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger describing Rooney as "the biggest English talent I have seen since I arrived in this country". Wenger added: "He has everything you dream of for a front player - intelligent feet, quick reactions."

Rooney became one of world football's highest-paid teenagers with his boyhood club, but handed in a transfer request in August 2004, leading to him being signed by Sir Alex Ferguson for what was the highest fee paid for a player under 20.

What do Everton fans think?

Analysis

BBC Sport's Simon Stone: Rooney has been slowly eased out of the first team, without there being one single pressure point that signalled a change in Mourinho's thinking.

The Portuguese has consistently backed Rooney in public - saying as recently as May that he would be "very happy" if the striker stayed at Old Trafford.

But Rooney did not take the chances he was afforded by Mourinho last season, and that made his departure inevitable once Everton pursued their interest.

Rooney signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract during the 2013-14 campaign, which included the option of a further season, but the Old Trafford club had no intention of triggering that clause.

United have waived a fee and may also be funding part of Rooney's £13m wages.

'Golden boy; the Pitbull; impulsive' - Rooney in quotes

Bill Kenwright was crying. 'They're stealing our boy, they're stealing our boy,' he told his mother.

Sir Alex Ferguson in his autobiography

"He's one of those players that, whenever he gets the ball, something seems to happen." Then England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, 2003.

"Wayne is only 20 and without question the best young player I've ever seen." Then Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, 2005.

"Wayne Rooney is the golden boy of English football. Don't kill him because you will need him." Eriksson again, 2006.

"We've done nothing but help him since he's been at this club. We cannot quite understand why he would want to leave." Ferguson again, 2010.

"I think crazy things happen around him also. He is an impulsive guy like me. In football no-one is perfect. You learn from your mistakes and I like that with him. He is himself; I think that is very important. That is one English player I like more than anyone." Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 2013.

"I felt he was struggling to get by people and had lost some of his old thrust. As time wore on, I felt he struggled more and more to do it for 90 minutes." Ferguson in his autobiography, 2013.

"He's been through that generation with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. He really feels like he's the dad figure if you like. He puts his arm around us, brings us together, gets us going." Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, October 2014.

"I miss playing with Rooney. Maybe we will play together again one day. He was so powerful, I was calling him 'Pitbull'. The power of Wayne Rooney is his mentality and strength and he never stops." Cristiano Ronaldo, 2015.

"For me he is the great English player of the generation. What he is capable of doing on the field is very special, and he is one of the few players that would improve any squad in Europe." Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi, 2016.

"Cristiano had an absolute desire to be the best individual in the world. Wayne would say: 'I want to be the world's best but I'll do it by being a team player.' That has not allowed him to be the 40-goals-a-season man he could have been." Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand, 2017.

Reaction

United winger Jesse Lingard: "All the best skipper in the next chapter of your amazing career. Been an absolute pleasure and learned so much."

United midfielder Ander Herrera: "One day I will be able to tell my grandkids I played with you. All the best and thank you."

Former United defender Gary Neville: "All the best Wayne Rooney and congratulations on a great United career. The best striker I played with and saw at the club."

Rooney's wife, Coleen: "The time has come to leave Man Utd .... 13 great years at the club! Thank you all for making our family so welcome and treating us so well."
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

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Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney rejoins Everton on a two-year deal, 13 years after leaving Goodison Park.

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His move to America enabled Rooney to broaden his image even more world wide, however implies his instability at this time as he only spent one season at Everton after leaving Manchester United.

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The former England captain insists he has moved to America to compete, not to wind down his career

Wayne Rooney was officially unveiled by new club DC United on Monday, where the former England captain insisted he had not moved to Major League Soccer to wind down his career.

The 32-year-old former Everton and Manchester United striker has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract worth a reported £15million to conclude a decorated career in England, but has joined a struggling team widely considered the worst in the MLS.

His decision to up sticks to the States came after his role at Everton became uncertain only a year after returning to his boyhood club.

But Rooney insists he is still hungry for success and is determined to deliver the goods in a DC United shirt, as the club begin a new era with a new landmark signing and a brand new stadium.

"I'm not here to see out the last few years of my career, I'm here to compete, I'm here to win and that's the way I've always played and will always play," he said at his official club unveiling in Washington DC.

"Even on the training pitch yesterday, there were a few of the academy players and I had a go at them for not running as hard as they should have. That's on my first day.

"I've always set high targets. I demand a lot of myself and expect that from team-mates as well. I have to adapt to however the club is run, and embrace it.

"The club has got great history. It's been tough over the past few years and the club doesn't need to look back at that history, it needs to create more history.

"We have to improve, but there's talent in the team; maybe (with) some guidance on and off the pitch.

"It's a new challenge, new culture, new league to play in, so I'm excited. I can't wait to get started."

Rooney had once harboured hopes of still featuring for England at this World Cup in Russia, before he fell out of Gareth Southgate's plans.

And the former Three Lions skipper captain dismissed certain questions as "unfair" when he was asked if he would be disappointed if England became world champions after the end of his international career - having once been the country's young bright spark.

He then said of his departure from Everton: "I was grateful and delighted to go back there last summer. But I've made the decision to come here.

"I'm sure there's a lot of questions about why I left Everton and I'm sure the people who want to know can ask Everton and let them answer it.

"I made the decision to come here and I'm delighted to be here - I'm just looking forward to (my) first game.

"I'm sure there's more players going to come in. We want to keep trying to build the team. It's been a tough few years for the club but it's moving in the right direction.

"We have to improve if we want to be successful again. With the new stadium coming, the training ground - to move forward we'll need to bring new players in and I'm sure they're looking at that."

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Wayne Rooney unveiled by DC United after signing £15m contract

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Wayne Rooney was officially unveiled by new club DC United on Monday, where the former England captain insisted he had not moved to Major League Soccer to wind down his career. The 32-year-old form...

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12. Signs for Derby County as player and coach - 2020

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12. Signs for Derby County as player and coach - 2020

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Further highlights unstable time of his life as scandals in his private life arguably forced him to move back to England in such a short time.

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Rooney also reassured fans of DC United: "I must also take this opportunity to thank DC United, their owners, executives and supporters who have been superb to work with. I want them to know that I will give my all in support of our push for the play-offs."

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Wayne Rooney signs for Derby County from DC United

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Wayne Rooney confirmed as Derby County player-coach after moving from MLS side DC United.

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13. Rooney retires from competitive football - 2021

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13. Rooney retires from competitive football - 2021

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Rooney's retirement reminded everyone of the legendary image he built for himself over the last couple decades. Other footballer's reactions convey how he had proven himself both professionally and as a leader.

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The all-time leading scorer for club and country announced on Friday that he had retired from the game with immediate effect, to take up the full-time position as Derby County manager.

"I've had a great career and enjoyed every minute," said Rooney. "Of course, I will miss it but I've been very fortunate to play for some massive teams. Playing for Everton was a boyhood dream of mine and then to go and play for 13 years at United was the highlight. To stay at the biggest club in the world for so long and win so many trophies is something I'll always appreciate."

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told us: "It is great news for Wayne and I really wish him all the best. I think he's got everything going for him to be a good manager. He's had a very good career, he's got a very good personality and he wants to have success. He's played under some top managers and I'm sure he's over the moon at the moment, so congratulations to him."

Loved every minute of my playing career but excited to get started in management with a great club in @dcfcofficial.

Thanks for all the messages and best wishes, appreciate them all ❤️ pic.twitter.com/zYABfF9UBx
- Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) January 15, 2021

1/2 ..... Congratulations on a fantastic career Wayne. Won everything at club level, some a few times over, x2 leading goal scoring records for both club and country, which have taken years to break. You should be SO proud of yourself, because we are!! ..... pic.twitter.com/h1r2gCWZbt
- Coleen Rooney (@ColeenRoo) January 15, 2021

2/2.......Thank you for letting me be part of it from start to finish.19 years later & 4 kids who have been lucky to witness you playing. We love you!!
Good luck in the next chapter of your career as manger, sure you'll be great, but remember, all you can do is try your best. 💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/4LbI0aKr8b
- Coleen Rooney (@ColeenRoo) January 15, 2021

Rooney's announcement prompted a tidal wave of tributes from former team-mates and that includes many of the current first-team squad, as well as legendary names and familiar faces from our history.

Among many others, Rio Ferdinand said: "I laid eyes on him when he was 16 or 17 years old, after an England game as well, I said to his mum and dad 'make sure he signs for Manchester United' and they looked at me and laughed and probably thought, 'we've already done the deal'. And he came! What a player... he's done it all. What a player, ridiculous. No-one can doubt, world class."

Robin van Persie wrote: "Congrats on your amazing career my friend. Thank you for the great moments both on and off the pitch. I'll forever remember THAT assist and much more. Wishing you all the best with your next step and I'm sure you'll be a fantastic manager."

Former team-mate Ander Herrera also posted: "I am proud that I will always be able to say that I played with Wayne Rooney. Happy retirement legend."

Here, you can catch up on what has been posted...

Captain, Leader, Legend... and now gaffer! pic.twitter.com/GTEYl0KIEq
- David de Gea (@D_DeGea) January 15, 2021

One of the greatest. Congratulations on your incredible career Wazza. What a player... Good luck on your next chapter 🙌❤️🔴 @ManUtd @WayneRooney pic.twitter.com/SkZP0ccuFr
- Juan Mata García (@juanmata8) January 15, 2021

Wayne Rooney - a true @ManUtd Legend. 🔴

One of the greatest, a lovely teammate and a fantastic goal scorer! Happy retirement@WayneRooney, enjoy your career after football and all the best in your life as a manager! 👏♥️ pic.twitter.com/1euhSrWFqh
- Edwin van der Sar (@vdsar1970) January 15, 2021

Happy Retirement Wazza !!! What a journey that was ! 🙌🙌🙌 #mufc #legend #warrior pic.twitter.com/JKOJeB4hoT
- Mikael Silvestre (@IamMSilvestre) January 16, 2021

Every Sunday footballers hero - looked like one, played like a world beater! 😂❤️
- Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) January 15, 2021

❤️ https://t.co/VwzhM6xTvq
- Gary Neville (@GNev2) January 15, 2021

Wish I could've brought more to the table in the time i played together with this legend.

Today you retire as a football player but the journey continues.
Coach WR10 it is now.
Wish you all the best Wazza!

LEGENDARY PLAYER!!! ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/449TCDKmxr
- Memphis Depay (@Memphis) January 15, 2021

Congratulations on your career, Wayne, and thanks for the memories.

Saturday 16 January 2021 08:42

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Rooney retires: How United legends are reacting

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Read the best social media reaction to Man Utd icon Wayne Rooney being appointed Derby County manager.

