It was twenty years ago today that Wayne Rooney made his debut for Manchester United, and his introduction to the Old Trafford fans went more smoothly than anyone could have ever anticipated.
During the time when Wayne Rooney was getting ready to make his debut with Manchester United inside the strange home dressing room at Old Trafford, he quickly became aware that he was having a problem.
After being out of action for a number of months, the young man had instead focused on working out at the gym, and when he tried on the shirt from 2004/2005 for the first time, he discovered that it was so tight that it would barely fit. Rooney attempted to fit himself into the shirt, but eventually it became too tight around his next. The disgruntled individual had very no choice except to shred a shirt that belonged to Manchester United.
On the other hand, this was a scouser who had the ability to get away with such heinous acts. On the evening of September 28, 2004, Rooney was named on a United teamsheet for the very first time. The moment was marked by a crackle in the air.
When he was still only 18 years old, he was England’s golden kid. He had just completed a move from Everton to United for a fee of twenty-five million pounds, and he had just had an electrifying introduction to tournament play at that summer’s European Championship. Although he had sustained an injury during the Euro 2004 tournament, he was eager to get started at his new club as soon as he was able to return to full fitness.
The attempt by Sir Alex Ferguson to keep him under control was unsuccessful, and he was allowed to roam free because Fenerbahce was in town for a Champions League group stage match. As it was exactly twenty years ago, the events that followed continue to be as memorable as they were then. Rooney’s performance against the Turks was so impressive that he scored a hat trick on his very first game, so establishing himself as one of the most exciting football players in the world.
In his post-match interview, the coach of Fenerbahce, Christoph Daum, stated that it is possible that the player in question will become the player of the century.
Although Rooney did not quite achieve that goal, the fact that it did not appear to be an outrageous claim at the time is a testament to the fact that he was among the best players during that time period. Even with a tear running down the middle of his shirt, he was able to perform extraordinary feats with the ball at his feet. He was a star from the working class with that ability.
“The ripped shirt is an easy one,” Rooney said in an interview with the UTD podcast. “I had been injured for two and a half months, so I had done a lot of work in the gym, and my neck wouldn’t fit in the top,” Rooney explained. All that it was was that. I was able to fit it in, but it was really constricting, so I simply tore it to make sure that I was comfortable.
The buildup to the game is something that I remember. I believe it was Middlesbrough that was playing the game before, and I remember being a nuisance to the manager by continuously saying things like “I am fine” and “let me play” or “let me be on the bench.” He told me, “Do you know what, leave this game, get another couple of days of training in, and I am going to start you in the Champions League.” I believe that he was going to put me on the bench, but then he changed his mind and said, “Do you know what?”
“So I thought to myself, ‘fine’. First, I worked out, and then, of course, the game arrived. I couldn’t contain my excitement at the prospect of playing football once more. Due to the fact that I hadn’t competed since the Euros, I was able to sense the excitement that was emanating from the crowd as I stood in the tunnel. I was aware that this was going to be a significant evening for me.
“As I mentioned earlier, I was a Scouser who played for Manchester United, and I knew that I needed to win over the fans because, if things didn’t go well, I was probably a player who would get less playing time than maybe somebody else because of that. On the other hand, I never imagined that my very first game would turn out the way it did.
Given the manner in which Rooney’s career came to an end and the stereotype that some younger fans have of him, it is simple to forget how talented he was when he was at the height of his abilities. While he was only 18 years old at this stage, he was unstoppable in his pursuit of his goals.
In addition to being a powerful forward, he was also a dribbler who could move quickly. If you watch compilations of that version of Rooney on YouTube, you will be amazed by the natural skill he possessed. This is especially true for those who did not witness him during his glory years.
His performance for England in Portugal during that summer was nothing short of spectacular, and if he had maintained his fitness, the team had a good chance of winning the European Championship. The fact that he was now playing for the most prestigious club in England meant that he was prepared to go right to work, and he was not going to let anyone down.
The focus of the cameras shifted to a little fan who was holding a cardboard placard that read “Thank you for Rooney” as the teams emerged from the locker room. In the ninety minutes that followed, Old Trafford was undoubtedly grateful.
After some combination play with Ruud van Nistelrooy, there was a chance after a nice early flip out wide to David Bellion. After that, there was a window of opportunity. A reminder of the joy that greeted Rooney’s arrival is the roar that is heard when he receives the ball in a favorable position inside the penalty area.
And then, after seventeen minutes, the moment that Old Trafford had been anticipating finally arrived. After receiving a feed from Van Nistelrooy, Rooney was able to get behind the Fenerbahce defense, and his left-footed finish into the roof of the goal was made to appear to be much simpler than it actually was. The words “Rooney, Rooney, Rooney” reverberated from the fans in the stands. The noise would eventually become recognizable.
“I believe that the most important factor was that I was able to bag the first goal early on, which not only helped me have a handle on the game but also allowed me score two more goals. Rooney remarked that it was a moment not to be forgotten.
After a little more than ten minutes, he had another one.
“For my second… Giggsy rolled a cross back and I dropped my shoulder, took it past the defender and drilled it in to the bottom corner.”
Despite the fact that the goal is brilliant simplicity but superb execution, the description does not give honor to the purpose. The drop of the shoulder is what generates the space, and the angled finish from 25 yards is exactly into the corner of the field.
Within the span of 37 minutes, Rooney was on the verge of scoring a hat-trick, which would definitively establish his position as one of the most talented players in the game. After 54 minutes, United earned a free kick, and the young player had no qualms about trying to pull rank on Ryan Giggs at that point in the game. United was leading 3-1. Rooney had earlier stung Rustu Recber’s hands with a vicious left-footed half-volley from outside the area. Recber had been unable to recover from the blow.
“Giggsy was all set to take the free kick for the hat trick goal, but I told him, ‘I think I’m going to score this, I fancy myself to score.’ She ended up scoring the goal. Given that the game was, for the most part, over at the time, he allowed me to take it, and happily, it was successful,” he disclosed.
The free kick, which was taken from a distance of twenty yards, was never going anywhere else except into the net. Although Rooney celebrated by punching the corner flag, he did not really comprehend what he had just accomplished until much later that evening.
“When we got back from the game, my wife and I were accompanied by two of our friends, and I just sat down and couldn’t believe what had just taken place. During that moment, it dawned on me that I had just accomplished a hat trick on my very first performance,” he explained.
“The day was wonderful for both myself and the club, and it is something that I will never forget,” she said. It is a night that will remain incredibly special to me for the rest of my life.
In spite of the fact that Rooney’s hat-trick earned him the match ball, he did not immediately obtain it immediately. Immediately following the exchange of shirts, he went up to the referee, Frank De Bleeckere, who immediately silenced the young man and stated, “That’s for me.” Perhaps the Belgian official was also able to recognize that this garment had the potential to become something remarkable in the years to come. We are fortunate that Ferguson intervened on Rooney’s behalf.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Rooney claimed. “I couldn’t. It was merely the manager who asked, “What? After saying, “I’m not going to have that,” I went to see the referee. After that, he comes back with the ball, and I am unable to express how grateful I am to him.
Despite the fact that Ferguson may have been successful in acquiring a memento for Rooney, he was making every effort to minimize his accomplishments when he spoke after the match.
This is a fantastic beginning for him. This is the reason why we decided to sign him because he has a lot of promise,” the Scot remarked.
“But if I were to be completely honest, I would rather talk about the game. Not to be forgotten, he is only 18 years old and a young boy.
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