Wayne Rooney was even wilder as a kid – I remember him fighting my team-mate on the pitch and getting sent off
WAYNE ROONEY certainly hit the headlines throughout his football career.
But a Manchester United goalkeeper claims he was even wilder as a kid before his big breakthrough – and once got sent off for fighting.
Rooney, now 38, came through the youth ranks at Everton – bursting on to the scene aged 16 with his dramatic winner against Arsenal in 2002.
However, he was causing a stir among academy football years earlier.
Tom Heaton started out at United while Rooney was breaking records at Everton.
And the shot-stopper – now back at Old Trafford towards the end of his career after spells with Cardiff, Bristol City, Burnley and Aston Villa – has vivid memories of facing the young striker.
Heaton, also 38, told ManUtd.com: “I played against him a number of times when he was at Everton.
“We were obviously the same age and he was even more wild when he was younger, I think!
“I can remember now, we played away, I think we were Under-14s or Under-15s, and him and our centre-half were fighting on the pitch – and I literally mean fighting!
“Both got red cards, so I sort of knew of him at the time.
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“He was obviously an incredible player with incredible ability, but he also had that fiery temperament, so yeah, [I’ve got] some real interesting memories of him.”
Rooney never lacked confidence or aggression on the football field.
He earned a £27million transfer to Manchester United in 2004 and went on to become the club’s all-time record goalscorer with 253 goals in 559 appearances.
The forward and former captain lifted 12 major honours with the Red Devils including five Premier Leagues and the Champions League.
But his no-nonsense approach often landed him in hot water with referees, rivals and even his own boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
Rooney racked up eight red cards during his playing days, most famously in the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals against Portugal.
And he continues to feel the wrath of the officials as a manager.
The former Derby, DC United and Birmingham boss is now in charge at Plymouth.
And just last weekend, he picked up his first red card as a gaffer.
Rooney was furious Blackburn’s late equaliser was allowed to stand and his comments protesting to the officials and James Linington brandished the red.
The ex-England skipper had the last laugh, though, as his Plymouth side snatched a 97th-minute winner.
And Rooney revealed he went crazy out of sight in incredible scenes.
He told talkSPORT: “Me and the club secretary in the tunnel were celebrating, I broke his glasses celebrating.
“So the win was a deserved win, but sometimes it boils over a little bit and that’s the nature of football.”
He added: “It was my first time as a manager [getting sent off].
“I think as a manager or a head coach, decisions happen on the pitch and looking back, it’s a free kick, so the goal shouldn’t have stood.
“In the Championship you don’t have VAR so the officials missed it and your emotions kick in and you know, I’m a passionate person, we want to win.
“We worked extremely hard to win the game and to have that taken away by what I feel was a mistake by the officials, I felt was really harsh.
“I reacted in a manner in which I shouldn’t have and the red card was deserved.”