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CLUB CAREER AS PLAYER AND COACH - 2002-PRESENT 

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CLUB CAREER AS PLAYER AND COACH - 2002-PRESENT 

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14. Appointed Manager of Birmingham City - 2023

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14. Appointed Manager of Birmingham City - 2023

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Highlights his loyalty and passion to football, this will perhaps be a more mature and wise part of his career and image.

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Wayne Rooney said he plans to "elevate Birmingham City to the next level" after being appointed the Championship club's new manager on a three-and-a-half-year contract. Rooney replaces John Eustace, who was sacked on Monday.

In a statement confirming Rooney's appointment on Wednesday Garry Cook, Birmingham's chief executive, described the 37-year-old's arrival as a "defining moment" in their history. "When the opportunity presents itself to appoint a manager who shares your ambition and is both a student and a great of the game, then you act," Cook said. "This is what we have done."

Cook is understood to be the driver behind the deal. Last year Cook, previously the chief executive of Manchester City, was part of Chris Kirchner's failed bid to buy Derby County, the last club Rooney managed in England.

Rooney, who left DC United last weekend, will be assisted by Ashley Cole and John O'Shea, former teammates of his. Cole and O'Shea will retain their coaching roles with England Under-21s and the Republic of Ireland respectively.

Birmingham's chairman, Tom Wagner, who completed a takeover in July, said the former England captain will take the club "forward on the next stage of our journey", adding: "His playing philosophy will help to realise the ambitions we have set for Birmingham City."

Birmingham City Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of @WayneRooney as Manager, agreeing terms on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

Welcome to Blues, Wayne! 🤝🔵
- Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) October 11, 2023

Rooney resigned from his role at Derby in June 2022 following relegation to League One. He took charge at DC United the following month, before leaving his post last weekend after failing to reach the Major League Soccer playoffs.

Rooney initially took interim charge at Derby as a player-manager and was widely praised for the job he did upon taking over permanently amid trying circumstances - the club were docked 12 points for entering administration, then received a nine-point penalty for breaching English Football League financial rules. Rooney helped galvanise the club amid the threat of liquidation.

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His first game in charge of Birmingham will be at Middlesbrough a week on Saturday, when he will come up against Michael Carrick, with whom he played at England and Manchester United. "I have a clear way that I want the team to play, and my coaching staff and I will work hard to implement it," Rooney said. "We will create a winning culture here with an identity that gets Blues fans on their feet.

"My job is to elevate the club to the next level and I can't wait to get started. I know what the expectations are and our job is to deliver."

Rooney's backroom staff includes Pete Shuttleworth, a former scout and analyst who previously worked at Birmingham and who Rooney took with him to DC United from Derby, and Carl Robinson, the former Wolves and Wales midfielder. The former Birmingham and Northern Ireland goalkeeper Maik Taylor will remain in his role as goalkeeping coach.

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Wayne Rooney vows to 'elevate' Birmingham City as club's new manager

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Wayne Rooney said he plans to 'elevate Birmingham City to the next level' after being appointed the club's new manager on a three-and-a-half-year deal

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At only 17 years old, his immense talent as an achieved celebrity was made clear as he was thrust onto the international stage.

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Wayne Rooney's England debut (2003) | From The Archive

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His fiery persona on the pitch has come to light on a number of times; some may say it is passion for the game, however some may view his image as reckless and carefree.

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A few bets were probably placed on Wayne Rooney getting a red card and here, amid the chaos that unfolded inside a pulsating Podgorica Stadium, was the reason why.

Because if one player is going to snap, if one player is going to miss the start of a major tournament, it is the one on whom England have become so reliant.

Just as it was with Paul Gascoigne, England's best player is their most volatile, and not for the first time Rooney let outside pressures infect his mind to the point where he lashed out wildly at an opponent. It was a ludicrous act, committed just yards from a stunned, no doubt sickened, Fabio Capello.

Ref: Wolfgang Stark (Germany).

Little more than 24 hours earlier the England manager had given assurances that the dramatic events at home would not impact on his performance in this European Championship qualifier. 'No problem,' said the Italian, convinced that news of his father's arrest was something the Manchester United striker could park until he returned home.

As it was, Rooney allowed a persistent Elsad Zverotic to antagonise him before kicking Miodrag Dzudovic in the back of the calf and leaving Wolfgang Stark with no option but to send him off.

In doing so, Rooney left 10 men trying to protect a 2-1 lead for 16 minutes and left those same players now preparing for the start of next summer's European Championship without their most gifted colleague.

To say it took the shine off England's qualification would be an understatement. While the home fans stormed the pitch to celebrate wildly with their heroes, England's players trudged off disappointed to have conceded a 90th-minute equaliser from Andrija Delibasic - but even more crushed that Rooney has jeopardised their chances in Poland and Ukraine before a ball has been kicked.

What will make it all the more galling for Capello is the fact that things had gone pretty well until then. He was not about to throw them a party, especially when a brief lapse in concentration had allowed Zverotic to score seconds before the break thanks to a nasty deflection off Gary Cahill's boot.

But for 45 minutes prior to that England had been excellent, as confident and composed as they have looked during this qualification campaign.

Rooney was central to everything in a more withdrawn role behind Darren Bent, who was selected as England's centre forward and able to bury certain memories of the past with the second goal in the 31st minute.

The first came from Ashley Young, one of England's success stories since the last World Cup, and the fact that he was part of a forward line that worked so effectively would have pleased Capello.

With Theo Walcott on the opposite flank, England boasted an attack blessed with pace as well as skill and invention.

Behind them, others deserved credit. Scott Parker and Gareth Barry controlled central midfield in Sofia last month and they did so again here, providing a first-class service to their colleagues in front and behind.

Among those behind them was Phil Jones, making his international debut and demonstrating, just as Chris Smalling did, that he could do a job at right back even if his long-term future remains at centre-half and even if he was fortunate not to concede a penalty for a foul on Stevan Jovetic.

England started so well and went ahead in the 11th minute thanks to the combined efforts of Rooney, Walcott and Young. It was Rooney who started the move, Walcott who provided a super cross and Young who got in ahead of Zverotic to score with a header at the far post.

Montenegro did at times look dangerous, but these England players were working hard for one another, not least on the flanks, where Walcott and Young ran tirelessly.

As a lightning storm raged, England looked electric. They were dominating, performing in a manner that suggested they wanted to finish a slightly stuttering campaign in style.

A second goal soon arrived, this time for Bent, but again thanks to great vision from Rooney. It was a terrific pass that sent Young clear and a similarly impressive delivery across the face of the Montenegro goal that enabled Bent to score with ease.

The Aston Villa striker missed the one decent chance he had in their final qualifier against Croatia four years ago, but he made no mistake on this occasion.

Montenegro approached the second half with more vigour and determination. Joe Hart did well to deny Fatos Beqiraj and Jones was lucky to emerge unscathed from a legitimate penalty claim, while the loss of Young to injury caused Capello a further problem.

He responded first by sending on Stewart Downing and then replacing Bent with Frank Lampard and reverting to a more defensive 4-5-1 formation.

That was fine until Rooney's act of madness, until the red mist once again descended and the striker joined David Beckham as the only England players to have received two red cards.

The first was in a World Cup quarter-final Portugal eventually won on penalties and this one does make you wonder if Euro 2004 will be the best England ever saw of Rooney at a major tournament. If injury doesn't disable him, his temper does and England suffer as a result.

Delibasic's equaliser, a header scored because of Cahill's failure to cut out Stefan Savic's cross, was of no consequence. Sadly the same cannot be said about the red card.

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Montenegro 2 England 2: Reckless Rooney sees red but Capello's men reach Euro 2012

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England have qualified for the Euro 2012 finals despite letting a two-goal lead slip against Montenegro. Ashley Young and Darren Bent scored but Wayne Rooney was sent off.

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His image here is extended from 'achieved' and 'celebrated', to becoming the face of patriotism for all football fans in England, as he holds the responsibility on his shoulders. A time of stability in his professional life.

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Rooney has 40 goals in 95 appearances, and was named club captain by United boss Louis van Gaal earlier this month.

"It is something I will take massive pride in doing. To be appointed captain is beyond my wildest dreams. " said Rooney

England play Norway at Wembley on 3 September in a friendly before their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign starts in Switzerland on 8 September.

Hodgson has named four uncapped players in his latest squad, with Arsenal's 19-year-old defender Calum Chambers, and Newcastle's Jack Colback, Tottenham's Danny Rose and Aston Villa's Fabian Delph, all 24, in line to make their international debuts.

"Rooney was the obvious choice. It might motivate him, get the best out of him, inspire him. Yes, he'll always be competitive but you don't want to take that out of his game because it's a fundamental part of it. It's not like a captain in cricket - you don't pick the team, you don't influence tactics, you don't have a say on substitutes. It's primarily a job off the field. You're the middle man between players and the management, the media and the public. That's where you could question whether Rooney is right, but his media side has improved and he handles that reasonably well now."

Speaking on Rooney's appointment, Hodgson said: "I gave it a lot of thought but Wayne is an obvious choice.

"He's the right man and he'll show enormous enthusiasm and responsibility."

Hodgson added: "I've had a long conversation with him and he's prepared to accept the pressures that the England captaincy brings.

"In the two years that we've been working together I've had no reason to question his character, desire to play for the country and wholehearted willingness to offer himself in every situation."

Rooney became the youngest player to play for England when he made his debut in a friendly against Australia on 12 February 2003, and scored his first goal later that year against Macedonia in a European Championships qualifier.

He has captained England twice - in a pre-tournament friendly with Brazil in 2009 and a World Cup qualifier against San Marino in 2012 - as well as having previously had a stint as vice-captain.

Rooney became the youngest player to play for England when he appeared in a friendly against Australia in 2003. He was 17 years and 111 days old, a record which Theo Walcott has since lowered by 36 days.

On 6 September 2003, he became England's youngest goalscorer when he netted in a 2-1 European Championship qualification win over Macedonia.

On 11 October 2013, he became England's highest scorer in competitive games, breaking Michael Owen's record of 26 goals when he opened the scoring in a 4-1 World Cup qualification win over Montenegro.

Rooney's goal in the 2-1 World Cup loss against Uruguay was his 40th in internationals, making him England's fourth-highest scorer alongside Owen.

Rooney added: "As a kid I always loved the occasion of watching a big England game on the television. Back then I had a burning ambition to play for my country. Now to be appointed captain is beyond my wildest dreams.

"I would like to thank Roy and the coaching staff for having the belief and confidence in me to do the job."

"Rooney's ascent to the captaincy is not simply a case of last man standing, it is well merited on the basis of his efforts on and off the pitch in that abysmal Brazilian summer."

