Sunsetting Careers – Wayne Rooney Soccer Cards – For anyone who was thinking 2021 was going to be a quiet, calm year in sport, that impression was dispelled with the retirement of one of the most iconic Soccer stars, Wayne Rooney.
As reported earlier today by ESPN, Rooney’s announcement came in a prepared statement, in which the 35 year-old announced he was transitioning from play with Derby County to a full-time position as Manager. “Despite other offers I knew instinctively Derby County was the place for me,” he said. “To be given the opportunity to follow the likes of Brian Clough, Jim Smith, Frank Lampard and Phillip Cocu is such an honour and I can promise everyone involved in the club and all our fans, my staff and I will leave no stone unturned in achieving the potential I have witnessed over the last 12 months of this historic football club.”
Through 10 games this season with Derby (nine in Championship play and one in League Cup action), Rooney had tallied one goal and one assist.
Rooney’s most prominent time came at the club level with Manchester United. After signing a record-breaking agreement with the legendary footie club in 2004, Rooney went on a mission to prove he was worth the high price tag. In his first game, the Croxeth, Liverpool native counted three goals and one assist, becoming the youngest player to achieve a hat trick. He would go on to become the all-time leading goal scorer for ManU, and accomplished the same feat for the English National Team. It was with the latter that Rooney gained global appreciation and was recognized as the best in his country with England Player of the Year honors four times (2008, 2009, 2014, 2015).
In 2017, with his career winding down, Rooney rejoined the club he started with – Everton – but this was a mere stopover, as he ultimately crossed the pond to join D.C. United of MLS. In two seasons of play, Rooney showed he still had gas left in the tank as he tallied 23 goals in 48 games. Rooney then returned to his homeland to play with Derby, where he now goes behind the bench.
Rooney’s incredible play and many accomplishments have been well documented in soccer collectibles. Over a thousand cards and stickers have been documented by Beckett, with a cards coming most recently from Leaf. Topps, Futera and Panini have also produced cards of the legend.
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