Ex-Premier League striker Troy Deeney claims Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney is the ‘most disrespected player in the history of English football’.
Rooney established himself as one of United and England’s greatest ever players during his hugely impressive 19-year professional career.
Having burst onto the scene at Everton, Rooney moved to Old Trafford in 2004 and went on to become the club’s all-time record goalscorer.
As well as scoring 253 goals for Manchester United, Rooney also lifted five Premier League trophies under Sir Alex Ferguson and won the Champions League in 2008.
While international trophies eluded Rooney and England’s ‘golden generation’, he was the country’s record goalscorer from 2015 to 2023 until current captain Harry Kane surpassed his tally of 53 goals.
Rooney remains England’s record appearance-maker for an outfield player, however, and is regarded as one of the best players to ever don the Three Lions shirt.
Despite this, ex-Premier League forward and Watford legend Deeney still believes Rooney is the ‘most disrespected player in the history of English football’.
‘Wayne Rooney might be the most disrespected footballer in English history,’ Deeney said on The Stomping Ground. ‘People don’t know how f*****g good Wayne Rooney was, and still is.’
Ex-Manchester United midfielder Ravel Morrison then said: ‘I think he [Rooney] is the best player ever to come out of England, by far, by far.’
Deeney then added: ‘I don’t disagree with that. There’s nothing that man couldn’t do.
‘You know how people talk about Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham now… Wayne could do it all.
‘He scored goals, he was stronger than most players, he was rapid, he would tackle. At 18 he was going at Lilian Thuram [at Euro 2004]!’
Since hanging up his boots in 2021, Rooney has held managerial roles at Derby County, DC United, Birmingham City and now Plymouth Argyle.
Plymouth have won three of their 12 league games under Rooney, a poor run of form leaving the club 22nd in the Championship ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures.
While his full focus is on a relegation scrap, Rooney was recently asked for his take on England’s appointment of German coach Thomas Tuchel.
Ex-Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain manager Tuchel will succeed Gareth Southgate in January, becoming only the third non-British coach to take charge of the England men’s team.
‘I think he’s [Tuchel] a very good coach, but surprised the FA have employed him,’ the 39-year-old said.
‘What the FA have built – and I was part of that and have seen first hand what they’ve built over the last 10, 15 years – it’s been great.
‘It’s been a great platform for young coaches coming through, so I’m surprised they haven’t gone in with one of their own.
‘But they’ve made the decision and I wish him all the best, and I hope he does well for us.’
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