Rooney succeeds 34-year-old Gerrard, who revealed he had been left "broken" by the failure of a World Cup campaign in Brazil.

The United skipper says he will seek advice on the England captaincy from his predecessor.

He said: "I intend to speak with Steven about different aspects of the role. We had a great relationship from the moment we played together for our country right up to our final game in Brazil."

"Players respect Wayne Rooney enormously, they look up to him, and see him as figurehead already after the recent retirements of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. From a players point of view, it has to be Wayne and from a coach's point of he is the best player, the number one star."

Ray Hall, who as head of Everton's Academy was first to discover Rooney's talent, said: "Wayne was never a captain at Everton because he always played in teams where players were two, three or four years older than him, but the irony now is that he has the experience and other players look up to him.

"He has a passion for the game and the shyness he had as a young player has gone. He also has responsibilities and a maturity off the field that comes with being married and having a young family."

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City)

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Calum Chambers (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Everton)

Midfielders: Jack Colback (Newcastle United), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Forwards: Rickie Lambert (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)

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Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is named the new England captain by manager Roy Hodgson.

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RELATIONSHIP WITH COLEEN - 2002-PRESENT 

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RELATIONSHIP WITH COLEEN - 2002-PRESENT 

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The relationship between Wayne and Coleen was thrown into the limelight from when they first started dating at age 16, and has been one of the biggest factors in Wayne's star image; most would argue that his behaviour and scandals during their relationship are the biggest downfall for his reputation and persona.

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1. Rooney's cheating scandals - 2002 onwards 

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1. Rooney's cheating scandals - 2002 onwards 

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Wayne Rooney has lived half his life in the spotlight thanks to his immense talent - but his private life has a way of overshadowing his achievements on the pitch.

The beleaguered soccer star's name is once again in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Over the weekend the former Manchester United and England star, who now manages Championship club Derby County, made a formal complaint of blackmail after several pictures emerged of him asleep in a hotel room with three 21-year-old women.

Video footage of Wayne - who has sons Kai (11), Klay (8), Kit (5) and three-year-old Cass with wife Coleen (35) - reportedly walking two blondes to a Manchester hotel also later surfaced.

One of the women is believed to be Snapchat model Tayler Ryan. Wayne allegedly partied with her and her friends, Elise Melvin and Brooke Morgan, at the exclusive Chinawhite nightclub.

One of the images, which leaked on social media and went viral, shows the 35-year-old leaning in towards a blonde reveller at a nightclub in Manchester.

The former athlete's spokesperson claims the investigation into what Wayne claims is blackmail has been delayed as there's confusion over which police jurisdiction the hotel falls under. Manchester police claim no such matter has been reported.

An insider says the women involved were shocked to discover that Wayne had allegedly made a police complaint after social media was flooded with images of the night.

"They had a really good night and said Wayne and his friends were lovely," a friend of the women claims. "The girls all love to party but I think this was probably the wildest night of their lives."

The insider adds, "There was no sexual contact - it was just a great night. Wayne was very complimentary of them, of how they looked, but nothing happened."

Meanwhile, social-media commenters seemed bemused the player had apparently reported the matter to police as a potential crime.

One wrote, "So let's get this straight Wayne Rooney has called the police because he went back to a house/flat with some female friends and fell asleep on a chair?"

Another joked, "What crime? Was Wayne Rooney forced at gunpoint to spend the night at a hotel with two women?"

Although it's not immediately clear if the soccer star cheated on his long-suffering wife, this is hardly the first time Wayne has been caught with his pants down.

Since they first started dating aged just 16, Coleen has overlooked his numerous indiscretions and infidelities and stood by him through thick and thin.

From alleged romps with grandmothers to "threesomes" with prostitutes, here's what she's put up with in the past 19 years of their relationship.

2002: Wayne romps with three prostitutes
Wayne, who reportedly started visiting prostitutes at the age of 16, paid £140 to sleep with Charlotte Glover, then 21, and left her with an autograph as a souvenir.

A month later, he had sex with Gina McCarrick, then 37, at a £45-a-time brothel in Liverpool, which he visited 10 times and where he was caught on CCTV. He also had sex there with a 48-year-old grandmother known as "Auld Slapper" who wore a rubber catsuit.

The scandal surfaced in July 2004, devastating Coleen, who claims she had stayed true to her childhood sweetheart.
September 2010: Wayne cheats with Jennifer Thompson
Coleen managed to overlook Wayne's past with sex workers and the pair tied the knot in 2008.

But in September 2010, British tabloids revealed that Wayne had been having secret hotel sessions with £1 000-a-night prostitute Jenny while Coleen was pregnant with their first son, Kai, in 2009. Their last meeting was in October 2009, a month before Coleen gave birth.

Shortly after reports of his trysts with Jennifer emerged, news broke that he'd had a threesome with her and another prostitute, Helen Wood.
September 2017: Wayne gets caught drink-driving while with another woman
The footballer was arrested and charged with drink-driving after being pulled over by officers following a night out. He was driving a VW Beetle owned by Laura Simpson when he was stopped by police and taken to a station for questioning.Coleen, who was pregnant with her and Wayne's fourth child Cass, was on holiday in Spain at the time of the arrest, and reportedly rang Laura and demanded she told the truth about her night with her husband.
2019: Wayne takes his philandering Stateside
After Coleen publicly forgave Wayne, a move to the US - where he joined Washington DC team DC United - seemed to put their marriage back on track. But just six months after the big move, he was spotted partying into the night with barmaid Vicki Rosiek in Florida's Clearwater Beach.

Coleen's pals were furious with the "useless" Wayne, branding him "selfish" and inconsiderate of his wife's feelings after she moved away from her support network for his career.

A few months later Wayne struck again when he pictures surfaced of him in a hotel lobby in Vancouver, following a mystery brunette into the lift.
SOURCES: DAILYMAIL.CO.UK, THESUN.CO.UK, MIRROR.CO.UK, BBC.COM, METRO.CO.UK

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Wayne Rooney caught with his pants down again: a timeline of the star's cheating scandals | You

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Wayne Rooney has lived half his life in the spotlight thanks to his immense talent - but his private life has a way of overshadowing his achievements on the pitch. The lowdown on his latest cheating scandal.

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Caught paying for prostitutes and sex workers 

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Caught paying for prostitutes and sex workers 

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First occurrence of this was revealed in 2004 after the couple had got engaged, and same year he signed for Man United; contrast in star image, as he grows fanbase in his professional career, his personal behaviour starts to overshadow and undermine his talented persona.

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Various women that Rooney has allegedly cheated with have sold their story on Rooney to the press, even doing live TV interviews. This kind of exposure once again results in his star image being damaged.

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To be engaged so young would have created a sense that Rooney's persona and image was quite daring and spontaneous, as well as loyal at the time. This contradicts the image presented just a year later when the first cheating scandals came to light. The fact that he proposed in a petrol station may make his audience feel as if he is more relatable, and not one of the richest teenagers at the time! However, the expense of multiple rings given to Coleen over the years may change this perception of his image.

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Just like her fellow WAG Victoria Beckham, Coleen Rooney has sported several engagement rings on her left hand over the years, each just as dazzling as the last.

The mother-of-four, 37, got engaged to her childhood sweetheart and former footballer Wayne Rooney in 2003 when they were just 17 years old. Wayne got down on one knee at a petrol station, and Coleen was later spotted wearing a gorgeous diamond ring with a baguette band. Fast forward 20 years and fans have spotted another four rings that make up her million-pound jewellery collection.

The couple have recently hit the headlines following the release of Coleen's Disney+ documentary Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story, which follows the story of Rebekah Vardy's libel court case against Coleen for accusing her of leaking personal stories to the press.

It sees Coleen sporting her gorgeous hand candy, but which of her rocks is the most expensive? Steven Stone's Diamond Expert, Maxwell Stone, revealed all.

Coleen's original ring was a four-carat emerald-cut diamond estimated to be worth £46,500, which is now one of her more modest rings.

However, she had already been gifted another stunning rock by the time the pair got married on 12 June 2008, following five years of wedding planning. "On Coleen's 21st birthday, Wayne gifted her a £200,000 10-carat marquise cut diamond engagement ring from Chopard - on today's market, this is likely to be worth £400,000," Maxwell estimated.

After they returned from their wedding at Santa Margherita Ligure in Italy, Coleen was also pictured wearing her sparkly diamond wedding band next to a halo diamond ring - the third in her collection.

Maxwell suggested the 7-carat cushion-cut diamond and matching eternity ring are worth a combined £700,000.

Coleen's fourth ring is another halo ring, this time surrounding a princess-cut diamond, which set the couple back around £200,000.

But perhaps her most recognisable - and expensive - ring is her 12-carat fancy yellow diamond, which has an estimated value of £1.6 million.

"Due to the rareness of yellow diamonds, the latter is worth a staggering £1.6 million. It's also particularly symbolic at this moment in time as yellow diamonds are said to warn off negative energy," Maxwell explained.

In total, Coleen's engagement rings are thought to be worth around £2.9 million, and it's possible she may be gifted more in the future, especially since she hasn't ruled out renewing her vows with Wayne.

Back in 2018, Coleen told HELLO!: "To be honest, it doesn't seem like a long time ago that I got married. It goes so quick! Not at the moment, but maybe in the future. My mum and dad have renewed theirs a few times, they've been married 30-odd years. It's something I will consider in the future but not yet."

The couple are parents to four sons: Kai, 13, Klay, 10, Kit, seven, and Cass, five. While they have overcome several rumours about Wayne's infidelity throughout their marriage, Coleen defended their relationship, stating they make it work because "there's love there."

"I think if you're in the public eye, people look upon you and think they know you, but they don't actually," she told The Sunday Times.

"We know each other. There's love there, and if there wasn't we wouldn't still be together. So I'm not stupid. I know people might say, 'Oh, I would have left him years ago,' but why, when you still have something to work at? You can comment on my life all you like, but that's the way I want to live it. And hopefully that's how it always will be."
LOOK: Coleen and Wayne Rooney's unreal £20m mansion is a total dream inside and out

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Coleen Rooney's £3m engagement rings from Wayne following petrol station proposal - real prices revealed

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England footballer Wayne Rooney proposed to Coleen Rooney in a petrol station aged 17 with a £46k engagement ring, but she now has five worth almost £3 million.

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3. Rooney wins legal battle against The Sun newspaper - 2006

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3. Rooney wins legal battle against The Sun newspaper - 2006

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Although he was put in a negative light by The Sun by being accused of abusing Coleen in a nightclub, the win in court meant that he could restore his star image, also helped by the fact that he supposedly gave all the damages money to charity.

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The Sun and News of the World today agreed to pay £100,000 in damages to Wayne Rooney over allegations that he assaulted his fiancée in a nightclub.

