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Manchester United Star, Wayne Rooney Rejoins Everton

Published

7 years ago

July 10, 2017

Manchester United Star, Wayne Rooney Rejoins Everton

Manchester United record goalscorer Wayne Rooney has rejoined Everton on a free transfer, 13 years after leaving the Merseyside club.

Rooney, 31, played 559 times for the Red Devils, scoring 253 goals.

He won five Premier League titles and each of the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup once after joining from the Toffees for £27m in 2004.

England international Rooney said he was “ecstatic” and his “first game back will be an emotional day”.

“It’s a great feeling to be back. I cannot wait to meet the lads, get on the training pitch and then get on the pitch to play,” he added.

Image result for Manchester United Legend Wayne Rooney Joins Everton

Rooney’s return comes as United look set to sign Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, with a £75m deal for the Belgium international agreed between the two clubs.

“I’m not just coming back because it’s the team I support, the team I grew up playing for – I’m coming back because I feel the club can move forward and be successful,” said Rooney, who scored 17 goals in 77 games in his first spell at Goodison.

“I want to be part of it. There will be pressure on me to perform, but I’m ready to go. I believe I can help move this club forward and be more successful on the pitch.”

Everton manager Ronald Koeman began talking about Rooney’s potential return as far back as October, stating he would be “pleased” to sign England’s all-time leading goalscorer.

“Wayne has shown me that ambition that we need and that winning mentality – he knows how to win titles and I’m really happy he’s decided to come home,” said Koeman.

“He loves Everton and he was desperate to come back. He is still only 31 and I don’t have any doubts about his qualities. It’s fantastic he’s here.”

Rooney, who was often left out of United’s starting line-up by manager Jose Mourinho last season, appeared in 25 league games – the fewest he has played in one season. His total of eight goals in all competitions was also the lowest of his career.

He was an unused substitute as United beat Southampton to win the EFL Cup in February, and made only a brief appearance at the end of the Europa League final victory over Ajax in May.

In his 13 seasons with United, he finished as top scorer five times and shared the honour with Cristiano Ronaldo in another campaign. He was also named fans’ player of the year twice.

“It is no secret that I have long been an admirer of Wayne,” said Mourinho. “He has been a model professional throughout his time at the club and will remain in the history books for many years to come.

“It is never easy to see a great player playing less football than he would like and I could not stand in his way when he asked to go back to Everton.

“His experience, focus and determination will be missed and I wish him well for the future.”

Rooney in one word – fans’ verdict

Andy Mitten, editor of fanzine United We Stand: “The move is best for all parties.

“Rooney will be remembered well by United fans when the dust settles, a club legend who scored more goals than anyone and was a leading light in one of United’s greatest sides.

“Reaching three European Cup finals in four years shows how good that team was. At his best, between 2004 and 2011, he was the finest British player of his generation.

“Rooney’s performances dropped, and being linked with Chelsea and Manchester City did his popularity no favours either, but he’s scored some of the greatest goals I’ve ever seen.

“As a journalist who has interviewed him several times over 12 years, I watched him mature, become more interesting and grow into being a respected Manchester United captain.”

Rooney’s dwindling Premier League appearances

Games played Minutes Games started Sub appearances

2013-14 29 2,448 27 2

2014-15 33 2,876 33 0

2015-16 28 2,410 27 1

2016-17 25 1,539 15 10

Rooney was brought up by parents Jeanette and Wayne in the Croxteth area of Liverpool alongside brothers Graham and John, with all five members of the household avid Everton supporters.

He joined the Toffees at the age of nine and quickly built a reputation as a precocious talent, scoring 114 goals in 29 matches for the under-10 and under-11 sides.

Image result for Manchester United Legend Wayne Rooney Joins Everton
David Moyes gave him his first-team debut in August 2002, and he quickly became a regular starter, scoring his first Premier League goal – a last-minute winner against Arsenal – five days before his 17th birthday
The goal led to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger describing Rooney as “the biggest English talent I have seen since I arrived in this country”. Wenger added: “He has everything you dream of for a front player – intelligent feet, quick reactions.”

Rooney became one of world football’s highest-paid teenagers with his boyhood club, but handed in a transfer request in August 2004, leading to him being signed by Sir Alex Ferguson for what was the highest fee ever paid for a player under 20.

What do Everton fans think?

Two fans fall out over Rooney’s possible return to Everton.
BBC Sport’s Simon Stone: Rooney has been slowly eased out of the first team, without there being one single pressure point that signalled a change in Mourinho’s thinking.

The Portuguese has consistently backed Rooney in public – saying as recently as May that he would be “very happy” if the striker stayed at Old Trafford.

