20 Questions We'd Love to Ask Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney has, over the past decade, become one of the most recognisable faces not just within football, but across the globe in general.

His impressive talents on the pitch, coupled with his actions off of it, have resulted in the Liverpudlian sending shock waves through the media one more than one occasion. 

After such an already illustrious career, many are wondering what is to come next for the Manchester United striker.

For now, though, the majority of us are still scratching our heads at the some of the questionable choices that Mr. Rooney has made to this point.

Here are just a short sample of things that Manchester United fans and other footballing fans alike would love to ask Wayne.

Did You Feel Guilty About Leaving Everton?

It's easy to forget, but Rooney wasn't always a United player.

Perhaps Wayne's move from Everton would have been a lot more controversial and hyped up if he had eventually signed for Mersey-side rivals, Liverpool.

That being said, it's never nice for any club to see a player they have helped develop through their youth system being poached by one of the bigger teams with a deeper cash fund.

Undoubtedly the move was a good choice for Rooney, but I wonder if he ever feels that he let down the club that helped to make him what he is today.

And with that in mind, do many professional footballers ever have pangs of guilt about leaving behind sides they owe a lot to?

My gut tells me the answer that question is more than usually a no. Sadly.

Why Did You Feel the Need to Get a Hair Transplant?

Hair loss is a worry for a lot of men.

But when you're one of the best paid players in the world, with a beautiful wife and a small child, do you really feel the need to have a full head of hair?

Rooney hasn't exactly made the most of the operation, keeping his new locks if anything shorter than he used to have the old ones.

I could understand if a movie star or fashion expert decided to have a transplant, but a Premier League footballer?!

If anything, a bald or shaven head would have just perfected the "nutter" image that Rooney has amongst the majority of his peers anyway.

It was an oddly vain move from someone so apparently "masculine."

Do You Worry What Your Kids Will Think About You When They Are Older?

Let's face it, Wayne hasn't exactly led the most virtuous of lives.

It's all well and good for us to sit here and criticise him for his errors, but the only time that Rooney will really feel the shame of it all will be when his child, and possible future children, are old enough to understand everything their daddy has done.

Hopefully, owing to a very different upbringing to the average kid, they will be able to cope with it all a lot better than we might expect.

For now, Rooney's only child, his son Kai, is probably still slightly too young to grasp what has happened to his father since his birth.

Let's hope for the sake of innocence that it stays that way for a few more years to come.

Do You Value Playing for England or United More?

There has been an ongoing debate within English football for about a decade now as to whether players prefer playing for their clubs or for the national side.

The argument was sparked when Jamie Carragher received a text after an important England loss that read something along the lines of, "Don't worry mate, it's only England!"

It's understandable to feel a closer bond to your club side than your international one.

After all, your club is where you spend 80 percent of your year, with the same set of 30 or so players, week in week out.

The little time spent with England doesn't allow too much time for friendship-making or creation of a team atmosphere.

Added into the mix, these are the men who you have been fighting against for an entire season.

But still, the point of international football is that you are being awarded with a great honour for good play.

In the modern game, players who are regularly selected for international duties seem to take that for granted.

It would be interesting to know whether Rooney is one of the few players left who realise the importance of earning a place in the England team.

Who Is Your Favourite Manchester United Teammate?

This is one those questions that would just be generally quite interesting to know.

Obviously Wayne is probably close to the majority of his colleagues at United, but it would be fascinating to know which Red Devil he feels the greatest bond with.

My guess would be either Ferdinand or Carrick—simply for the fact that Rooney would have spent a lot of time with these men not just at United, but also with the England side.

But then, who knows, other than Wayne himself, of course!

And Who Is Your Least Favourite?

Same question but reversed!

It's unlikely that there's anybody in the United dressing room that Rooney really cannot stand the sight of, but there has to be someone that perhaps gets under his skin every now and again.

I may be wrong, but the Da Silva twins seem like the exact kind of people that would give Rooney a headache after a while.

How Did You Forgive Cristiano Ronaldo so Easily After the 2006 World Cup?

Was I the only one who was a little disappointed with Wayne after this?

Yes, in hindsight, it led to three consecutive Premier League titles and one Champions League that were primarily instigated by the two men in question, but after such a dishonest act on the biggest stage of world football, how did Wayne forgive and forget so quickly?

Maybe Sir Alex had a word with both men and forced them to make up. It wouldn't shock me.

Perhaps, dare I say it, Rooney actually took the mature route and, realising he would have to play football week in week out with this man whether he liked it or not, bit the bullet and accepted an apology.

United fans will be very grateful that Ronnie and Rooney did eventually become friends again, but it would be intriguing to fully comprehend the circumstances behind the reconciliation.

Why Did You Cheat on Your Wife?

Coleen and Wayne Rooney are not exactly a couple that look like they are meant to be together.