Both papers are to publish "prominent" apologies for articles that appeared in April last year defaming the Manchester United and England footballer. They will also pay Rooney's legal costs.

"The defendant sincerely apologises for the distress and embarrassment caused by these defamatory articles which it fully accepts were false," said the papers' barrister, John Kelsey-Fry QC, in a statement at the high court in London.

Rooney's solicitors, Schillings, said the damages amounted to £100,000, "reflecting the gravity of libel". The footballer intends to donate the money to charity, Schillings added.

He sued over a Sun article headlined "Crazed Rooney Thumps Coleen", which alleged he had slapped his fiancée, Coleen McLoughlin, across the face in a Cheshire nightclub.

A News of the World story, headlined "Rooney: The Truth" further alleged he had punched her in the ribs and chest, told her to "Fuck off home" and had to be calmed down and restrained by teammates.

Ronald Thwaites QC, representing Rooney, said the allegations were "completely false and indefensible".

"The defendant got it wrong. The claimant and his fiancée Coleen McLoughlin were devastated by the publication of these false allegations which caused the claimant and his fiancee to suffer enormous embarrassment and distress," Mr Thwaites said.

He added that the two papers had agreed to pay Rooney's legal costs on top of the damages.

"With only 58 days to the start of The World Cup The Sun and The News of The World are pleased to have reached a settlement with Wayne Rooney," the papers said in a statement.

"We can now put this case behind us and focus on a great tournament. We wish him and the England team every success in Germany and look forward to welcoming them back with the World Cup trophy."

· To contact the MediaGuardian newsdesk email editor@mediatheguardian.com or phone 020 7239 9857

· If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".

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5pm update: The Sun and News of the World today agreed to pay £100,000 in damages to Wayne Rooney over allegations that he assaulted his fiancee in a nightclub. By Chris Tryhorn .

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The 'WAG's' behaviour and antics at the 2006 World Cup was supposedly covered more in the press than the team's progress. Wayne's star image may have been damaged at this time, with his wife's actions shining an unprofessional light on him.

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(Image: Getty Images)

It was on this day in 2006 that Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro proudly lifted the World Cup aloft.

Sixteen years ago, the Azzurri edged out France in a penalty shootout to earn their fourth and most recent global title. It is a final made memorable by Zinedine Zidane's moment of madness, with the former Ballon d'Or winner seeing red for a headbutt on Marco Materazzi in extra-time.

It was another World Cup to end in disappointment for England, with the Three Lions knocked out on penalties once again to Portugal for the second successive tournament. Wayne Rooney's straight red and Cristiano Ronaldo's wink preceded more shootout heartache for Sven-Goran Eriksson's side in Germany.
READ NEXT: England fans convinced "it's coming home" as Lionesses make perfect start to Euros
However, it was arguably the antics of England's wives and girlfriends who made more headlines during the World Cup than the team. It was a sideshow which Fabio Capello controversially decided to ban altogether four years later in South Africa.

The usually quiet spa town of Baden-Baden was thrust into the spotlight overnight by the actions of the WAG brigade. Drunk dancing on tables, sky-high hotel bills and even a drug scandal were among the stories to come out of the German resort during the tournament.

David Beckham's pop-star wife Victoria was dubbed the 'Queen of the WAGs', and was regularly pictured alongside fellow singer Cheryl. The Girls Aloud star was Ashley Cole's fiancee at the time, and the couple tied the knot the following month.

Wayne Rooney's future wife Coleen was just 20-years-old at the time of the 2006 World Cup, with the couple marrying two years later. Reports suggest she was part of a group of that racked up a £57,000 bill during just one hour of shopping.

Abbey Clancy had just begun her relationship with striker Peter Crouch, but was sent home in disgrace after pictures emerged of the Scouse model snorting cocaine two years' prior. The pair initially separated, but got back together and have now celebrated more than a decade of marriage.

Clancy was not the only model among England's WAGS, with former nail technician Alex Curran said to have splashed £25,000 in a hotel bill with 60 bottles of champagne on her tab. Curran married Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard a year later, and the couple now have four children.

Frank Lampard's former girlfriend Elen Rivas reportedly delivered a rendition of 'I Will Survive' stood on a table in a Baden-Baden bar. The Spanish model was also said to have lost her temper while trying to take six items of carry-on luggage on board during the flight out to Germany.
READ MORE:
Vanessa Perroncel and Melanie Slade were among the WAGS to avoid the headlines for any drunken incidents. French model Perroncel was pregnant during the tournament with her and Wayne Bridge's son, while Theo Walcott's girlfriend Slade was just 16-years-old at the time and was still sitting her GCSE exams.

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Inside chaos of England's 2006 World Cup WAGs

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It was on this day in 2006 that Italy beat France to lift the World Cup but for England it was arguably the antics of the WAGs in Baden-Baden which took the headlines

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The couple's wedding brought a huge amount of media attention, with the couple supposedly selling the photos to OK! magazine for a reported £2.5 million. As Rooney was still only 22 at the time, the expense and attention of wedding would have elevated his wealthy star image, and perhaps altered the public perception positively to drive away from the cheating scandals not long before.

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Coleen and Wayne Rooney have been married for over 15 years, having tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in Italy back in June 2008.

The former professional footballer, 37, and his childhood sweetheart Coleen, also 37, soon became one of the most famous couples around, and their marriage has continued to hit the headlines over the years.

The couple, who are parents to Kai, 12, Klay, eight, Kit, six, and Cass, three, recently starred in their very own tell-all hotly-anticipated documentary, which saw Coleen discuss her High Court battle with Rebekah Vardy.

Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story, is available to stream on Disney+ and the mum-of-four has shared further insight into her marriage with Wayne in her autobiography, My Account.

In the book, Coleen opens up about deciding to go with OK! to shoot her wedding to Wayne.She spoke about how there was "a lot of security" to ensure no images of the celebration were leaked and the couple could enjoy their special day.

However, she admitted she was "initially a bit concerned about how invasive it might be to have photographers and journalists darting around at our wedding".

Fortunately, Coleen said it "wasn't at all intrusive" and the team stayed in the background for much of the day.

She was full of praise for the magazine, adding everyone "joined in with the celebrations when they were able" and she was thrilled with the shoot.

"Of course, the photos were beautiful," she penned.

Here we take a peek inside Wayne and Coleen's incredible 2008 wedding, which was exclusively covered by OK! Magazine...

Inside Coleen and Wayne's wedding

Coleen and Wayne exchanged vows in Portofino, Italy, on 12 June 2008 in a fairytale ceremony at the 14th century abbey in Santa Margherita Ligure.

The couple, who were both 22 at the time, spared no expense when it came to their big day, with their incredible day believed to have cost a whopping £5million.

The ceremony took place by candlelight in the ancient chapel, conducted by the couple's childhood priest.

The pair's wedding bands were unsurprisingly lavish, with Coleen's matching her eye-popping ring estimated to be worth £250,000.

Coleen and Wayne flew out 60 of their family members and closest friends for the big day, including some fellow famous faces.

Among the star-studded guest list were Wayne's then-teammates Michael Carrick, Wes Brown and John O'Shea.

Coleen was overcome with emotion on the big day, saying: "I just burst into tears - my makeup was everywhere."

Coleen opted for an incredible strapless gown for her big day, which featured an extravagant tiered skirt.

The dress, which was custom-made by Marchesa, is believed to have cost around £200,000, and Coleen went all out with her accessories too.

She paired the gown with crystal-encrusted Christian Louboutin heels that were specially made to match her wedding dress, along with a simple white veil and her brunette locks styled in an up-do.

Coleen was initially worried that Wayne wouldn't like her dress, telling OK! Magazine: "Everyone's been saying you only get married once so you may as well go for it! I was just nervous about whether Wayne would like my dress but luckily he said I looked lovely."

Wayne was full of praise for his new wife, and he also told OK! Magazine: "It was weird when I first saw her as it's such a big moment. I felt really choked actually and I thought she looked so lovely."

Coleen walked down the aisle with six bridesmaids, including her late sister Rosie McLoughlin.

However, it wasn't all plain sailing, and disaster struck before the bridal party left for the church meaning Coleen was running late.

"Actually we were 35 minutes late because the zip on one of the bridesmaids' dresses broke at the last minute and she had to be sewn into it. But luckily we'd prepared well. We had two stylists and a tailor on hand," she told OK! Magazine.

Despite the small mishap, the pair's big day went to plan, and a smitten Wayne told his bride on the big day: "Coleen, you make me so happy. I love you so much."

Upon exiting the chapel, they posed for snaps with their bridesmaids and groomsmen, before Coleen threw her bouquet.

Coleen and Wayne also released doves outside as their loved ones watched.

The wedding reception was equally as spectacular, which took place at an abbey called La Cervara.

The entire venue was filled with white flowers and twinkling fairy lights, and each dining table was draped in white table coverings and littered with candles.

Wayne surprised his new wife with a live performance from Westlife, who serenaded the couple by singing their song I Do as the newly weds danced and kissed.

Coleen later changed into a short white dress also designed by Marchesa, which featured a heavily embellished neckline.

She and Wayne partied the night away, and later cut their gorgeous four-tiered wedding cake which was covered in white icing with small silver decorations.

After enjoying their big day in Italy, the newly weds jetted off to Las Vegas for a lavish honeymoon.

Wayne and Coleen then moved into a £1.3million mansion based in Formby, and a year later they welcomed their first son, Kai.

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Inside Coleen's wedding to Wayne as she opens up about OK! joining celebrations

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EXCLUSIVE: Coleen and Wayne Rooney tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in Portofino, Italy, on 12 June 2008 at a 14th century abbey, here we take a look back at their special day..

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Wayne cheats on Coleen whilst pregnant - 2010

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Wayne cheats on Coleen whilst pregnant - 2010

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Just two years after their wedding, it is revealed that Wayne had slept with multiple prostitutes whilst Coleen was pregnant with their first child. Although admitting that he regretted what he had done instantly, his star image had now been severely damaged in the public eye, coming across as unfaithful and reckless.

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Ex-Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney's life is well documented both on and off the pitch. His wife Coleen features heavily in a new documentary on Amazon Prime designed to show the 'real him'

Wayne and Coleen Rooney remain one of football's most famous couples.

Their relationship has had its fair share of ups and down, with numerous cheating scandals dogging former England captain Wayne.

These types of scandals could test even the strongest relationship, but the pair remain strong together. Coleen has since revealed she has forgiven her husband for his affairs in a new documentary about Wayne, his life and career.

More than one scandal has followed Rooney during his life, but he hopes the documentary will help people see the 'real him'.

He told BBC Sport: "Even though it might sound a bit strange, I'm a really private person. I just feel it was an opportunity for people to see me, the real me.

