Updated 22 June 2004, 19.30

Rooney plays his club football for Everton, for now anyway...

At the time Arsenal had not lost for 30 games, so their surprise loss at Everton helped Rooney steal the headlines.

He hadn't even signed his first big-money professional contract at that point, because he wasn't old enough!

Even though he'd only played one season it was enough to win Rooney his first major award, the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year for 2002.

Later that season he became the youngest-ever England international in a friendly against Australia.

The following season he scored his first international goal against Macedonia, becoming the youngest player ever to score for England, aged 17 and 317 days.

Rooney transferred to Manchester United

But that didn't stop him making a starting spot in the England team his own, alongside Liverpool striker Michael Owen.

Now he's even taken over from Owen and David Beckham as the fave player of England supporters.

Rooney's brilliant performances at Euro 2004, where he scored four goals before being injured, prompted Manchester United to buy him.

They paid a massive £27m for the player, the biggest transfer fee ever for a teenage footballer.

And he started his Old Trafford career with a bang, blasting a hat-trick on his United debut in the Champions League.

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Past Stories
	Rooney scores two as England win
	Rooney 'is worth more than £50m'
	Rooney, 17, makes debut as England lose
	16-year-old striker scores to beat Arsenal