Wayne Rooney’s top five Everton goals
Wayne Rooney’s journey in the MLS has come to an end, as DC United were beaten 5-1 in the play-offs by Toronto meaning their season has come to an end.
Rooney will now look forward to a return to England with Derby County in the Championship, as he returns home after just 15 months away.
With his return in mind, MerseySportLive have decided to look back at his top five goals for his boyhood club, split over his two separate spells.
5 – Charlton Vs Everton – 2003
In Rooney’s first spell, he was renowned for his explosivity, married with a killer first touch and deadly sangfroid in front of goal – all of which he displayed here.
A ball in by Gary Naysmith from the left gave Rooney it all to do with his back to goal, but the then 17-year-old turned expertly on his right-foot, before setting himself and firing into the roof of the net with his supposedly weaker left-foot.
Time stamp: 1:47
4 – Arsenal Vs Everton – 2003
Speed. Directness. Close control. Baggy white vests. This goal really encapsulated everything Wayne Rooney became known for as a teenager at Everton.
Picking the ball up 35 yards out on the right, Rooney terrified Pascal Cygan with his fierce pace. He carried the ball to the edge of the Arsenal box before unleashing a tracer bullet of a shot into the far-left corner, giving Stuart Taylor in goal no chance.
Time stamp: 1:01
3 – Leeds Vs Everton – 2002
When Rooney picked the ball up with his back to goal, fully 30 yards out at Elland Road, there seemed to be little danger for Leeds. But that’s when Rooney’s on the ball supernova abilities kicked in.
He skipped past Eirik Bakke with embarrassing ease as he ploughed towards the Leeds goal. Rooney then took it to the right of Lucas Rabade as he arrowed a shot into the far-left corner, in similar fashion to his effort at Highbury a year later.
Time stamp: 0:28
2 – Everton Vs Arsenal – 2002
We all knew it was coming. The goal which propelled Rooney from the backstreets of Toxteth to Premier League legend. A goal which made Clive Tyldesley proclaim;
“Remember the name, Wayne Rooney!” It became impossible to forget.
A lofted ball forward by Thomas Gravesen came down with snow on it, Rooney controlled it as though his Umbro Zypro II’s were laced with glue. He swivelled, before menacingly inching towards goal.
He took one look at David Seaman, before firing an absolute humdinger of a shot which cannoned off the bar before nestling in the England shot stopper’s net. Simply marvellous.
1 – Everton Vs West Ham – 2017
The only goal to make it in from his second stint at Everton – in which he scored 12 goals – had to be his own half heroics against West Ham.
Rooney had already scored twice, but Everton were rocking. The Hammers had just hit the bar and had a penalty saved as they looked to halve the two goal deficit.
A long ball downfield was met by Joe Hart who cleared it away to the safety of the centre circle, only for the former England captain to meet it first time, and drive it back from where it came.
The ball cleared the stranded Hart and Angelo Ogbonna, capping off an historic treble for Rooney and one of the greatest goals Goodison Park has ever seen, by one of the greatest players to ever grace the pitch.
Here’s hoping the ‘next Wayne Rooney’ isn’t far away.
Pictures by Daly3D under Creative Commons Licence.
