Wayne Rooney has revealed that he was “bored” during two of his most prolific seasons at Manchester United, admitting that scoring goals alone was not enough to keep him fulfilled on the pitch.
The former England captain, now 40, confessed on the BBC’s Wayne Rooney Show that even at the height of his powers under Sir Alex Ferguson, he struggled to enjoy playing as a traditional No 9.
Despite hitting a remarkable 68 goals across the 2009/10 and 2011/12 campaigns, Rooney said that he often left the field feeling detached from the game.
“I had two seasons when I played as the No 9, scored 34 goals in both but I was bored,” he explained.
“I was coming off the pitch and just wasn’t enjoying it. I liked to play football and be involved in the game, so I was scoring goals and we were winning games, but I wanted to get involved.”
Rooney said he admired strikers who could patiently wait for opportunities — a skill he admitted he never quite mastered.
“I didn’t ask Sir Alex to move position, I loved scoring goals and at times playing up front, but it’s a hard skill to learn," he added.
Wayne Rooney was outstanding for Manchester United in his prime
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"You have to be very patient and it takes time. I could play one game with Berbatov in a different role then change again with Tevez."
The Manchester United legend’s comments shed light on the tactical flexibility that defined his 13 years at Old Trafford.
While he was capable of operating as a ruthless finisher, Rooney always preferred contributing to the build-up and linking play — something that often limited his assist numbers when used as an out-and-out striker.
Wayne Rooney won five Premier League titles during his spell at Manchester United
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Wayne Rooney didn't enjoy being the main man at Manchester United because it meant he touched the ball less
| PAIn the 2009/10 season, Rooney scored 25 goals in the Premier League, five in the Champions League, two in the EFL Cup and one in the Community Shield, but managed only six assists, highlighting how isolated he became in attack.
United lifted the EFL Cup that year but were pipped to the title by Chelsea.
Two years later, he again hit 34 goals — including 27 in the league — during a campaign that ended in heartbreak, as United lost the Premier League title to Manchester City on goal difference.
Wayne Rooney enjoyed a stunning career in the Premier League
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Sergio Agüero’s dramatic stoppage-time winner against QPR consigned Rooney and his teammates to a second-place finish despite their 1-0 win at Sunderland on the same day.
Rooney’s remarkable consistency saw him play alongside a host of strike partners, including Robin van Persie, Dimitar Berbatov, Louis Saha and Javier Hernandez.
But it was his partnership with Carlos Tevez that he remembered most fondly.
Wayne Rooney enjoyed playing alongside Carlos Tevez during his time at Manchester United
|PA
Rooney also formed a formidable partnership with Berbatov, the pair scoring 160 goals collectively during the Bulgarian’s four-year spell at the club.
During the programme, Rooney was also asked to pick his dream five-a-side team made up of current Premier League stars.
He went for a bold, attack-heavy selection, saying: “Phil Foden definitely, in five-a-side in tight areas he’d be brilliant. Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka. No goalkeeper. Caicedo and Salah.”