I liked to play football and get involved in the game, says club’s record goalscorer
Wayne Rooney has revealed that his most prolific seasons as a striker at Manchester United left him feeling “bored”.
The former United and England captain scored 253 goals across 13 years at Old Trafford – more than any other player in the club’s history – but he said his best football came when he was allowed to roam freely behind the main striker.
“I had two seasons when I played as the No 9 and I scored 34 goals in both the seasons but I was bored,” Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show. “I was coming off the pitch, I was scoring goals and I just wasn’t enjoying it.”
The striker was referring to the 2009-10 and 2011-12 seasons, when he was deployed as a central striker under Sir Alex Ferguson. He scored 26 league goals in that first season and another 27 two years later. Despite the numbers, he said he wasn’t happy because he was too restricted.
“I liked to play football and get involved in the game,” explained Rooney. “We were winning games, I was scoring goals, but I wanted to get involved in the game.”
Rooney was praised for his versatility throughout his career. He played on various occasions as a centre-forward, a No 10 or a winger. When his career neared his end, he readjusted and became a deep-lying midfielder.
“I was at my best when just going to play and I’d pop up on the left or the right and I’d pop up behind midfielders at times,” Rooney said.
“Just playing, being on the pitch in the attacking third, that was what I liked and enjoyed. If you wanted one position, then probably the No 10.”
He also said there was tension with Ferguson who wanted him to play further forward a lot of the time.
“Sometimes I was not allowed, I was not meant to be doing it at times and the manager would be screaming at me to get further up the pitch,” said Rooney.
“But sometimes you feel a game and, in my head, that is what I am feeling a game needs.”
