Ranking Wayne Rooney's Seasons for Manchester United
Wayne Rooney’s Manchester United career has had more than its share of ups and downs. But which of the highs is the highest, and which of the lows the lowest?
Here we rank his 10 finished seasons in a United shirt, with the list based on a combination of his personal contribution and United’s success. Let us know what you think we have got right and wrong in the comments section below.
It is worth saying that Rooney has probably never had an unequivocally poor season for United—there have always been achievements to temper difficulties that might have arisen. However, he has had seasons in which his contributions were tainted by off-the-pitch problems, and one such campaign seems like a good place to start.
2010/11: The First Transfer Request
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In October 2010, Rooney shocked United fans around the world by declaring that during their discussions about his future at the club, then-chief executive David Gill "did not give [him] any of the assurances [he] was seeking about the future squad," per BBC Sport.
The fallout from that is, in some ways, still being felt; despite Rooney’s huge contribution to the club, the emotional connection fans once felt with him has become conditional. Although Rooney later apologised, asking "how wrong was I?", per The Guardian, he compounded the issue by considering leaving again just a couple of years later.
The furore surrounding Rooney’s off-the-field activity meant his on-pitch performances suffered. He scored 16 goals during the season—the joint-fewest he has managed in a campaign for United. Of course, one of those was a particularly memorable one
Although United won the league and Rooney scored a stunning overhead kick in the Manchester derby, for being the season in which he broke the hearts of United fans everywhere, it deserves its place at the bottom of this list.
2012/13 Falling out with Fergie
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Another season in which United won the league, another season in which Rooney’s relatively limited personal contribution and significant off-field difficulties meant it was not a great one for him.
The arrival of Robin van Persie—following a season in which Rooney had scored plenty of goals as United narrowly missed out on silverware—meant that Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were less reliant on Rooney. This was the other season in which his tally was only 16 goals.
Nonetheless, it came as a surprise when Sir Alex declared come the end of the season that Rooney had asked to leave. Rooney later put this down to not being happy playing in midfield, per The Guardian.
Some of the bridges that had been built with fans since 2010 were burnt again. In May 2013, it was hard to imagine that Rooney would, 15 months later, be captain of United.
2013/14: The Best of a Bad Bunch
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David Moyes may have spent much of his United tenure praising Rooney’s contribution, but Rooney's reasonable personal contribution was not able to transform his side’s dismal form.
He managed 19 goals and 17 assists, which is a very decent return. Nonetheless, for Rooney, as for every other United player, 2013/14 was a season to forget.
2005/06: Bedding in
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The 2005/06 season saw Rooney win his first piece of silverware at Old Trafford—the League Cup—as he bedded in at United.
Rooney scored 19 goals and provided 14 assists, displaying a good deal of the promise that had thrust him into the spotlight at such a young age. It was early days, but there was plentiful evidence of what was to come.
2004/05: Debut
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Rooney’s first season at United began with a bang, as he announced himself with a debut hat-trick against Fenerbahce in the Champions League. He went on to score 11 league goals and three more in the FA Cup.
The excitement that surrounded the teenager was palpable, and his first days in a United shirt proved that he belonged on the big stage.
2008/09: Champions League Semi-Final Magic
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Cristiano Ronaldo’s final season at United saw Rooney net 20 goals and provide 12 assists as United completed a hat-trick of league titles and came within touching distance of retaining the European Cup.
It was the last in a run of seasons that saw Rooney in a supporting role, and he performed admirably, with an especially memorable performance coming in the away leg of the Champions League semi-final, in which he combined with Ronaldo to decimate Arsenal.
The season ended in disappointment, but the title and 20 goals made it a fine one personally for Rooney.
2006/07: The First League Title
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The 2006/07 campaign saw Rooney win his first league title. It was also the first season in which he managed more than 20 goals for United, scoring 23 in all competitions. Add in the 14 assists he provided, and it is clear that Rooney's contribution to United's title win was crucial.
It was a memorable season for the youngster, who was still only 21 when it started. Ronaldo, his foil at the time, scored the same number of goals and pipped Rooney for assists, racking up 20.
It was not clear at the time who would go on to have the more glittering career, such was Rooney's impact.
2009/10: Goals!
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United narrowly missed out on the league title in 2009/10, finishing a point behind Chelsea.
Rooney took the leading-man role following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, and he flourished in the limelight, scoring 34 goals in all competitions—26 of which came in the league.
The change in his role in the team saw his number of assists plummet to just six, but his effectiveness in front of goal more than made up for the lessening of his creative contribution. It was a brilliant season for Rooney personally, which made his subsequent request to leave all the more surprising.
2011/12: Goals Again!
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Another 34-goal season for Rooney, another example of United narrowly missing out on the league title, this time by an almost unimaginably fine margin.
United ran Manchester City to within goal difference, and Rooney was a key part of why they came so close. This time, 27 goals came in the league, and again, Rooney's assist numbers were much lower than they have typically been in his career, as he was tasked with finishing, rather than providing chances.
Rooney's two seasons as an out-and-out No. 9 did not yield league titles for United, but they very nearly did, and Rooney certainly did his share of work to make that the case. This narrowly edges out the 2009/10 season because Rooney came even closer to adding the title to his goal haul this time around.
2007/08: Moscow
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In 2007/08, Rooney scored 18 goals and provided 14 assists. He may have missed out on top billing to a dominant Cristiano Ronaldo, but Rooney was absolutely crucial to United's march to Premier League and Champions League glory.
Although it may not have been the season in which he scored his best goal, his most goals or provided his most assists, it was the season in which he stood proudly beside his team-mates as a European champion.
He deserved to do so for his hard work and his invention. For the success it earned him and his side, 2007/08 has been Rooney's best season at United so far.
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