"The good moments, the bad moments - which, of course, have been there as well - and then for people to judge me on knowing a bit more about me."

The pair have been married since 2008 and their relationship features heavily in the documentary, so what scandals have followed the pair during their time together?

Wayne Rooney and three prostitutes

Wayne visited three prostitutes in 2002, which included paid-for sessions with Gina McCarrick at a brothel in Liverpool and Charlotte Glover, then 21.

Then-girlfriend Coleen forgave Wayne for the incidents that were brought to light in 2004.

The Rooneys met at the age of 12 when they were in school, but Wayne began frequenting prostitutes when he was just 16. One of the sex workers he visited was 48-year-old grandmother Patricia Tiernan, known as Auld Slapper.

Wayne later said: "Foolish as it now seems I did on occasions visit massage parlours and prostitutes. I now regret it deeply and hope people may understand that it was the sort of mistake you make when you are young and stupid. It was at a time when I was very young and immature."

Coleen wrote in her autobiography: "The truth is, and I've never said this before, at that time in our relationship I'd never even slept with Wayne."

Wayne Rooney and Jennifer Thompson

It was revealed in 2010 that Rooney had solicited prostitutes when Coleen was pregnant with their first child.

He met with Jennifer Thompson seven times and was exposed for having a threesome with her and Helen Wood.

Wood has since claimed: "He said, 'I feel really s**t already - I'm begging you two not to say anything. It will ruin my marriage if it gets out. Having a kid means everything to me.'"

Rooney drink-driving charge and Florida parties

Wayne was stopped by police for drink-driving while with party-goer Laura Simpson in 2017.

He was banned from UK roads for two years as the couple moved to the US and it was reported that Laura told Coleen nothing had happened between the pair.

After moving to the States, he was spotted partying with barmaid Vicki Rosiek in February 2019, though nothing is suggested to have happened between the pair. The same for an incident in August of that year when Rooney was seen getting into a lift in Vancouver with a woman after a seven-hour bender.

A minor incident occurred in 2021 - again in which there is no suggestion Rooney did anything untoward or behaved inappropriately - when he was pictured asleep with young women in a hotel room.

Rooney was shown with his hands in his pockets by Snapchat model Tayler Ryan and her pals Elise Melvin and Brooke Morgan.

Of the incidents, Coleen said in the documentary: "Forgiveness I'd say is different. It's not acceptable what he's done but it's happened and that was a stage of life that we were in at the time. But we've moved on."
'Rooney' is streaming on Amazon Prime Video now

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All Wayne Rooney's cheating scandals as Coleen Rooney forgives him each time

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Ex-Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney's life is well documented both on and off the pitch. His wife Coleen features heavily in a new documentary on Amazon Prime designed to show the 'real him'

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Wayne again sparks cheating rumours as he is caught drink driving in car with woman named Laura Simpson, further damaging his reputation on the pitch and portraying himself as reckless.

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Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has appeared in court this morning and pleaded guilty to a charge of drink driving.

The Everton striker, 31, appeared at Stockport Magistrates' Court to face the charge.

He was stopped while driving a black Volkswagen Beetle in Wilmslow, Cheshire, at 2am on September 1.

A statement from Cheshire Police at the time read: "The man was arrested shortly after 2am today, Friday 1 September, after officers stopped a black VW Beetle on Altrincham Road, Wilmslow.

"Wayne Rooney, aged 31, of Prestbury, has since been charged with driving whilst over the prescribed limit.

"Rooney has been released on bail and is due to appear at Stockport Magistrates' Court in September."

Last week, Rooney announced his retirement from international football after 53 goals for his country in 119 appearances.

He has spent the last 12 years living in Cheshire, in a £6million home in Prestbury.

Now Rooney, wife Coleen, and their three children, Kai, Klay and Kit, are planning to move to a new purpose-built £10million country mansion in the heart of the Cheshire countryside.

Coleen recently announced that she is pregnant, expecting the couple's fourth child.
The Manchester Evening News is in court this morning and will bring you live updates here..
"It was completely wrong.

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Live: Wayne Rooney pleads guilty to drink-driving charge

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Former Manchester United captain appears at Stockport Magistrates Court this morning

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After just a few months playing for new club in America, Rooney's image is further damaged by arrest in airport, conveying his personal struggles and reckless persona once again.

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England's all-time-leading scorer Wayne Rooney was arrested in the US accused of public intoxication and swearing at a Washington DC airport, it has emerged.

The former Manchester United star, who currently plays for the Major League Soccer team DC United in America, was taken into custody on 16 December in Virginia, according to court records. He was released on his own recognisance - a promise to appear in court, which means there was no need to post bail - and paid a $25 (£20) fine plus $91 costs on Friday.

A spokesman for the footballer said the arrest came after he was left "disorientated" by prescribed sleeping tablets that he took on a flight from Saudi Arabia following a one-day promotional business trip.

"During the flight Wayne took a prescribed amount of sleeping tablets mixed with some alcohol consumption and consequently was disorientated on arrival," his spokesperson said.

"He was approached by police who arrested him on a minor misdemeanour charge. He received a statutory automatic fine and was released shortly afterwards at the airport. The matter is now at an end.

"Wayne would like to put on record his appreciation for the manner he was treated by all involved. No further comment will be made."

Two days before the arrest at Washington's Dulles airport he had posted an image online of himself in a car at the Riyadh Formula E championship race in Saudi Arabia.

A spokesman for Loudoun County sheriff's office in Virginia said: "He was booked into the Loudoun County adult detention centre on 16 December, 2018, on a charge of public intoxication stemming from an arrest by the Metropolitan Washington airports authority police (MWAA).

"He was later released on a personal recognisance bond."

In September 2017, Rooney was banned from driving for two years and given a 12-month community order after pleading guilty to being almost three times over the drink drive limit during an incident in Alderley Edge, Cheshire. He was caught by police driving a woman's Volkswagen Beetle.

Following the incident, Rooney issued a public apology for his "unforgivable lack of judgment".

He added: "I have already said sorry to my family, my manager and chairman and everyone at Everton FC [his club at the time]. Now I want to apologise to all the fans and everyone else who has followed and supported me throughout my career."

After playing for Everton he transferred to DC United and made his debut on 14 July last year.

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Wayne Rooney arrested in US for public intoxication and swearing

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England player blames 'disorientation' due to sleeping tablets for airport arrest and is fined $25

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This came at a time before the new football season started and when his wife and children were back at home, once again portraying the image of him as a rebel.

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Former Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney reportedly accepted an invitation to join barmaid Vicki Rosiek on a boozy night out.
While there is no hint of anything romantic going on between the pair, she apparently gave him a lift to join her and her friends as he took a break to unwind from pre-season duties with MLS club DC United in Florida.

This is what she told the Sun, with Rooney seemingly just a down-to-earth guy looking to enjoy himself and mix with regular people.

The 33-year-old is one of the finest players of his generation, so can be forgiven for taking things a little easier in the latter years of his career.

Still, this isn't exactly ideal timing for Rooney, who just a few months ago was arrested for being drunk in public at a US airport, as noted by the Daily Mirror.

Occasional off-the-field problems have plagued Rooney throughout his career, though he's largely got over them and this doesn't seem anything like a big scandal by any means.

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Man Utd news: Wayne Rooney drinking with barmaid

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Former Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney reportedly accepted an invitation to join barmaid Vicki Rosiek on a boozy night out.

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2. Kian. E, Pedersen. P & Vincent. J (2011) 'Flying the flag: gender and national identity in English newspapers during the 2006 World Cup'. Soccer & Society, Vol. 12. pp 616-619

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2. Kian. E, Pedersen. P & Vincent. J (2011) 'Flying the flag: gender and national identity in English newspapers during the 2006 World Cup'. Soccer & Society, Vol. 12. pp 616-619

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This journal describes Rooney in contradicting ways, much like his star image is throughout his life. The authors describe him as a 'divine saviour' but also a 'man-child' and 'desperate dan'. They also highlight his asserted dominance over Coleen who plays a more subordinate role, conveying his star image as powerful and influential, but not always in a good light.

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Brand. A & Niemann. A (2014) 'EJC Rulings or Wayne Rooney's Hair- Issues, Non-Issues and Hidden Issues in Online Football Fan Discourse. pp. 7-10.

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Brand. A & Niemann. A (2014) 'EJC Rulings or Wayne Rooney's Hair- Issues, Non-Issues and Hidden Issues in Online Football Fan Discourse. pp. 7-10.

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This paper finds that Rooney gains a huge amount of attention over things so simple such as his hair; despite Wayne being extremely rich and famous, fans may connect to the star's image as his persona comes across as relatable in these type of circumstances. - "It is simply the case that, more often than not, issues that are being debated in online football fan discourse do not seem to be related at all to what we expected to find... What she found was extensive commentary on Wayne Rooney’s hair transplant – at this time the big news at least in British online football chats"

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Coad, D. (2005) 'Euro 2004 and Football Fashion'. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, Vol. 29. pp 122-126

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Coad, D. (2005) 'Euro 2004 and Football Fashion'. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, Vol. 29. pp 122-126

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This article not only describes the success of Rooney as a player, portraying his star persona as a national emblem, but also his secondary media outlet as a brand ambassador - "Rooney already has four major sponsorship deals as well as a range of designer clothing in his own name. Who would want to look like Rooney, even in a suit, remains a mystery." This suggests that despite most not being a fan of him partly due to his appearance unlike other players at the time such as David Beckham, Rooney has built his image and fandom based on talent and his relatable persona, therefore allowing brands to have the desire to work with him.

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During this time, Wayne could be viewed as a supportive family man and husband as he cuts his US career short and returns to England to help his wife through the legal battle. The Wagatha Christie scandal brought a huge amount of media attention to the couple, and elevated Rooney's image as a star.

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Vardy v Rooney: 10 things we learned at the Wagatha Christie libel trial

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Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy went head-to-head in a high-profile High Court libel case.

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8. Coleen releases her own documentary - 2023

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8. Coleen releases her own documentary - 2023

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This documentary talks about the struggle of being shot to fame alongside Wayne at just 16, and sheds light on her true feelings concerning her husband's cheating scandals; this damages his star image further as he is viewed as the 'bad guy' in times when his wife was really struggling. However, the documentary complicates his image as his personal involvement in the series shows his support for his wife, conveying a united front and him again as 'authentic'.

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Watch Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story | Full episodes | Disney+

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Coleen Rooney attempts to put a stop to her private Instagram posts being leaked to the press.

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Pictured with three girls in hotel room - 2021

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Pictured with three girls in hotel room - 2021

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Although it was denied that he physically cheated on his wife, Rooney is again thrown into another scandal, emphasising his chaotic, rebellious and almost unsurprising star image. This persona contradicts the positive and supportive image many would have had at the time during the Wagatha Christie time period. Also the same year that he retired from playing football where he was being remembered as a national hero.

