Wayne Rooney Chooses ‘Perfect’ Player from His Toughest Opponents
Wayne Rooney, one of Manchester United’s all-time greats, was recently challenged to build the “perfect” player using attributes from the best opponents he faced throughout his career.
Rooney, who enjoyed a remarkable 13-year stint at Old Trafford, couldn’t resist including some iconic Manchester United players in his selections.
Rooney’s Legendary Status at Manchester United
The 38-year-old remains Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer, with an astonishing 253 goals for the club.
He is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the club’s history, having joined United as a teenager from Everton in 2004 and leaving as a global superstar.
During his time under Sir Alex Ferguson, Rooney played in some of United’s greatest teams and faced many of the world’s top talents.
Building the ‘Perfect’ Player
Now a manager with experience at clubs like Derby County, DC United, Birmingham City, and currently Plymouth Argyle, Rooney took a moment to reflect on his playing days when he was asked to create his “perfect” player using the qualities of the toughest opponents he faced.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Rooney shared his picks:
- Best Finisher: “Cristiano Ronaldo,” Rooney said, highlighting Ronaldo’s prolific goal-scoring ability.
- Best Dribbler: “Lionel Messi,” due to his speed, control, and ability to make defenders look foolish with his dribbling skills.
- Best Mentality: Rooney picked Gary Neville, noting that although Neville wasn’t the most naturally talented player, his determination and mindset made him a fantastic footballer.
- Best Defender: He chose John Terry, praising Terry’s game-reading skills, aerial ability, strength, and love for tackling.
- Best Footballing IQ: Rooney selected Paul Scholes for his exceptional understanding of the game, passing range, and ability to control matches.
Despite spending most of his career alongside Ronaldo, Neville, and Scholes at Manchester United, Rooney still named them among his choices for the “perfect” player, showing his admiration for their qualities.
Rooney’s Managerial Journey and Links to Manchester United
Rooney’s managerial career has been challenging, with stints at Derby, Birmingham, and now a battle to keep Plymouth Argyle in the league. Despite the ups and downs, there are signs of his potential as a coach, and he maintains strong ties to Manchester United, regularly visiting Carrington.
While Rooney has been vocal about his concerns regarding Erik ten Hag’s management and the lack of a British core at United, he still has a long way to go before being considered for the managerial role at Old Trafford. For now, Rooney continues to learn and grow in his coaching career, keeping the dream of managing Manchester United alive for the future.
Wayne Rooney Chooses ‘Perfect’ Player from His Toughest Opponents