But Rooney did not take the chances he was afforded by Mourinho last season, and that made his departure inevitable once Everton pursued their interest.

Rooney signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract during the 2013-14 campaign, which included the option of a further season, but the Old Trafford club had no intention of triggering that clause.

United have waived a fee and may also be funding part of Rooney’s £13m wages.

Sir Alex Ferguson in his autobiography

“He’s one of those players that, whenever he gets the ball, something seems to happen.” Then England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, 2003.
“Wayne is only 20 and without question the best young player I’ve ever seen.” Then Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, 2005.
“Wayne Rooney is the golden boy of English football. Don’t kill him because you will need him.” Eriksson again, 2006.
“We’ve done nothing but help him since he’s been at this club. We cannot quite understand why he would want to leave.” Ferguson again, 2010.
“I think crazy things happen around him also. He is an impulsive guy like me. In football no-one is perfect. You learn from your mistakes and I like that with him. He is himself; I think that is very important. That is one English player I like more than anyone.” Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 2013.
“I felt he was struggling to get by people and had lost some of his old thrust. As time wore on, I felt he struggled more and more to do it for 90 minutes.” Ferguson in his autobiography, 2013.
Ferguson tells MUTV he is in dark over Rooney request

“He’s been through that generation with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. He really feels like he’s the dad figure if you like. He puts his arm around us, brings us together, gets us going.” Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, October 2014.

I miss playing with Rooney. Maybe we will play together again one day. He was so powerful I was calling him ‘Pitbull’. The power of Wayne Rooney is his mentality and strength and he never stops.” Cristiano Ronaldo, 2015.

“For me he is the great English player of the generation. What he is capable of doing on the field is very special, and he is one of the few players that would improve any squad in Europe.” Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi, 2016.

“Cristiano had an absolute desire to be the best individual in the world. Wayne would say: ‘I want to be the world’s best but I’ll do it by being a team player.’ That has not allowed him to be the 40-goals-a-season man he could have been.” Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand, 2017.

Wayne Rooney’s testimonial for Manchester United against boyhood club Everton at Old Trafford in August 2016

“Once a blue, always a blue” – Wayne Rooney’s testimonial for Manchester United against boyhood club Everton at Old Trafford in August 2016

Related Topics:Everton Manchester United Wayne Rooney

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Benin & Sudan Qualify For AFCON As Ghana, Nigeria & Tunisia Exit

Published

5 days ago

November 19, 2024

Reporter

Benin and Sudan Secure AFCON Finals Qualification Amid Upsets

Benin and Sudan clinched spots in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals after securing 0-0 draws on the penultimate day of preliminaries.

However, the day also witnessed surprising home defeats for powerhouses Ghana, Nigeria, and Tunisia, adding unexpected twists to the qualifiers for the tournament in Morocco.

Benin Survives Group D Battle

Benin entered a three-way fight with Libya and Rwanda for the second spot in Group D, as Nigeria had already qualified. Playing in Tripoli, Benin held Libya to a goalless draw, which proved enough to edge past Rwanda on a superior head-to-head record.

Rwanda shocked the football world by defeating Nigeria 2-1 in Uyo. After trailing early, Rwanda struck back with late goals from Jimmy Mutsinzi and Innocent Nsuthi, who plays semi-professionally in the United States.

The defeat exposed Nigeria’s vulnerability under caretaker coach Austin Eguavoen, their third coach in 2024. Following a 1-1 draw with Benin last week, Nigeria’s performance intensified the urgency to appoint a foreign coach ahead of the AFCON.

Only 3️⃣ spots left. 👀#AFCONQ2025 pic.twitter.com/mbVgKVH942

— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) November 18, 2024

Sudan Secures Second Spot in Group F

Sudan needed a point from their final two matches to qualify behind Angola in Group F. After suffering a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Niger, Sudan redeemed themselves with a hard-fought draw against Angola in Benghazi.

The result confirmed their AFCON berth, but Niger kept the pressure on with a stunning 2-1 victory over Ghana in Accra.

Niger’s upset relegated Ghana to the bottom of the group, ending their streak of 10 consecutive AFCON appearances.

⏰ Full-Time in Accra.

🇬🇭 Ghana 1️⃣-2️⃣ Niger 🇳🇪

⚽️ Jerry Afriyie 67’ | Ousseni Badamassi 22’, Oumar Sako 90+2’ #BlackStars pic.twitter.com/tUCOhlmN25

— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) November 18, 2024

Despite debutant Jeremia Afriyie scoring an equaliser, Ghana conceded a late header by Oumar Sako in stoppage time. Mohammed Kudus added to the home side’s misery by missing a penalty in a forgettable campaign for the Black Stars.

