Wayne Rooney’s Top 10 Man Utd Goals
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After Rooney’s return to Everton, we take a look at his best goals for the Red Devils
Wayne Rooney put pen to paper on Sunday as he re-signed for boyhood club Everton from Manchester United in a move that will see Romelu Lukaku go the other way.
Rooney moved to Old Trafford in 2004 for £25 million, after scoring 17 goals in 77 games for the Toffees. He played 559 games for Man United in his 13 years there, going on to become the club’s record goalscorer with 253 goals.
At Coral, we’ve sieved through those 253 goals to give you the 10 best from Rooney’s United career.
10 – v Fenerbahce, Champions League 2004/5
Rooney had just signed for United and was making his debut against Turkish club Fenerbahce in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League. As the Red Devils countered, Rooney found space behind the defence and was played in perfectly by Ruud van Nistelrooy and the rest, as they say, is history. Click the video below to see Rooney’s first ever goal for Man Utd.
9 – v Bolton, Premier League 2006/7
The 2006/7 season was a good one for Manchester United, as they went on to win the title by six points ahead of Chelsea. It was also a good season for Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, as the two forwards struck up a brilliant understanding which fired United to the league. That understanding is best displayed in Rooney’s breakaway goal against Bolton. Watch:
8 – v Barcelona, Champions League Final 2010/11
Red Devils fans will no doubt be eager to erase the memory of the 2011 Champions League Final at Wembley, where United were humbled in a 3-1 defeat to Barcelona. The one positive they can take from the game however, is Rooney’s brilliant goal which levelled the match up in the first half. A lovely one two with Giggs (who was offside) left Rooney in space 15 yards out and the forward made no mistake, smashing the ball into the top corner. Relive that moment below.
7 – v Arsenal, Premier League 2011/12
Man United were the defending Premier League champions in the 2011/12 season and with local rivals Man City trouncing Spurs 5-1 the day before, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men needed to make a statement – and make a statement they did. The home side ran out 8-2 winners at Old Trafford, the Gunners’ worst defeat since 1896, and the highlight of the game was an exquisite free kick from Rooney to make it 4-1. See all the goals from that game below.
6 – v Arsenal, Premier League 2009/10
The 2009/10 season was one of the most exciting in recent memory, with Chelsea eventually going on to win the title by one point from Manchester United. A particular highlight from that season for Red Devils fan however, is their convincing 3-1 win over Arsenal in which Rooney was the inspiration. That was evident in his brilliant breakaway goal were, after picking up the ball 35 yards from his own goal, he sent Nani down the wing and busted a gut to get into the Arsenal box at the other end of the pitch. Nani obliged with a perfectly-timed through ball to Rooney, who took it in his stride to slot past Manuel Almunia in the Arsenal goal. It drew comparisons with an earlier counter attacking goal scored by Ronaldo, where Rooney was the provider, and you can watch those two goals side by side below.
5 – v Hull City, Premier League 2013/14
The 2013/14 season could be considered a disaster by United fans, with David Moyes taking over the reins from Sir Alex Ferguson. While struggling to break down a struggling Hull City side, a poor clearance by Curtis Davies fell to Rooney 25 yards out and, as the ball rolled up his thigh, you could see his intentions. The Hull defenders saw this too and tried to close Rooney down, but it was too late, as he unleashed a thunderous volley that flew past the outstretched Allan McGregor and into the Tigers’ net.
4 – v West Ham, Premier League 2013/14
Another from the forgettable season under Moyes, but Rooney was clearly in no mood to be forgotten himself. There was at least one moment when all of Moyes’ troubles were forgotten though and that was against West Ham at Upton Park, when Rooney brushed off James Tomkins on the half way line and volleyed the ball towards goal. The backtracking Adrian got himself in a muddle and fell over as the ball bounced just before the line and bulged the net. It inevitably drew comparisons with David Beckham’s halfway goals against Wimbledon back in 1996. You can watch Rooney’s effort below.
3 – v Stoke, Premier League 2016/17
By this point in his United career, Rooney was getting stick from all angles, including his own fans, as many were of the opinion that he had past his best and didn’t have anything to bring to the team. He was all too happy to prove his doubters wrong against Stoke last season though as, with just one goal remaining to beat Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time record, Rooney stood over a free kick from a tight angle. It looked as though he would cross the ball, but the confident forward whipped the ball cleverly towards the back post, looping it over ‘keeper Lee Grant and into the top corner to send United fans into raptures.
2 – v Newcastle, Premier League 2004/5
Way back in 2005, still in his debut season at Old Trafford, Rooney’s talent was raw, as was his passion for winning. This game had a little subtext, as Newcastle also tried to sign Rooney from Everton before the striker opted to join Sir Alex’s men,stoking yet more fire into the fixture. Moments before the goal, Rooney had been booked for a late challenge on Milner and was visibly in the ref’s ear about it as United’s attack progressed. A long ball was headed clear and it looped right into the path of Rooney, who unleashed all of his anger on the ball, hammering it past the helpless Shay Given to send United on their way to a 2-1 win.
1 – v Man City, Premier League 2010/11
The number one goal was never in doubt, was it? A hotly contested Manchester derby was neck and neck, with chances coming for both sides. On the 78th minute, Nani got the ball down the right and swung in a tantalising cross which looked as though it had gone behind Rooney in the City box. The forward quickly changed his body position and met the ball in the air with a precision overhead bicycle kick, which rocketed past a static Joe Hart in the City goal to give United a 2-1 win. It will no doubt go down as one of the best Premier League goals of all-time and tops our list of goals from Manchester United’s – and England’s – all-time leading goalscorer.
With Rooney now back at his boyhood club Everton, we have a number of Rooney specials available to you on site including Rooney to score v Man Utd next season at a tempting 2/1. Romelu Lukaku has made the switch the other way to Man Utd and you can get on our season match bet between the forwards with the Belgian 1/5 on to score more than Rooney in the 2017/18 season.
