It was announced on Friday afternoon that Wayne Rooney has been appointed as Derby County's new manager on a two-and-a-half-year contract - a move that means the former Manchester United and Everton striker has officially hung up his boots, aged 35.
After 19 years, 883 appearances and 366 goals for clubs and country, the man who erupted onto the scene with that screamer against Arsenal can look back at the great things he has achieved throughout his career with pride.
Will others appreciate him more now he has officially retired from the game? Probably. But the man has always deserved the praise that comes his way, especially during his time at Manchester United.
He memorably introduced himself on the Old Trafford stage with a hat-trick against Fenerbahce in the Champions League and he never looked back. In his 13 year spell at United, he scored a further 250 goals for the club in all competitions to make him their top goalscorer of all time.
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In fact, the 183 Premier League goals he scored for United remains the most scored by a player for any single club. He is also the only player to score 200+ goals and provide 100+ assists in Premier League history - and is the top flight's second-top goalscorer of all time, only behind the great Alan Shearer.
In his time at United, he also lifted five Premier League titles, three League Cup's and a Champions League trophy - and, despite slowing down towards his peak years at Old Trafford, he continued to show his class in spells before leaving his home country to try a new challenge overseas.
Some of the goals he scored for Everton and Manchester United down the years will certainly go down in the history books. That debut goal against Arsenal in October 2002, when he controlled the outside the area, turned and then curled a shot past David Seaman will forever be remembered. "Remember the name, Wayne Rooney!"
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And that overhead-kick against Manchester City in 2011, a goal that later went on to claim Manchester United's Goal of the Decade award, was a day to remember - as was that thunderous strike against Newcastle, when he let out his frustration at the referee with a cracking volley from 25 yards.
I could go on all day.
Rooney's goalscoring record, especially in those crucial moments, was nothing short of remarkable - and so too was his record for The Three Lions. He retired as England's all-time top scorer, surpassing Bobby Charlton's record with a penalty against Switzerland during Euro 2016 qualification, and went on score a total of 53 goals in 120 games.
Rooney will, in my opinion, go down as not only a Manchester United great, but an all-time great.
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For me, he still doesn't get enough credit. Is that because of his decline in the latter stages of his career? Perhaps. But his impact in the 00's, especially in those Sir Alex Ferguson teams that included the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, should override that statement.
He deserves all the plaudits, that's for sure.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Derby, Manchester United, Premier League, England, Everton, Wayne Rooney