Tunisia Loses Top Spot in Group A

Although Tunisia had already qualified, they suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Gambia in Tunis. Abdoulie Ceesay’s 17th-minute goal toppled Tunisia from the top of Group A.

Earlier, Tunisia also suffered a defeat at home to the Comoros Islands, who clinched first place after defeating Madagascar 1-0. These results highlighted the growing competitiveness of African football.

Morocco Completes Perfect Campaign

AFCON hosts Morocco demonstrated dominance in Group B by finishing with a flawless record. Brahim Diaz led the charge with a hat-trick in a 7-0 rout of Lesotho. Morocco scored 26 goals in six matches while conceding only two, showcasing their readiness for the tournament.

Final Qualifiers to be Decided

Thirteen matches remain in the qualifiers, but only four hold significance for the final three spots in the 24-team tournament.

With several unexpected results already shaping the competition, the final day promises more drama as the remaining teams battle for their place in Morocco.

The unexpected upsets and competitive performances underscore the evolving landscape of African football, setting the stage for an exciting 2025 AFCON.

Check out more sports updates here.

SPORTS

AFCON 2025: What Rwanda, Benin & Libya Have To Do To Qualify Like Nigeria

Published

6 days ago

November 18, 2024

Adaeze Okechi

AFCON 2025: What Rwanda, Benin & Libya need to qualify | fab.ng

Benin Republic, Rwanda, and Libya: A Tight Race for AFCON 2025

Benin Republic, Rwanda, and Libya are currently battling intensely for a single spot at AFCON 2025, set to take place in Morocco.

As the qualifying series for Group D heads into its final matchday, the competition remains wide open. The Cheetahs, Amavubi, and the Mediterranean Knights are all still in the race for a coveted spot at the tournament.

However, only one will join Nigeria, who have already secured their qualification with a 1-1 draw against Gernot Rohr’s side at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.

With Monday’s decisive matches quickly approaching, each team has a realistic chance of booking their ticket to AFCON 2025.

However, in the end, only one team will succeed in advancing alongside the Super Eagles to Morocco.

Let’s dive into what each country needs to clinch the final qualification spot.

What Result Does the Benin Republic Need to Qualify?

Benin Republic finds itself in a strong position heading into the final matchday. Currently, they hold second place with seven points, thanks to two wins and a draw. To secure a spot at AFCON 2025, Benin has several possible pathways.

A win or even a draw against Libya in Tripoli would guarantee their place in Morocco. However, if Benin suffers a loss, they must ensure that the defeat is by no more than a two-goal margin while also managing to score at least once.

This is crucial because, despite losing the reverse fixture 2-1 to Libya, a similar scoreline in Tripoli would still see Benin qualify based on overall goal difference.

On the other hand, if Benin loses by two clear goals, their hopes of reaching AFCON 2025 after a six-year absence would be dashed.

In that scenario, Libya would likely qualify on goal difference in head-to-head encounters among the tied teams.

Since their first AFCON appearance in Tunisia in 2004, Benin has reached the finals four times, with their best showing being a quarter-final finish at Egypt in 2019.

What Does Rwanda Need to Secure AFCON 2025 Qualification?

For Rwanda, the path to AFCON 2025 is clear but challenging. A win over Nigeria at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo would secure their spot, provided Benin fails to win against Libya.

Torsten Spittler’s side will draw confidence from their recent 1-0 away triumph over Lesotho during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. With Nigeria already qualified, Rwanda hopes that coach Eguavoen might field a weakened squad.

However, if Rwanda manages to defeat the Super Eagles and Benin draws against Libya, Rwanda would still miss out on AFCON 2025 due to goal difference in head-to-head matchups with Benin.

The Amavubi endured a heavy 3-0 defeat against Benin in Abidjan but later secured a crucial 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture in Kigali. Thus, to secure their AFCON 2025 ticket, Rwanda must first overcome Nigeria and then hope that Benin loses in Tripoli.

Since their debut at AFCON 2004, where they finished ninth, Rwanda has yet to qualify again for Africa’s most prestigious tournament. Overcoming Nigeria in Uyo would certainly be a historic feat for the Amavubi.

How Can Libya Qualify for AFCON 2025?

Libya faces a tough but not impossible path to AFCON 2025. Coach Nasser Al-Hadiri’s team must secure a win over the Benin Republic by at least two goals while hoping Rwanda fails to pull off a victory in Nigeria.

Libya’s qualification hopes appeared slim after the Confederation of African Football sanctioned them, resulting in the loss of three points and three goals due to the mistreatment of the Nigerian national team.

