Book description
As Rooney looks to move on from Man U, read his explosive story here.
Wayne Rooney, the most talked about footballer in Britain, tells his
own remarkable story, from his early years with his family growing up on
the streets of Croxteth, about his relationship with Coleen McLoughlin,
and about life in Manchester.
What is the true story behind the most gifted yet often misunderstood
character in the British game? Were there signs of things to come in his
upbringing in the backstreets of Liverpool? What were the early
influences that shaped his character? And how has the meteoric rise to
fame and fortune affected this seemingly shy yet prodigiously gifted youngster?
For the first time, Rooney opens up about the defining years of his
life as the son of a working-class family, brought up in a council house
with his Everton-mad family. There followed his first tentative steps in
football, the triumphs and knockbacks along the way, the accolades that
began to follow his every move as a young teenager, and destiny
fulfilled on his Premiership debut for Everton at the tender age of 16.
He describes how his life changed irrevocably when Alex Ferguson and
Manchester United came calling in the summer of 2004, his dazzling
efforts for England in the European Championships, a private life never
far from the tabloid headlines, and the real story behind his
relationship with partner Coleen McLoughlin.
He reveals the anguish of the foot injury that threatened his
participation in World Cup 2006, and how his determination led to a
remarkable recovery in time to play a part in the group stage of the
tournament. And he describes how his delight at playing again for his
country turned to depair after his controversial sending-off in the
quarter-final against Portugal and England's subsequent elimination in
the penalty shoot-out.
And in this updated paperback edition, he revisits the drama of
United's Premiership-winning 2006/07 season and their tumultuous battles
with Chelsea and giants AC Milan.
This is the story in Rooney's own words. From the streets of Croxteth
to the stadiums of Germany and beyond - a journey of a lifetime squeezed
into a mere twenty-one years. 'He stands head and shoulders above the
rest' Daily Telegraph
'Remarkable' Daily Mail
'…fascinating..' Closer Wayne Rooney was born in Liverpool in October
1985. He was only nine when he was spotted by Everton scout Bob
Pendleton playing for boys' club Copplehouse. In his last season with
them he scored 99 goals before joining the Everton academy. He was the
youngest scorer in Premier League history in 2002, at the age of 16, and
the youngest to score for England, age 17. He joined Manchester United
in August 2004 for a fee of £20 million. He has 33 international caps
and 11 goals to date.
Hunter Davies has written over 40 biographies, including the authorized
book on The Beatles and the 2004 hardback bestseller Gazza: My Story.