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Wayne Rooney apologised to his family and Derby County after photos emerged of him partying with women

The former footballer claimed he was blackmailed over pictures of him asleep in hotel room with three women

There is no suggestion the blackmail allegation relates to any of the girls in the pictures or anyone there

Rooney was quizzed by officers after his representatives made formal complaint of blackmail to police

Police said: 'Officers have spoken to the person involved and are satisfied that no offences have taken place'

But sources close to Rooney said that the footballer was 'surprised' the investigation had been dropped

Wayne Rooney has admitted he 'made a mistake' and apologised to his family and Derby County after photos emerged of the star partying and falling asleep in a hotel room with young women.

The married father-of-four, 35, said he was 'looking forward to moving forward' just hours after he paid the three party girls £1 to buy the copyright to the images after accusing them of blackmail, prompting them to offer an apology.

Rooney told Sky Sports News after he managed Derby to a friendly victory over Real Betis on Wednesday: 'I made a mistake.

'I went to a private party with two of my friends and from me, I'd like to apologise to my family and the club for the images which were going round and I want to move forward on this.

'I'm grateful to Derby County for giving me this opportunity to get this club back to where it belongs, and I'll do everything in my power to make sure I do that.

'It's dealt with. I'm looking forward to moving forward and preparing for another game.'

Rooney had been out with two friends, who are lower league footballers, who knew one of the girls in the now well-known pictures.

It came after fears his managerial job was on a knife edge after the images were shared on Sunday.

A source said: 'How can he lead a group of young men when he cannot appear to control himself in public during a night out? This type of behaviour hurts the club's reputation.'

Rooney has recently been at odds with the powers-that-be at cash-strapped Derby as the former England striker has demanded more investment in the team that stayed in the Championship only by the skin of their teeth on the last day of the season.

Rooney's future with the club is said to be '50-50', because 'as manager he must lead by example'.

His comments come just hours after he paid a 'nominal' fee to Brooke Morgan, Elise Melvin, both 21, and their pal Eleanor Hoggarth, who have apologised to him and 'volunteered to hand over all pictures' having admitted they got 'carried away', according to the footballer's spokesman.

Mr Rooney now owns the copyright on the images that showed him passed out in a chair as the friends mucked around in their underwear in their £60-a-night room in Manchester last Saturday. One flashed her bottom next to the Derby County boss and then posted it online, captioning it 'Mooney Rooney'.

In the aftermath ex-England skipper Wayne alleged to police he was blackmailed over the images of him with the three women while fully-clothed and slumped in a chair. Miss Morgan, Miss Melvin and Miss Hoggarth approached Rooney's lawyer, his spokesman said.

Wayne's ownership of the majority of the pictures from his night out will now mean he can take legal action if they are used by the press or on social media.

It is possible the apology was part of the agreement to hand over copyright. The deal between Rooney and the women does not necessarily rule out the possibility of other arrangements between the people involved.

A spokesman for Wayne Rooney said: 'The three girls who took the photographs contacted Wayne's lawyers and volunteered to hand over all pictures that were taken that night and the copyrights in them.

'They have also, at their own suggestion, made a written apology to him for the events that took place and the embarrassment caused. These were three decent young women who went for a night out. They did not expect Wayne to end up in their company and are remorseful about how things turned out with the pictures.

'They got carried away and did something they later regretted. They did not expect it to end up in the mainstream media after it was posted on social media and they decided to take steps to put things right.

'It would be wrong to say no money changed hands because when a contract is drawn up there must be a sum and in this case it was a nominal £1.

'They have fulsomely apologised because they wanted to do what they saw as the right thing and draw a line under the matter.'

Meanwhile Wayne's wife Coleen looked in a relaxed mood as she holidayed with her children in Wales.

The mum of four - wearing a stripy bikini top and a denim jumpsuit - looked happy and relaxed as she sat in a chair while chatting to her parents.

Her husband's picture handover came as Rooney's £5million job with Derby County was revealed to be safe.

Ex-England skipper Wayne , 35, alleged to police he was blackmailed over the images of him with three 21-year-old women while fully-clothed and in a chair.

But Cheshire Police told MailOnline they had spoken to the 'person involved' who does not wish to 'take the matter any further', but sources close to Rooney said on Tuesday night that the footballer was 'surprised' the investigation had been dropped.

Now his club is said to be furious after Rooney was seen walking two women who later took viral pictures of him asleep to their hotel room at 5.15am last weekend, The Sun reports.

A source said: 'How can he lead a group of young men when he cannot appear to control himself in public during a night out? This type of behaviour hurts the club's reputation.'

Rooney has recently been at odds with the powers-that-be at cash-strapped Derby as the former England striker has demanded more investment in the team that stayed in the Championship only by the skin of their teeth on the last day of the season.

In footage taken by a fan he can be seen walking with two blondes - one of whom is believed to be Snapchat model Tayler Ryan - to their £50-a-night hotel after he partied with her and her friends Elise Melvin and Brooke Morgan at the exclusive Chinawhite nightclub.

Rooney's representatives told MailOnline they had made a formal complaint of blackmail to police, when social media was flooded with images of the night-out on Sunday.

But police told MailOnline they believe no offence was committed following the blackmail claims.

A spokesman said: 'On Monday 26 July Cheshire Constabulary received reports of a possible blackmail relating to a number of images circulating online.

'Officers have spoken to the person involved and are satisfied that no offences have taken place. The person involved has also stated that they do not wish to take the matter any further.'

Wayne's wife Coleen has refused to cut short her family holiday to Wales after the images were circulated online.

Coleen, 35, was seen on the beach in the Llyn Peninsula with their kids as the embarrassing photographs went viral on Sunday morning.

Father-of-four Rooney - married to childhood sweetheart Coleen since 2008, who was photographed on a beach in North Wales 24 hours after images of his night were leaked to social media - joined the girls in their Staycity hotel room near Piccadilly station.

Greater Manchester Police said they had received no reports to them about the incident, but Cheshire Constabulary were investigating the claims. It confirmed: 'We have received a complaint of blackmail which we are reviewing.'

One of the images which leaked on social media and went viral on Sunday shows Rooney leaning in towards a blonde reveller at a nightclub in Manchester. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the football star's part on anyone else in the image.

Coleen is said to be fully behind her husband and thinks he has been the victim of a stitch-up.

However, the women involved were shocked to discover the 35-year-old ex-Manchester United player, who is married to childhood sweetheart Coleen and with whom he has four sons, had made a police complaint after social media was flooded with images of the night.

A mother of one of the girls has questioned why Rooney drank with her despite a 14-year age gap. Speaking from her home in Barrow on Furness, Angie Saunderson, Tayler's 43-year-old mother, said: 'I don't care about the police complaint. The poor girls were just going out for a 21st birthday.

'They're 21 and he's nearly 40. He's invited them over. He sent over a security guard to invite them over to his VIP booth. It's upset them all. They're in tears. She's a good girl and comes from a decent family.

'They thought they were being funny but I've told them it was absolutely stupid. I feel awful for them but I'm also angry because they've been stupid.'

It comes after Rooney fans seemed bemused he had taken the incident in such poor spirit and questioned what offence he thought had been committed. One said: 'What crime? Was Wayne Rooney forced at gunpoint to spend the night at a hotel with two women.'

Another joked: 'Wow...if that's a crime sign me up Gaffer! I'll have some of that pre season training!'

MailOnline understands the images were taken on Saturday night, on the first weekend that nightclubs in England were allowed to open in more than 15 months due to lockdown restrictions imposed during the pandemic.

Tayler posted photos of her and Rooney to her 13,000 Instagram followers. Rooney then reportedly left the Staycity complex 'angry' after he woke up.

Rooney was out partying hours after Derby lost 2-1 away to Salford in a pre-season friendly, the Sun reports.

He is busy preparing his Derby side for the new Championship season, which kicks off in a fortnight's time. But he faces a significant challenge ahead of his first game, against Huddersfield, because the team currently nine registered senior players - two of which are goalkeepers.

On Saturday he vowed he will not walk away as manager, but warned the club it would be 'impossible' for him to field a team for the start of the new Sky Bet Championship season without significant signings.

The midlands club are currently under a transfer embargo, preventing them from signing players, after failing to provide financial records from previous years.

But earlier this week the EFL altered its rules due to 'exceptional circumstances' caused by the club's coronavirus outbreak last season. 'It's other people which I can't control who need to make bigger decisions that I do,' Rooney told Sky Sports News.

Rooney is England's record goalscorer, netting 53 in 119 appearances for the Three Lions. The forward spent much of club career with Manchester United, where he scored 183 goals in 393 appearances.

Rooney also won 16 trophies at United, where he moved, aged 18, after completing a £25million move from his boyhood club Everton. He also earned a host of personal accolades, including the 2009-10 PFA Player of the Season award and five Premier League Player of the Month awards.

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Wayne Rooney says sorry to his family and admits he 'made a mistake'

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The married father-of-four, 35, said he was 'looking forward to moving forward' just hours after he paid the three party girls £1 to buy the copyright to the images after accusing them of blackmail.

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By releasing his own documentary, Rooney's image can be viewed in many ways. There is the idea of him attempting to appear as the 'authentic' star, as he gives fans a larger insight into his personal life than ever before, perhaps appearing as respectable and genuine. However, a lot of past rumours and scandals are brought to light, perhaps damaging his star image for certain people that weren't aware of his scandalous persona.

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ROONEY is a captivating feature length documentary with unprecedented access to the life and career of a global sports-star and England's greatest ever striker.

116 IMDb 6.8 1 h 44 min 2022

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ROONEY is a captivating feature length documentary with unprecedented access to the life and career of a global sports-star and England's greatest ever striker.

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5. Breaking Sir Bobby Charlton's record for England - 2015 

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5. Breaking Sir Bobby Charlton's record for England - 2015 

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By breaking the record of one of the greatest player's of all time, Rooney's star image will be remembered for years to come in this moment as he celebrated by his whole country.

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Wayne Rooney broke a record that had stood for 45 years when he converted a late penalty against Switzerland on Tuesday night to become England's leading scorer with 50 goals.

Captain Rooney was earning his 107th cap, having made his debut as a 17-year-old in 2003. He scored his first goal against Macedonia later that year. But just how did he go from teenage sensation to being England's most prolific forward?

A very different route to the top

There are five Englishmen to have scored 40 or more goals in international football - with Rooney replacing Manchester United legend Charlton at the top of the table.

Charlton scored the last of his 49 goals against Colombia in 1970, while Jimmy Greaves struck the final one of his 44 in 1967.

