Rooney Myth Shattered. (October/November 2010)

Redemption a long way off for Wayne.

In October 2002, as David Seaman floundered and Goodison Park rocked, English football’s most precocious and brilliant talent revealed itself. Wayne Rooney, a snarling, ferocious, 16 year old Scouser scampered and bullied his way around the pitch. He was a throwback to a saner, simpler game – modern football’s shining light.

Yet fast forward eight years, and on the verge of his 25^th birthday Rooney completed the transition from man of the people, to mercenary. One week was all it took to tarnish forever a reputation which had ceased to stop blossoming ever since it’s barnstorming introduction.

‘The Boy’, as Sir Alex Ferguson still so pertinently calls him, has sadly proved himself to be the antithesis of everything we believed him to be. His apparent love for the game - the constant desire to have the ball at his feet at every opportunity – set him apart from many. Granted, he was never perfect - he was petulant and fiery, often immature and short tempered – but he was honest, quiet off the pitch – devoid of the evils which plague modern football.

Or so we thought.

Alas, the myth has been shattered. Fans had, begrudgingly, turned a blind eye to a lifestyle which has ultimately put pay to the prolonged years of excellence we all hoped for. At 25, Rooney is already facing the twilight of his playing career as his expiry date creeps ever closer. He smokes, he drinks, he urinates in the street and is so liberal in his use of prostitutes he has become regular tabloid fodder.

His recent actions however - his open and public betrayal of his club, teammates, fans, and manager - have really stung the supporters who used to love him. His open desire to leave Old Trafford hurt – and it wasn’t just because United were about to lose their talisman to City.

It was because many fans - who really should have known better – bought into the romance that surrounded Rooney’s on field exploits. He was different, so we believed. But soon enough that idle fantasy was punctured, and a tawdry, greedy world was rubbed in our faces, leaving us feeling stupid, and well, a bit dirty.

 

United have emerged from last week’s murky saga three-points better off and have proved to the world their ambition and prestige – which Rooney so openly questioned - remains, by holding onto their prized asset on a lucrative contract.  Rooney, however, has upon him an indelible stain that will take a long time to remove – no longer is he the everyman.

Rooney spent the team’s vital victory over Stoke City sipping champagne in Dubai. This is a player who seemingly no longer wears his heart on his sleeve, but in his wallet. Redemption is a long way off for Wazza.