Thursday, October 26, 2006
Wayne Rooney turns 21 today, and we've picked out as many reasons why he is one of football's finest talents. From Ryan Giggs to Ronaldinho, Michael Owen to Mick McCarthy, football peers and opposition managers queue up to praise his ability. We've picked out some of the best quotes...
"Rooney is one of the best players in the world. He's already very important, but in the future his contribution is going to be even greater."- Ronaldinho
"There are players that have fire in them and he's one of them. Take it out of him and you won't get the same player. It's about striking a balance. Roy Keane was the same, as was Paul Ince. You just hope the character of the player and the experiences of playing create that balance."- Ryan Giggs
"As a player he's got everything. He can play deep, left, right or in the middle. He scores goals inside the area but can also score from outside the box. As if that wasn't enough, he sometimes plays in goal in training."- Wes Brown
"Wayne is the best young player in the world. He has everything."- The late George Best
"There isn't another player in the world who has the ability Wayne has. He's achieved so much at a young age - he's the main man for club and country. He astounds me. He is a phenomenon."- Sir Bobby Robson
"Rooney can do the lot. Eventually he'll have all the United records. He has the ability and goal power to beat my 18 hat-tricks and, as for my 46 in a season, I don't see any reason why he can't overtake that. Every time he gets the ball there's a buzz of expectation from the crowd and ppposition defenders are in a panic."- Denis Law
"I could go on all day about Wayne because he's such a big talent. He's going to keep breaking records and I'm just glad he's English."- Steven Gerrard
"I think England have got some super players and an extra special one in Rooney. If you look back at the history of football, great sides have always had special players that lift the team. Platini did it for France, Maradona for Argentina and Rooney does the same."- Glenn Hoddle
"Wayne came into the England team at an even younger age than I did. If you play well and keep your form, you are going to play a lot of games for your country. And with the ability Wayne has, that means many more goals and many more records."- Michael Owen
"When a manager of the standing and knowledge of Sir Alex Ferguson spends £27m on someone, that speaks volumes. I don't want to say too many nice things about him because he's peed me off always scoring against me."- Mick McCarthy
"His aggression is one of his big strengths. He has no fear at all. Wayne knows he has the ability, but he has this knack of being able to go out there and not be scared of anyone no matter who he is up against."- Frank Lampard
"The first time I realised how special he could be was when I took an under-11 team to play Manchester United. It was eight-a-side on small pitches with small goals. All the parents were on one side of the pitch with the coaches on the other. At 11, Wayne scored an overhead kick from about 15 yards out that flew straight into the top corner. There was a silence around the pitch. I don't know where it came from but someone started clapping and within seconds everyone was clapping - including the parents from the other team."- Ray Hall, Everton Academy Director
"He has remarkable physical and creative power and the belief and determination to achieve whatever he sets out to do."- Arsene Wenger
"I would pay to watch Wayne Rooney because he plays with no fear and I like the sort of striker who will score all on his own if he wants to. He has the sort of forward's instinct no coach can teach. You are born with it."- Thierry Henry
"I know from personal experience that he's an absolute nightmare to mark."- John Terry
"He has the potential to be a legendary player. Pele had all the ability in the world. But one of his great qualities was that he could take anything and any situation in his stride. From what I have seen of Wayne, I think he can do that too."- Zico
"Every man and his dog has an opinion on him. The good thing is that he has his feet on the ground. He's at the right club and we know he can handle it. We will guide him."- Sir Alex Ferguson
"I was there when Ryan Giggs made a similar impact. Rooney, like Ryan, takes your breath away when he plays. Ryan is still playing at the top level now now and that's because he has had the right people around him like Alex Ferguson."- Mark Hughes
"Wayne knows all eyes are on him but he goes out and does his own thing. That's fantastic."- Ruud van Nistelrooy
"Football needs heroes like Wayne Rooney."- Brian Clough
"Have I got any plans for his birthday? What, like a cake? ...You never know. But, seriously, it was his 100th United game against Liverpool, that in itself is an incredible landmark for a boy of
21. I would say he is the best 21-year-old I've had at this club, and I hope he plays 1000 games here."- Sir Alex Ferguson
HANA KIMI;
xX 8:21 PM