Rooney levelled Charlton's record of 49 in his 106th appearance - the same number of games Charlton played for England.

The breakdown of their goals says a lot about their era. Charlton and Greaves scored a combined six tournament goals and just nine in qualifying - with the vast majority (83.87%) coming in friendlies.

In contrast, goals in qualifying tournaments have become much more of a factor in the modern era - 20 of Michael Owen's 40 and 30 of Rooney's 50 came in these matches.

Gary Lineker - Golden Boot winner at the 1986 World Cup - leads the way when it comes to goals at major tournaments with 10 at two World Cups.

Rooney's greatest impact on tournament football to date came as a teenager at Euro 2004, when he scored twice against both Switzerland and Croatia before breaking a bone in his foot during the quarter-final defeat by hosts Portugal.

Since then, however, he has scored just two more goals at major tournaments, with a winner against Ukraine at Euro 2012 followed by his goal in the defeat by Uruguay at the 2014 World Cup - his only World Cup finals goal.

How Rooney broke the record

The goal with which Rooney broke the record was his sixth penalty for England, given after Raheem Sterling was tripped inside the box.

Manchester City forward Sterling was just eight years old when Rooney scored his first goal for England.

One criticism levelled at Rooney is that he has scored lots of his goals in easy wins against weak opponents.

Indeed Rooney has only scored the outright winner for his country on six occasions, more frequently scoring in resounding victories.

Rooney has scored just three goals against members of the current top 10 in Fifa's rankings, in 14 appearances. He scored in a friendly against Argentina in 2005, and scored in two friendlies against Brazil, both in 2013.

On the other hand, 21 of Rooney's goals have come against teams currently outside the top 50.

San Marino (five goals) are his favourite opposition, while he has also put four past Croatia and Switzerland, though he has never scored a hat-trick.

Next step - matching the world's best

Rooney is now England's most prolific player but he is some way short of the leading all-time international goalscorer - Iran's Ali Daei, who managed 109 goals in 149 appearances at an average of 0.73 goals per game.

Rooney's average of 0.46 leaves him some way short of the goals per game average of some of the leading scorers - Pele's Brazil scored 77 in 92 but even that pales in comparison to Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas, who hit the net 84 times in 85 appearances, leaving him averaging 0.99 goals per international.

Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane is the leading goalscorer still playing international football, with the 35-year-old netting 67 times in 141 caps since his debut in 1998.

Rooney's record is likely to stand for some time yet.

England's next top scorer in the current squad is Arsenal's Theo Walcott, with seven in 41 appearances.

Fellow Gunner Danny Welbeck - currently injured - has 14 goals in 33 caps, while Harry Kane's strike against Switzerland puts him on three goals in four appearances.

However, by the time Rooney was Kane's age - 22 - he had scored 14 goals for England.

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Where, when, how, against whom - all you need to know about Wayne Rooney's England goalscoring record.

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7. Rooney retires from England squad - 2017

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7. Rooney retires from England squad - 2017

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His star image in this time of his life was perhaps a mix of reminiscing on the achievements he made for his country, but also the thought that his image was slowly decreasing in terms of his star quality.

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Rooney's image as England captain at this time was critical as he was seen as the lead support, by giving advice to fans to remain safe and sensible during the 2016 Euros. His star image can be viewed as very mixed during this time as his personal life was constantly contradicting the professional persona he displayed.

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Wayne Rooney tells England fans to 'be sensible'

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At just 20 years of age, Wayne Rooney is already one of the best footballers in the world. From his early years in Croxteth, his Premiership debut as a 16-year-old, his ebullient entrance on the international scene in Euro 2004, to the drama of the 2006 World Cup, this is his amazing story so far.

What is the true story behind the most talked-about person in British football? Were there signs of things to come in his upbringing in the backstreets of Liverpool? What were the early influences that shaped his character? And how has the meteoric rise to fame and fortune affected this seemingly shy yet prodigiously gifted youngster?

For the first time in his own words, Rooney opens up in his bestselling autobiography about the defining years of his life as the son of a working-class family, brought up in a council house with his Everton-mad family. There followed his first tentative steps in football, the triumphs and knockbacks along the way, the accolades that began to follow his every move as a young teenager, and destiny fulfilled on his Premiership debut for Everton at the tender age of 16.

He goes on to describe how his life changed irrevocably when Alex Ferguson and Manchester United came calling in the summer of 2004, his dazzling efforts for England in the European Championships, a private life never far from the tabloid headlines, and the real story behind his relationship with partner Coleen McLoughlin.

He reveals the anguish of the foot injury that threatened his participation in World Cup 2006, and how his determination led to a remarkable recovery in time to play a part in the group stage of the tournament. And he describes how his delight at playing again for his country turned to depair after his controversial sending-off in the quarter-final against Portugal and England's subsequent elimination in the penalty shoot-out.

The story so far. In Rooney's own words. From the streets of Croxteth to the stadiums of Germany - a journey of a lifetime squeezed into a mere twenty years.

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Buy Wayne Rooney: My Story So Far First Edition by Rooney, Wayne (ISBN: 9780007236282) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

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'My Decade in the Premier League' is Wayne's first hand account of his 10 years playing at the highest level in English football - and for the biggest club in the world. This is his inside story of life on the pitch for Manchester Utd; the League titles, FA Cups, League Cups and Champions League adventures. A must for any Utd fan.

Wayne Rooney is widely regarded as one of the leading football players of his generation. A talisman for Manchester United, since his move to the club in 2004, Rooney is their star player and an all-time great at the club.

In the 10 years since he made his debut as a 16 year old for Everton, he has acquired trophy after trophy, accolade after accolade and headline after headline.

'My Decade in the Premier League' is the inside account of life as a Premier League footballer from the man every one wants to hear from. This is his story, in his words. From gracing the ground at Goodison as an excitable 16 year old to lifting the Champions League trophy with Manchester United. From the emotional high of scoring the winner against Manchester City with that overhead bicycle kick to the crushing low of losing the league title in the last few seconds of the season.

This is a book for the fan who would kill to get just 30 seconds on the pitch at The Theatre of Dreams - to run on the famous turf and score in front of the Stretford End. 'My Decade in the Premier League' gives a real insight in to what goes in to being part of the biggest club in the world; the training pitch, the dressing room, the manager, the coaches and, most importantly, the buzz of crossing that white line and hearing the 76,000 strong crowd chant your name.

In intricate, emotional detail Wayne talks about every season he has spent in the Premier League and how it feels to be one the most celebrated footballers on the planet.

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Wayne Rooney: My Decade in the Premier League: The inside account of life as a Premier League footballer from the man every one wants to hear from.

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Buy Wayne Rooney: My Decade in the Premier League: The inside account of life as a Premier League footballer from the man every one wants to hear from. by Rooney, Wayne (ISBN: 9780007242641) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

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3. £5 million book deal with HarperCollins - 2006

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3. £5 million book deal with HarperCollins - 2006

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Rooney talks about wanting people to see a different side of him through his books, implying that he wants to alter the narrative people already have of him, to the authentic and genuine star.

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Rooney said his favourite book was Muhammad Ali's biography

Footballer Wayne Rooney has signed one of the biggest sports book deals in publishing history.
The England and Manchester United striker, 20, has signed a £5m five-book deal with publisher HarperCollins.

The first volume of Rooney's autobiography - up to and including this year's World Cup - is due to hit bookshelves in July.

The follow-up books - over the next 12 years - will cover the rest of Rooney's playing career.

It will be good for people to see the other side of me

Rooney said the books will contain some "surprises".

"I'm excited about this deal, it's a big thing for me. Hopefully, there will be lots of things to read about," he said.

"I'll be talking about my life in football and other things as well. There will be a few surprises in there.

"It's something I wanted to do. I've been playing football now for just under four years and I think it will be good for people to see the other side of me and hear things from me for once.

"When they talk to me, people say, 'I didn't expect you to be how you are.'

"Hopefully I can put that across to people. They think I'm a different person to what I am. I'm just a normal young lad who plays football."

Records

David Beckham currently holds the record for the UK's best-selling sporting autobiography.

His life story, My Side, has sold more than 500,000 copies, but Rooney admitted he had not read it.

HarperCollins chief executive Victoria Barnsley said: "As a footballer, Wayne Rooney has broken records.

"I think this book deal probably breaks another. I can't think of any book deal like it."

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BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Striker Rooney nets £5m book deal

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Footballer Wayne Rooney signs one of the biggest sports book deals in publishing history.

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6. £6 million a year on brand deals by - 2012

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6. £6 million a year on brand deals by - 2012

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The enormity of his financial gain despite being dropped by brands due to his personal behaviour implies his wealthy lifestyle and image that is shared by the media.

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4. Wayne and Coleen set to be face of ASDA ahead of World Cup - 2006

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4. Wayne and Coleen set to be face of ASDA ahead of World Cup - 2006

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Wayne and Coleen together enables brands to capitalise on their image as a couple, however they may have had many more opportunities if it wasn't for Wayne's disloyal image.

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The deal follows the news on Monday that Asda is to drop its long-running "Always low prices" slogan in a major revamp as it boost its marketing spend to £45m to match that of rival Tesco.

The brightest star of English football and his girlfriend are to front the struggling retailer's advertising for the next two-and-a-half years.

The deal will also see McLoughlin, best known for shopping, design clothes for Asda's George clothing label.

McLoughlin said: "I'm just in the learning stages at the moment. Victoria [Beckham]'s jeans are great but I'd like to do something different."

The deal comes ahead of the 2006 World Cup, in which England are seen as having a strong chance of winning, ensuring maximum exposure for the retailer, which is battling with rival Sainsbury's to hang on to the number two supermarket slot behind leader Tesco.

First up will be a "Summer of Sport" ad campaign. The pair replace Sharon Osbourne, the TV presenter and wife of Ozzy, who was dropped as the supermarket's spokeswoman in September after less than a year.

The signing of the Asda deal concludes a lucrative week for the striker, who is to pocket £5m in a 12-year, five-book deal with publisher HarperCollins.

It is understood that Asda beat out retail rivals to sign Rooney, who is likely to see his celebrity status soar during the World Cup.

The "Always low prices" slogan is being replaced by "More for you for less", and will first be seen in a new TV ad campaign this week created by the retailer's agency Publicis.
Pic: Soccer-Europe.com If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the Forum.

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Wayne Rooney set to be new face of Asda in £3.5m deal

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LONDON - England and Manchester United footballer Wayne Rooney and his girlfriend Coleen McLoughlin are set to be the new faces of Asda in a deal valued at £3.5m.

