The Premier League Hall of Fame has inducted its ninth and tenth members and another Manchester United player has made it to this list.
As reported by the club’s official website, fans have chosen Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney and Arsenal’s former title-winning captain Patrick Vieira.
They have now joined Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Dennis Bergkamp, Steven Gerrard, and David Beckham to the legendary list of players.
Rooney is the second-highest goalscorer in the English Premier League’s history, with 208 goals. He is just behind Newcastle’s legendary goalscorer Alan Shearer who has scored a remarkable 260 goals.
🔊 "He goes by the name of Wayne Rooney…"
Our all-time record goalscorer has been inducted into the #PLHallOfFame — congratulations, @WayneRooney! 👏#MUFC | @PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/pIgAEpgG3q
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 23, 2022
Rooney is also one of just four players in Premier League history to have provided more than 100 assists. Ryan Giggs (162), Cesc Fabregas (111), and Frank Lampard (162) are the other members of the 100+ club.
Rooney has won the Premier League five times, assisting Manchester United to titles in the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2013.
However, he made his Premier League debut with Everton when he was 16 years old, scoring his first goal in a 2-1 win over Arsenal in 2002.
Rooney’s move to Old Trafford from Everton in 2004 marked his move to the top level of the game, but despite still having a lot of work to do, he continued to improve his game, and by the time he was 25, he was playing the best football of his career, having won more than most footballers dream of.
Three consecutive Premier League titles, two League Cups, and the UEFA Champions League. By the end of his career, he’d won a couple more trophies, completing a cabinet of possible club trophies, and securing a clear path into management at Derby County.
When Derby County was on the verge of relegation and financial collapse, his player/coach role transitioned to a manager job, and he’s carried on in that role like a professional despite having a small squad and little certainty from the board or ownership regarding the club’s future.
Our legend Wayne Rooney deserves this award, and we congratulate him.
