Wayne Rooney Is One Of The Most Under-Appreciated Players Of All Time

He's lifted five Premier League titles, three League Cups and a Champions League trophy in a career spanning 18 years and counting.

He is the Premier League's second top scorer with 208 goals, with only Alan Shearer having scored more. He remains Manchester United's all-time top goalscorer after 16 consistent seasons at the top.

But despite being the only player to score over 250 goals for one of football's most successful clubs after overtaking the great Sir Bobby Charlton in 2017, Wayne Rooney still doesn't get enough credit.

Since he became the Premier League's youngest scorer in October 2002, when he scored that famous long range effort against Arsenal at 16 and 359 days, the former England international has consistently produced in big games.

He has scored the most goals in Manchester derby history, netting a remarkable 11 times in total.

The former England captain also provided key moments in Champions League finals against Barcelona, and important goals for his country in World Cup and European Championship competition.

Not to mention the fact he is both England's all-time top goalscorer with 53 goals and their most-capped outfield player of all-time with 119 appearances.

But despite these outstanding achievements in the game, it still feels like people's opinion on the former Everton forward were clouded by a year or two of playing poorly at the end of his spell at Old Trafford.

And I understand why that period had such a big impact on his career.

He was lacking the pace and power he once had, and one of the stand out performances for Rooney came when he didn't create a single chance from open play against Watford in October 2016.

He didn't have a single shot on target and only passed the ball forwards on six occasions throughout a disappointing 90-minute performance.

There was no doubt that Rooney had played a key role in United's success in years gone by but his stature at Old Trafford was like a piece of glass - a solid exterior but people could see through his flaws.

But after a disappointing end to his 13 year spell with the club, he proved his doubters wrong, returning to Everton for his second spell with The Toffees.

Rooney scored nine Premier League goals from just 12 shots on target for Everton during his second spell with the club - and he was 32 at the time.

The striker was then criticised by many for his next move, a transfer to MLS side DC United.

But again, he produced on a consistent basis and single handedly helped the club to their highest place finish.

Two years on from that awful individual performance at Vicarage Road, the 33-year-old was pivotal in his team's journey to the play-off positions in the Eastern Conference, bagging nine goals while winning 10 of a possible 17 games.

He has consistently provided goals, assists and a huge personality within every team he plays for.

Wayne Rooney deserves more credit for his contribution to the game on his birthday, don't you think?

Let us know your favourite memory of Rooney in the comments.

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Topics: Football News, Football, Manchester United, England, Everton, Wayne Rooney

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

@jackkenmare_