Former Manchester United attacker Wayne Rooney has spoken candidly about what he considers the most difficult phase in a footballer’s career, saying it is coming to terms with a decline in performance and status.
The ex-Manchester United forward, reflecting on his own experiences, said recognising when a player is no longer at their peak can be a significant challenge. Rooney made the remarks during The Wayne Rooney Show, as reported by BBC Sport on Friday.
Rooney enjoyed a highly successful spell at Manchester United after joining from Everton in 2004 for £27m. Over 13 years at Old Trafford, he made 559 appearances, scored 253 goals and secured numerous honours, including five Premier League titles, as well as the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup.
However, by 2017, Rooney found his role diminished following the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimović. At the age of 31, he chose to leave the club and return to Everton.
“I did it at Manchester United when Zlatan Ibrahimović came in and I wasn’t playing. I wanted to play so I left straight away. I accepted it,” he said.
Rooney suggested that such decisions are rarely straightforward, adding that players often struggle to acknowledge their changing role within a team.
He drew comparisons with Mohamed Salah, who is expected to depart Liverpool FC at the end of the season after nine years at Anfield. Salah has been instrumental in Liverpool’s recent success, helping the club secure major trophies including the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Club World Cup. However, Rooney noted a decline in the forward’s performances this season relative to his usual standards.
Rooney also highlighted the broader implications for teams when experienced players are no longer performing at their best.
“They are the leaders in the dressing room. It’s hard for the other players to go and leave their mark or become the leaders,” he added.
While he suggested that some players remain at clubs longer than they perhaps should, Rooney stopped short of directly calling for departures. He referenced Virgil van Dijk but did not explicitly state that the defender should move on.
“I don’t think he will [leave] but you’ve seen players when they’ve stayed there for too long,” he said.
Both Salah and Van Dijk reached their peak under former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, who led the club to Champions League success in 2019 and their first league title in 30 years in 2020 before stepping down in 2024.
Rooney expressed admiration for Klopp, praising his personality and influence.
“Klopp was the only Liverpool manager I’ve looked at and would’ve loved to play for him, not for Liverpool, obviously,” he said.
He contrasted Klopp’s presence with that of current Liverpool manager Arne Slot, suggesting a difference in charisma.
“I said about Arne Slot that he doesn’t have the aura that Klopp has,” Rooney added.
“What Klopp brought, even when he’s walking around a restaurant with a bottle of beer, that’s what the people of Liverpool like.
