Wayne Rooney Commits To Manchester United With New 2014 Contract

On this day in 2014, Wayne Rooney quashed rumors about his departure by signing a new five-and-a-half-year contract with Manchester United. This decision came after speculation mounted following Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement and David Moyes' appointment as his successor. With only 18 months remaining on his previous contract, Rooney committed his future to Manchester United until the summer of 2019, expressing his desire to surpass Sir Bobby Charlton's record of 249 goals for the club.

The new deal, reportedly worth up to £300,000 a week, ensured Rooney's stay at Old Trafford for another three seasons. During this period, he achieved a milestone by scoring 253 goals in 559 appearances, thus becoming the club's all-time leading goalscorer. Rooney's historic moment arrived on January 21, 2017, with a free-kick against Stoke, and he was subsequently honored with a Golden Boot for this achievement.

Throughout his tenure at Manchester United, Rooney amassed an impressive collection of titles, including five Premier League titles, three League Cups, and one each in the Champions League, Europa League, Club World Cup, and FA Cup. Following his illustrious career at United, Rooney returned to his boyhood club Everton for a brief period before moving to DC United in the United States and then Derby in the Championship.

In early 2021, Rooney retired from professional football to assume the managerial role at Derby County. The former England captain also surpassed Charlton's record of 49 goals for the national team, finishing with 53 goals from 120 appearances. However, this record was broken by Harry Kane last year. Most recently, Rooney took on the managerial position at Birmingham.

Redefining Manchester United's attacking prowess and leaving an indelible mark on England's football landscape, Wayne Rooney's career is a testament to his exceptional talent and dedication to the sport.