LIVERPOOL, England (AP) – Wayne Rooney rejoined boyhood club Everton on Sunday after 13 years at Manchester United, leaving English soccer’s biggest club as its record scorer having won every major trophy.
The 31-year-old Rooney, the most recognized and scrutinized English soccer player, has been getting accustomed to a reduced status after losing his starting place in the United team and dropping out of the national team squad.
A return to Everton, where he made his name as a dynamic teenager, signals a fresh start.
“It is some time since I said that the only Premier League club I would play for other than Manchester United was Everton, so I am delighted that the move has happened,” Rooney said after signing a two-year contract. “Thirteen years ago I went to United with the intention of winning trophies and I have been fortunate to be a part of one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.”
The striker will now be a central figure once again in a team that is looking to break the Premier League’s elite under coach Ronald Koeman.