‘I hated it,’ admits Wayne Rooney as he reveals what Sir Alex Ferguson asked him to do during Man Utd days
WAYNE ROONEY has revealed he “hated” a role he was given by Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
The legendary manager brought a teenage Rooney to Old Trafford in 2004 as he arrived from Everton.
He went on to become the club’s all-time leading scorer with 253 goals across his 13 years at the club.
During that time, Rooney also won 17 major trophies, including the Champions League and five Premier League titles.
However, he has now admitted he “hated” being asked to take up a new role in the side in 2009.
Rooney had featured as part of a two-man attack or behind the striker since his arrival at United.
Following Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit, though, he was instead deployed as a number nine, with Ferguson telling him to stay in the box.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Rooney explained: “I’d played a lot as a number 10 and then when I went as a number nine, I remember Fergie saying to me ‘just stay in the box, stay away,’ and I really struggled with it.
“To have that patience to just stay up front. I was itching to come back and get on the ball.
“I was like ‘I need to play’ but then obviously I done it and that was my best goalscoring year but I actually didn’t enjoy the game.”
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The ex-England captain added: “I hated it. I didn’t enjoy the game.”
Despite not enjoying his new role, Rooney went on to score 26 goals in 32 league appearances during the 2009/10 season.
The tally was the best of his career up to that point and proved to be the second-highest league haul of his career.
Meanwhile, only Didier Drogba scored more that season to pip Rooney to the golden boot.
I hated it. I didn’t enjoy the game.
Wayne Rooney
The 38-year-old also revealed on the podcast that Nemanja Vidic would be a “nightmare” to argue with at United.
He admitted the defender would go months without speaking to his team-mates during his time at the club.
Rooney later clashed with Roy Keane over Glenn Hoddle’s treatment of guest Andy Cole during his time as England manager.
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