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5. Advert for Powerade (Coca Cola) - 2010

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5. Advert for Powerade (Coca Cola) - 2010

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Rooney was sponsored by Coca- Cola for a number of years, before being dropped after his cheating scandal in 2010. The advertisement done for them undoubtedly boosted his star image in terms of skill and talent.

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2. Brand deals with Nike - Start in 2004 

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2. Brand deals with Nike - Start in 2004 

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Rooney started his sponsorship with Nike in 2004, at just 18 years old, signing a contract for £1 million per season. This highlights the demand for him as a young and talented star.

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Football boots sponsorship deals are a lucrative game that's for sure. Big money contracts tie superstar players into becoming the face of a brand's footwear, and usually span additional services like clothing, apparel, adverts and promotional events.

But just how 'big' is 'big money', prepare to weep into your wallet as we count down the Top 6 Biggest Football Boots Sponsorship Deals in football today.

6. Wayne Rooney - Nike - £1m per Season

At £1m a season, Wayne Rooney has one of the biggest deals with arguably the biggest sports brand on the planet.

Despite his reputation being far from squeaky-clean, the Manchester United striker is relied up by Nike to shift boots like the new Nike T90 Laser IV by the barrel-load.

The England international has been on fearsome form since the start of the season, and Nike will be hoping he continues his hot-streak as the' Nike T90 Laser IV hopes to be one of the top-selling football boots of the busy Christmas period.

5. Sergio Aguero - Puma - £1.25m per Season

Aguero has burst into life in the Premier League, terrifying normally-seasoned defenders with a scorching turn of pace, tireless work ethic and the ability to turn nowhere-balls into goals.

The Argentine also caused a fuss amongst fans across the world when he arrived on English soil wearing Puma Football Boots, after a summer of wearing both Nike and adidas.

As it turned out, Aguero became a landmark signing for Puma's rapidly expanding stable of football stars, on a massive four-season deal to wear the Puma v1.11.

4. Lionel Messi - adidas - £2m per Season

Yeah, that's right, you might want to wipe all that Tea/Coffee/Mountain Dew off your monitor. The best player in the world is only fourth on this list - how does that work?

Messi seems like the ideal candidate as the face of just about anything, the diminutive Argentine is notoriously polite, cheery, well behaved off pitch - oh - and he's the best player in the world.

Thankfully for adidas, the contract with the two-time Balon D'or winner arranged his football boots deal before his ascent to mega-superstardom, so adidas have been paying relatively little to have Messi in their wildly-popular adidas F50 adiZero range.

That's going to be a heckuva increase when he does renegotiate his contract, though.

3. Cesc Fabregas - Puma - £3.2m per Season

Another one of big-spending Puma's massive summer signings, Cesc leaps into the top three on our list of the Biggest Football Boots Sponsorship Deals.

Fabregas might be seen as something of a risk by many, given his career at Barcelona hinging on the gifted playmaker forcing his way into 'The Best Midfield in the World ™', but his form since transferring to the Camp Nou has been nothing short of scintillating.

Whilst the price tag is high, Fabregas is currently a World Cup winner, and within the four-year term of his Puma deal, will almost certainly pick up a Champions League winners medal, clinch a La Liga title and who's to say what Spain will do at the next two big tournaments; any combination of which would translate into massive publicity for Puma and Fabregas' new Puma PowerCat 1.12 Football Boots.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo - Nike - £5m per Season

Negotiated in 2010 (the same year the first Nike CR Mercurial launched) Ronaldo's Football Boots deal with Nike instantly rocketed Ronaldo into the upper echelon of sponsored athletes in any sport.

As well as the face of their Mercurial line of Football Boots, for their money Nike are also getting a player that Jose Mourinho once described to Footy-Boots.com as 'Perfect', a player with power, tricks, a signature style of free-kick and model good-looks.

Despite technically being less successful at Madrid than at Manchester United, Nike will be banking on the Portugal international to constantly be challenging for titles with Los Blancos, and perhaps leading his national side to glory in a major tournament before his contract expires

1. David Beckham - adidas - £7m per Season

You just cannot keep this man down. Beckham sold the' ideals of the adidas Predator Football Boots to the generation this writer grew up with; convincing anyone who saw that free-kick against Greece to go out and lace up our Gun-metal silver Predator Manias and practice until we could bend it into the top corner.

Beckham's technique is legendary, along with his honours list that spans some of the world's biggest clubs (Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan) - along with his charity work and status as one of the 'Nice Guys' of a game now rife with scandal.

Becks' deal with adidas is the result of some shrewd negotiation by team Beckham, which sees the LA Galaxy midfielder pocket a percentage of every pair of Beckham-branded adidas Football Boots or piece of training apparel.

Given the desirable designs often reserved for these items, it's no surprise to see Beckham pocketing more than your average footballer in his Football Boots Sponsorship Deal.

And that wraps up our list of the Biggest Football Boots Sponsorship Deals!

Any surprises there? Let us know in the comments!

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REVEALED: THE BIGGEST FOOTBALL BOOTS SPONSORSHIP DEALS

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We count down the biggest football boots deals in sports today, find out which superstars earn the most for sporting a particular brand's boots, here!

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Here Rooney is featured among the likes of Ronaldo and Messi, who many would say are the two greatest footballer's of all time. The endorsement by Samsung propels his star image as influential and talented.

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Samsung GALAXY11 -  Football Will Save The Planet - CR7, Messi & Rooney

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The star's current net worth estimated at £100 million. A lot of this comes from his multitude of brand deals, but also his impressive car collection, and multiple properties that he owns. This is also part of his star image, as he appears to be living in a luxurious lifestyle and wealth despite personal headlines.

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Wayne Rooney's impressive car collection, net worth and salary

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Wayne Rooney is one of the most decorated players in the history of Manchester United.

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Rooney opening up on Rob Burrows podcast about his struggles in his early career, both lets his audience see another side to him, as a genuine star struggling in the limelight, but also shedding light on his irresponsible behaviour and persona.

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Wayne Rooney talks of alcohol struggles in new Rob Burrow podcast

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Ex-England captain Rooney opens up to Rob Burrow in the former Leeds Rhinos star’s new podcast.

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Rooney's time as a competitive footballer has seen him become one of the biggest sporting stars of all time, his image seen as legendary, heroic and talented. However, he has also had his fair share of issues along the way.

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7. Impressive new home offering private life - 2021

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7. Impressive new home offering private life - 2021

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The Rooney's list of properties have been a topic of media craze and attention throughout their relationship. Here, they give the public an insight into their private life, allowing fans to perhaps feel a sense of closeness to them, which is also helped by the documentaries produced.

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Coleen Rooney’s £20m home with pool, cinema and wine cellar

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Coleen and Wayne moved into their huge “luxury estate” back in 2021

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The media have always played a key role in the star image of Wayne Rooney; whether it's spreading rumours about his relationship and scandals, promoting his next brand deal, showing off his undeniable talent or allowing fans an insight into his private life. Without the media, his fanbase, online hate and star image would be nowhere near as large.

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Rooney has an impressive 16.2 million followers on his Instagram account. Most of his posts highlight either his football career or presents him as family man, conveying a different side of his image to his fans, perhaps as a more 'authentic' insight into his life.

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Named as NSPCC Ambassador for Childhood in 2015

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The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has announced that England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has been named the NSPCC's first ever Ambassador for Childhood.

Wayne will help lead their fight for every childhood by supporting their campaigns - like The Underwear Rule - and the services they run across the UK. As a husband and dad of 2 (soon to be 3), he has a strong belief and passion about the work we do with families:

"This is a really proud day for me," he said. "Being named as the NSPCC's first ever Ambassador for Childhood is totally special - and a responsibility I take very seriously.

"As professional footballers, we are maybe seen as living in a bit of a bubble, playing, travelling and doing Press conferences all year round. It's important to realise, like loads of players do, that there's a whole other world going on away from football.

"Too often things aren't great out there. Sometimes, sadly for thousands of children, they're really bad. It's brilliant that there's an organisation like the NSPCC that can step in and help change lives.

"I visited the NSPCC's Manchester Service Centre and I was humbled by what I saw and heard - amazing stories of the children and families they help. I met so many passionate people including volunteers who regularly give up precious time to help children in desperate need of help.

"As a Dad of two young boys and the son of loving and supportive parents, I want to help children stay safe. I hope that knowing I'm supporting the NSPCC will help give abused youngsters the confidence and courage to seek the help they deserve.

"Winning trophies is important to any footballer. But so is the opportunity of using the fame that comes with it to help others and especially the children who are our future. Hopefully working with the NSPCC will mean being part of another winning team."

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national society for the prevention of cruelty to children

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Wayne Rooney Named NSPCC Ambassador For Childhood

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The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has announced that England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has been named the NSPCC's first ever Ambassador for Childhood.

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Rooney followed this by setting up his own foundation to donate to various charities, conveying a star persona of being down to earth and generous, contradicting what many may think of him due to previous scandals.

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Wayne Rooney is one of the country's leading footballers, captaining both club and country, and has become one of the most recognisable football icons in the world.

Wayne recognises how fortunate he has been on his journey to success, acknowledging how the support and opportunities he has received have played such an integral part in helping him achieve his dreams.

Through the 'Wayne Rooney Foundation', Wayne hopes to use his experience and status to give something back, building a lasting legacy to inspire and improve the lives of children and young people.

The Foundation will run events will raise vital funds to support the work of key organisations dedicated to supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people. These organisations include, The NSPCC, Claire House Children's Hospice, Alder Hey Children's Hospital and Manchester United Foundation.

The first of these events was Wayne's testimonial match in August 2016. The game which featured Manchester United and Wayne's boyhood club Everton was a huge success and raised £1.2 million for the chosen charities.

On 15th November 2018, The FA honoured Wayne Rooney's record-breaking international career at England's fixture against the USA, a game which was played in support of the Foundation. The Wayne Rooney Foundation International, as the match was known, saw Wayne win his 120th and final England cap.

Foundation Gallery

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Wayne Rooney is one of the country's leading footballers, captaining both club and country, and has become one of the most recognisable football icons in the world. Wayne recognises how fortunate he has been on his journey to success, acknowledging how the support and opportunities he has received have played such an integral part in [...]

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Commons. M, Commons- Miller. L, Salaita. R & Tuladhar. C 'Stars that crash' (2014) pp. 100-102

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Commons. M, Commons- Miller. L, Salaita. R & Tuladhar. C 'Stars that crash' (2014) pp. 100-102

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This article links ideas about celebrity's addictions or struggles in relation to narcissism, a trait which some may say is part of Rooney's image.

His success led to a huge fandom, aligning with the article's findings that "the inflated ego (a characteristic of narcissism) is connected to addiction... One can infer that satisfying maladaptive behaviors may reinforce the narcissists’ underlying issues, such as their need for admiration and sense of entitlement."