Despite this setback, Libya’s recent 1-0 away win against Rwanda and Benin’s draw with Nigeria have revived their chances. They now sit at the bottom of Group D with just one win from five matches.

If Libya manages to snatch the AFCON 2025 ticket from both Benin and Rwanda, it would mark one of the most dramatic turnarounds in African football.

Historically, Libya has qualified for the AFCON three times, with their best performance being a runners-up finish in 1982 when they hosted the tournament. Should they qualify for AFCON 2025, it would be their first appearance in over a decade.

Finally…

As the final day of the qualifiers looms, fans are eagerly anticipating the outcome. The battle for the remaining spot in AFCON 2025 is far from settled. Benin, Rwanda, and Libya each have strong reasons to believe they can secure that last ticket to Morocco.

Whether it comes down to goal difference, head-to-head matchups, or a last-minute surge, only one of these teams will join Nigeria in representing Group D at AFCON 2025.

Check here for more sports updates.

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Nigeria Seal Qualification For 2025 AFCON As Osimhen Equals Odegbami’s Goal Tally

Published

1 week ago

November 15, 2024

Reporter

2025 AFCON: Nigeria secures qualification | fab.ng

Nigeria has secured its qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with two games to spare. This is all thanks to Libya’s 1-0 away victory over Rwanda on Thursday.

Prior to their clash against the Cheetahs in Abidjan, the Super Eagles, led by coach Augustine Eguavoen, needed just one point to confirm their spot in the tournament set to take place in Morocco.

However, Nigeria clinched their qualification even before facing Gernot Rohr’s Cheetahs, who are also on track for a potential return to the competition.

In their encounter in Abidjan, Nigeria played out a 1-1 draw. The hosts initially took the lead through Mohamed Tijani in the first half. However, Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen rose to the occasion, scoring the equalizer with just nine minutes left on the clock.

With that crucial goal, Osimhen matched the legendary Segun Odegbami’s international tally, as he now shares the second spot with 23 goals in 37 appearances for the Super Eagles.

Osimhen is now only 14 goals away from breaking Rashidi Yekini’s long-standing record as Nigeria’s all-time top scorer.

Victor Osimhen (37 caps) is now Nigeria’s joint-second all-time top scorer, having matched Segun Odegbami’s 23-goal record against Benin Republic. Only Rashidi Yekini has scored more, with 37 goals. Truly exceptional! pic.twitter.com/w9TlExR0xp

— Shina Oludare 🇳🇬 (@sportingshina) November 14, 2024

Meanwhile, Libya’s qualification hopes took a major hit after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) imposed sanctions on them.

The disciplinary board awarded Nigeria a 3-0 victory and fined the Libyan Football Federation $50,000 (£38,500) due to the poor treatment experienced by the Nigerian squad during their visit. Despite this setback,

Libya showed resilience as they defeated Rwanda in front of a lively crowd at Stade Amahoro in Kigali. Although Rwanda dominated possession, Libya managed to seal the win with a decisive goal in the 84th minute.

Fahd Saad Mohamed, who had just entered the game four minutes earlier, made an immediate impact by scoring past goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari, thanks to an assist from Nouradin Elgelaib.

However, Libya is not ready to give up just yet. The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has announced that they plan to appeal the sanctions, hoping to reverse CAF’s decision.

They intend to pursue the matter to the highest levels of legal channels in a bid to keep their AFCON qualification hopes alive.

As Nigeria looks forward to making its 21st appearance in the continental tournament, its history in AFCON remains impressive. The Super Eagles made their debut in 1963 in Ghana, finishing sixth after a group-stage exit.

Since then, they have claimed the AFCON title three times—in Nigeria (1980), Tunisia (1994), and South Africa (2013).

Additionally, they have finished as runners-up five times and hold the record for the most bronze medals in AFCON history, having secured third place on eight occasions.

In their last outing at the tournament in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria narrowly lost 2-1 to the hosts in the final despite taking an early lead, with William Troost-Ekong being named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Looking ahead, Nigeria is determined to close out its qualifying campaign on a high note when they face Rwanda’s senior national team on Monday.

With only one game left, the Super Eagles are the sole team to have secured qualification from Group D. The battle for the second spot in the group remains wide open.

Furthermore, the Benin Republic, Libya, and Rwanda set to fight for a ticket to Morocco. As the final day of qualifiers approaches, fans can expect an intense showdown among these nations.

Besides Nigeria, several other nations have also booked their spots in the 2025 AFCON tournament.

Alongside hosts Morocco, countries such as Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, and Uganda have all punched their tickets.

With these teams already qualified, the stage is set for another thrilling edition of Africa’s biggest football spectacle – 2025 AFCON!

Check out more sports updates here.