Tag: Wayne Rooney

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PREMIER LEAGUE GREATS CELEBRATED AT HALL OF FAME EVENT

A line-up of Premier League legends gathered in London tonight, for the first Premier League Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Hall of Fame 2022 inductees Vincent Kompany, Wayne Rooney, Patrick Vieira and Ian Wright were in attendance and took to the stage alongside inaugural inductee Alan Shearer.

The ceremony, hosted by broadcaster Kelly Cates, featured each of the players formally receiving their Hall of Fame medallions from Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Masters, in front of their families and guests including Gary Lineker and Dan Walker, DJ Roman Kemp, music artist AJ Tracey and YouTubers Chunkz and Elz the Witch.

Manchester United duo Paul Scholes and Peter Schmeichel, Chelsea’s legendary forward Didier Drogba and Manchester City’s all-time leading scorer Sergio Aguero shared video messages after they were unable to attend in person.

Rooney, who attended the event with wife Coleen, said: “If I had the chance to have played with any of the Hall of Fame inductees, it would have to be Thierry Henry because of the player he was and his ability to score and create goals.

“Current Premier League players who I think can be future inductees, I’d have to go for Kevin De Bruyne, Mo Salah and Harry Kane.”

When asked the same question, Vieira selected from one of his fellow 2022 inductees, while picking a player under his present charge at Crystal Palace as a potential future Hall of Famer.

“It would have to be Paul Scholes,” Vieira said. “He’s one of the best to ever play in the Premier League.

“The current players that I can see making it into the Hall of Fame would be Kevin De Bruyne for sure. I hope that Wilfried Zaha will make it one day, and Sadio Mane.”

Wright said that when he found out he had been inducted, it was extremely “emotional and humbling” and dedicated the honour to his former Palace manager Steve Coppell.

He said: “I have received so many messages from fans which is incredibly touching. It’s the stuff dreams are made of to be amongst this group of elite players. I want to dedicate my induction to Steve Coppell who first took a chance on me, to take me off the building site and give me my chance at being a professional footballer.”

Kompany, whose guests included wife Carla and his father Pierre, said: “This moment is difficult to describe but I am incredibly honoured. I am probably the most injured Hall of Famer though. I may have depended on my team-mates at times but I also tried to make others better.”

Shearer felt honoured to have the current crop of stars join him in the Hall of Fame.

“I just love football, I would play in a Sunday League if I wasn’t professional, so to be on a list among so many great players who have graced the Premier League and achieved so much is a great honour.”

Shearer also went for De Bruyne, Salah and Kane as current players destined to join him. “They’re all fantastic players,” he said.

The Hall of Fame recognises and celebrates the exceptional skill and talent of individuals who have graced the Premier League since its inception in 1992. It is the highest individual honour awarded to players by the League.

All inducted players receive a medallion engraved with their name and the year of their induction, as well as a £10,000 donation from the Premier League to a charity of their choice.

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WAYNE ROONEY BACKS MAURICIO POCHETTINO TO TAKE OVER AT MANCHESTER UNITED

Wayne Rooney would choose Mauricio Pochettino over Erik ten Hag to become manager at his former club Manchester United.

United are already on their second manager of the season after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lost his job in November, with Ralf Rangnick placed in temporary charge until the end of the campaign.

PSG boss Pochettino and Ajax manager Ten Hag are the favourites to take the helm at Old Trafford in the summer, and ex-England striker Rooney made his preference clear.

“I think Pochettino has done it in the Premier League, he knows the Premier League,” said Rooney, who won five Premier League titles as a player at United.

“At Tottenham he brought in a lot of young players, and at Southampton as well he brought a lot of young players through, so if I’m choosing between one of them two, that’s who I’d choose.

“I’d go with Pochettino and I’d give him time I think. For managers now they need time to come in and actually make their print on the club and on the team and if they give him time I think he’ll do well.”

Paul Pogba, who is out of contract in the summer, has come under scrutiny for his recent performances at United and Derby boss Rooney believes the midfielder’s stint at the club is nearing an end.

“I think it’s probably got to a point now where it probably is better for him to move on and I think Paul is honest with himself,” Rooney told Sky Sports.

“He probably hasn’t had the impact he would have liked since he returned to Manchester United.

“I watch him play for France and he’s completely different player, the ability, his vision, control of the game, everything is there every game for France and it just hasn’t quite worked at Manchester United for him and I think he’s really one of the few players who needs to move on.”

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WAYNE ROONEY APOLOGISES AFTER HOTEL IMAGES WITH WOMEN EMERGE

Wayne Rooney has apologised to his family and Derby Football Club after images emerged on Sunday appearing to show the former England striker asleep in a hotel room surrounded by a group of young women.

“I made a mistake,” Derby manager Rooney told Sky Sports after the Championship club’s friendly against Real Betis on Wednesday.

“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.”

The images were circulated on Sunday, gaining attention on social media and appeared to show Rooney asleep with women beside him.

Cheshire Police had confirmed on Tuesday that they had dropped a complaint of blackmail made concerning the images.

Rooney continued: “It’s dealt with. I’m looking forward to moving forward and preparing for another game on Sunday.”

The Rams host Notts County in a friendly on Sunday ahead of their opening match of the Championship season on Saturday, August 7 against Huddersfield.

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ROONEY’S DERBY COUNTY ESCAPE RELEGATION FROM THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN DRAMATIC FASHION

Wayne Rooney celebrated on Saturday as his Derby County side escaped relegation from the Championship in dramatic fashion.

Rooney’s Derby went into Saturday’s decisive clash against relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday having lost their past six matches, but a 3-3 draw was enough for his side to stay up at the expense of Darren Moore’s men.

Derby were heading for the drop to League One — the third tier of English football — when Sheffield Wednesday took a 3-2 lead at Pride Park, but Martyn Waghorn’s penalty secured a point that ensured Derby’s survival.

Rooney’s men fell behind when Sam Hutchinson bundled the ball over the line for Wednesday in time added on at the end of the first half. Derby oared back in the second, however, with goals from Waghorn and Patrick Roberts, but Wednesday equalised through Callum Paterson in the 62nd minute before Julian Borner gave them the lead in the 69th.

Waghorn drew Derby level from the penalty spot 10 minutes later, but their chances of survival still looked bleak, with Rotherham leading in Cardiff thanks to Lewis Wing’s eighth- minute strike.

Marlon Pack’s clinical finish in the 88th minute levelled that match, however, and Derby survived a frantic final seven minutes, plus six minutes of added time, to cling on for the draw and stay in the second tier.

Former Manchester United and DC United striker Rooney took over temporarily in November 2020 after the Derby sacked then manager Phillip Cocu. After an impressive start, the 35-year-old officially ended his playing career in January, and penned a two-and-a-half year contract to become Derby’s new manager.

Rooney’s time in charge has been overshadowed by one failed takeover of the club, by Dubai-based Bin Zayed International, and another, led by Spanish agent Erik Alonso, which has been the subject of the EFL’s owners and directors test since early April.

Alonso has dismissed reports that he is planning to fund his bid by borrowing against the stadium, Pride Park, but sources told newsmen that there is scepticism among Derby’s owners that Alonso can complete a deal.