If you didn't know who he was, one would be forgiven for questioning why somebody that looks like Coleen would eventually end up settling for a man like Wayne.

Of course, that's not to say all women judge on looks, but when you get married at a relatively young age like the Rooneys, then it will usually have something to do with it.

In this case Wayne hit the jackpot, marrying a girl that even Stevie Wonder could tell you is out of his league.

So why, oh why, did Wayne decide to jeopardise everything with a stupid affair?

I guess some guys are never satisfied.

It's not just his marriage he is hurting, but also possibly his son's life.

It was an unforgivable move on his part, but luckily the two managed to work through it and are now seemingly back on the right path in their relationship.

Oh, and a word of advice, Wayne: when you cheat on your wife, don't take your mistress to Rio Ferdinand's—or any public—restaurant. 

Have You Achieved Your Full Potential as a Player Yet?

When Rooney burst onto the scene for Everton against Arsenal in 2002, it became apparent straight away that we were dealing with a very gifted young player.

As time went on, Rooney more than lived up to all the hype and eventually was snapped up by Manchester United.

From there Wayne has gone on to become recognised as one of the most talented players in world football today.

But is that pool of talent starting to dry up?

Not that I'm suggesting Rooney's play has been poor of late— far from it, in fact.

But we are slowly edging towards that time in Rooney's career where his performances will peak, before starting to ultimately dip.

Wayne will turn 27 this year.

That isn't old at all, but its generally considered that a player reaches his prime between the ages of 24 and 28.

Has Rooney's top form already come and gone? Or will there be more brilliance for us in the future?

It would be interesting to have Wayne's take on this.

Only he knows how well his body is holding up after all.

Do You Sometimes Think You Have Anger Issues?

Rooney doesn't exactly have the disciplinary record of the likes of Lineker or Giggs. 

Over the years Wayne has totted up countless yellow and, more crucially, red cards whilst playing both for England and United.

In the majority of cases where he has received a ban, it has come as a result of a straight red, as opposed to two lesser offences culminating together.

And who could forget his tirade on the England fans after the side's appalling 0-0 draw with Algeria in the 2010 FIFA World Cup?

This kind of pattern indicates an aggressive streak in Rooney that has seemingly not yet fully been put to rest.

It's not uncommon to see players display such behaviour on the pitch.

Real Madrid's central defender, Pepe, is currently undergoing therapy to control his anger, whilst the notorious Joey Barton, despite his best efforts, still can't keep his dark side under control.

I would love to know if Rooney thinks he needs help for his issues, or whether he is still blind to his obvious short fuse.

Who Is the Best Player You Have Ever Faced on the Pitch?

Having played almost his entire career at the top level of European, English and international football, Rooney will have sampled a wide variety of the world's best players talents.

From Robben to Ronaldo and Messi to Maicon, Rooney has faced them all.

Without question, Lionel Messi is the best individual currently playing football. In fact, some might argue that Messi is in fact the greatest to have ever donned a pair of boots.

But would Rooney rate Messi as the greatest in games against United?

With the recent Champions League finals, there would be a strong chance.

But who knows, perhaps Wayne would shock us all with his answer.

If You Were to Play for Any Club Other Than United, Who Would It Be?

This is a controversial question, and if Rooney had any sense—which I sometimes doubt he does—then the correct answer would be Everton.

As previously mentioned, Rooney does owe them a lot, and to be quite frank, even with Rooney, Everton are not going to pose a threat to United.

Failing that, a foreign team would be just about acceptable. After all, who doesn't want to play for the likes of Barca or Madrid?

One thing is for certain, though, if Rooney named any of the other teams within the top six of the Premier League, United fans would want him straight out the door.

How Did You Feel When City Won the Title in the Last Minute?

The jubilation of pulling off what at the start of the day seemed near impossible, juxtaposed with the heartbreaking manner with which City eventually clinched the Premier League title, was not an easy torment for anyone to endure.

One can only imagine what it must have been like for the players and coaching staff involved.

There must have been a period of unimaginable joy, before the news of City's miraculous comeback spread to the stadium of light.

Did the way in which City clinched it all emotionally crush Wayne, or did it only inspire him further?

Are You Worried That the Manchester United Era May Be Ending?

In relation to the previous question, could Wayne now start to worry that the time of Manchester United is drawing to a close.

With their seemingly unlimited transfer fund, and already notable class of players, can the red half of Manchester keep up with their not-so-noisy neighbours?

Weirdly, the signing of Eden Hazard by Chelsea is actually somewhat of a positive thing for the Red Devils.

It showed that, although they themselves couldn't clinch the deal, City also failed to bring the 21-year-old Belgian international to Eastlands.

With City still unable to sign "whoever they want," as many people had feared, there will always be the possibility that United can stay one step ahead of them.

Do You Feel That You Let Down Your Country Against Montenegro?

Harking back to Wayne's anger issues again, the decision to strike out in the Montenegro game was perhaps one of the silliest things Rooney has done for a while.

