How a legend was built

Five notables on Manchester United and England all-time leading scorer Wayne Rooney, who returned to his previous club Everton on Sunday:

Rooney was a child prodigy of English soccer, bursting onto the with Everton as a 16-year-old in 2002. Two years later he was the outstanding talent for England at Euro 2004, scoring four goals in the group matches as it progressed to the quarterfinals. However, his and his country’s chances of further progress disappeared when he broke a bone in his foot in the quarterfinal and England went on to lose on penalties. Much was made of Rooney’s staying up late and getting drunk in the England team hotel the night after the World Cup qualifier with Scotland last November, but there have never been any doubt about his passion for his country. This was illustrated early on when as a teenager he rebuked the Republic of Ireland’s advances as he qualified for it through a grandmother. “When I was at Everton (in 2001) Lee Carsley asked me about it on behalf of Mick McCarthy, but it never crossed my mind,” he revealed in 2015. “I have Irish grandparents, so if they wanted to play for Ireland I’m sure they could have, but it was never something I thought about. I am English through and through.”

Teenage sensation ‘English through and through’ Record man

His powers may be on the wane,