As a result of his actions, he will miss the first two group games, against France and Sweden, of Euro 2012.

These are crucial matches for England that, without their star striker and talisman, they will struggle to get results in.

What possessed Wayne to act as he did is beyond most fans.

One has to wonder whether or not a repeat offence might occur should he have enough games to make an impact during the Euros themselves.

What Is the First Football Game You Remember Watching?

The first game that any fan watches will always live long in the memory and usually has a huge impact on how they see football for the rest of their lives.

My first match, when I was just six, was England vs. Argentina in the 1998 World Cup.

This game set the benchmark for my expectations of the England side, and since then they have pretty much lived up to it flawlessly.

My second game was Manchester United vs. Juventus in the 1999 Champions League semifinal.

Again, this game epitomised United and the passion surrounding them.

Wayne's first game would have come a lot sooner than either of those, but no doubt it had just as much impact.

Can England Win the European Championship?

This is the question on everybody's lips at the current moment.

To be quite frank, it looks unlikely that England will be able to mount a serious charge for the title.

With the likes of Spain, Holland and Germany all still playing some of the best quality European football we have seen for many years—as well as the ever improving French and Italian sides working their way back to the top—it would take a miracle for England to come out victorious.

Let's face it, nobody in the country is really holding out much hope for this particular tournament. But maybe that's a good thing?

After all, the continuous disappointment that we have to face year after year is becoming just a little bit too much for England fans to bare. 

In my lifetime England have reached only one semifinal in both of the two major championships (Euro '96).

But with the pressure somewhat off the England players' backs, perhaps they can play the smooth flowing football that so many of them seem to be able to produce for their clubs.

Still, I'm pretty sure I speak for the general population when I say that I'd be happy just to get out of the group.

What's the Best Goal You Ever Scored?

Really, there should only be two contenders for this honour. 

The first came a very long time ago, in 2005, against a less-than-impressive Newcastle United side.

The game itself was a nothing affair, with Newcastle cemented in the middle of the league and United clearly not having the players that season to mount a challenge for the title.

Still, the goal that Rooney produced will live long in the memory.

Receiving the ball a few metres outside of the box, Rooney ploughed through it, on the volley, to blast home from long range.

What made the goal so special was the first-time hit, as well as the looping trajectory that the ball took as it found its way into the back of the net.

In 2010, during a much more important clash, Rooney managed to arguably outdo himself.

The scoreline was 1-1 with ten minutes left to play.

Old Trafford was buzzing, as Manchester City—who themselves were fighting for a Champions League spot—lost the ball on the halfway line.

A long ball out to Nani raised the Old Trafford crowd to their feet.

The cross came in from the Portuguese winger, and it looked like it was just beyond Rooney.

Suddenly Wayne pulled off one of the greatest pieces of skill that the Premier League has ever seen, as he managed to connect perfectly with a bicycle kick from the edge of the City box. 

Both goals were breathtaking, but which one Wayne preferred is up for debate. 

Do You Think You're a "Good" Man?

There are certain things about Rooney that one can really admire.

It's a little known fact that Wayne often contributes to a number of charities, and it's fairly obvious from the few times he and his son have been shown together that he has a very good relationship with Kai.

But there's also the bad side of Rooney, the side that elbows players in the head and pays escorts for sexual intercourse.

I don't think Wayne is a bad man; I think he is someone who has been heavily affected by the extravagant lifestyle that his career has forced him to lead.

Having been in the public eye and seen as the new "great player" of English football from such a very young age, Rooney was always going to have a tough time.

Nobody who hasn't experienced it can imagine the emotional stress that comes with being a well-known persona throughout the country you live in.

Yes, there are huge benefits as well.

But nobody has good without bad, and if that good is amplified drastically, then unfortunately the bad will be too. 

Deep down, what does Wayne think of himself?

Would You Really Have Left United for City (or Anyone Else) Last Winter?

It will be almost impossible to ever know for sure whether Wayne would have left United last January.

Most people are under the belief that it was all just a means of making more money—after the loss of a lot of sponsorship, following the revelation of his affair.

Some though, genuinely think that Wayne had a huge falling out with Fergie and as such wanted to leave, fearing that he would find himself on the bench for the rest of the season.

Whatever the case, 99 percent of United fans will be delighted that he eventually ended up getting what he wanted and staying at Old Trafford.

There will always be a scar left by this moment, though, that will perhaps never heal.

Rooney was meant to be one of the few players that United fans knew would be loyal to the club for as long as his skill permitted.

With the announcement that he was (supposedly) looking for a way out of the club, it really called a lot into question.

I guess in this modern age, players just aren't as loyal to their clubs as they probably should be.

As for Rooney, all of this has occurred within just eight years of being a Red Devil.

Who knows what the next decade has in store for him?

One thing's for sure—it will be a spectacle to watch.