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“The hairs on the back of my neck are going ballistic”... the inimitable Rob Smyth couldn’t contain himself as he documented Manchester United’s 6-2 annihilation of Fenerbahce in the UEFA Champions League on the 28th of September, 2004. The writer wasn’t describing United’s victory though – he had merely been enthralled by the second of three goals scored by an 18-year-old debutant. The young Englishman pooh-poohed critics and naysayers (who’d slammed United for spending £25.6 million on a lad who had just come of age) as he smashed his way to a wondrous debut hat-trick that was to be a taste of things to come.
A garish website, a surprisingly well-done hair-transplant, 13 years, 556 more games and 248 more goals later, Wayne Rooney leaves Manchester United a multiple league winner, a Champions League winner, record goal-scorer, and certified legend.
As he makes his way back to his boyhood club, we take a quirky look back at the United team that lined up (and the subs bench, too) alongside Rooney for one of the most memorable debuts of all time.
Goalkeeper: Roy Carroll
Then: Roy Eric Carroll had been playing for United for three years up till then having ended up at Old Trafford via Hull City (50 apps) and Wigan Athletic (169 apps). The Northern Irishman spent 4 years at United (where he made only 72 apps) before spent spurts of a season or two at West Ham United (35 apps), Rangers (1 app), Derby County (38 apps), Odense (58 apps), OFI Crete (16 apps), Olympiacos (33 apps), and Notts County (84 apps).
If you can't quite place him, think back to Pedro Mendes and one of the greatest goals that never were:
Now: He still plays professional football, aged 39, and stands guard between the posts for Northern Ireland Football League Premiership side Linfield
Quirky Fact: Carroll had a one game managerial career when he managed Barnet to a 2-1 victory in the 2011 Herts Senior Cup final against Stevenage. One game; one trophy. Perfection.
Defenders (part I of II)
Right Back: Gary Neville
Then: Gary Alexander Neville was a goddamn veteran by the time Rooney rolled into town having spent a good dozen years at United already. Seven years later, he retired as club captain after having represented his club a solid 602 times.
Now: The most erudite TV analyst out there, he failed as head coach of Valencia (had a record of 28 GP, 10 W, 7 D, 11 L) but hasn’t let that setback affect him one bit as he continues to cut through the rubbish and provide rare insight into the beautiful game day in and day out.
Quirky Quote: "If he was an inch taller he'd be the best centre-half in Britain. His father is 6ft 2in - I'd check the milkman." – Sir Alex Ferguson on his trusted right back.
Centre Back: Rio Ferdinand
Then: Rio Gavin Ferdinand had arrived two years previously as the most expensive British footballer in history (at the time) and two-time most Expensive defender in the world (his earlier transfer from West Ham to Leeds had also broken the previous record). The sum is reported to be around £34 million and he delivered every penny’s worth in 12 sparkling years where he racked up 455 appearances and formed one of the league’s all-time great Centre back partnerships with Nemanja “he’ll f****ing murder ya” Vidic. A product of the West Ham academy, he’d played 158 times for them and 73 times for Leeds before the Red Devils. Oh he also appeared 81 times for England from 1997-2011
Now: He retired a year after he left United... after a rather forgetful spell at QPR... and if the body he’s been showing off recently on social media is any indication spent every spare minute in the gym. Now makes occasional public appearances as a TV analyst and, of course, for testimonials.
Quirky Video: He’d make an excellent motivational speaker if he could speak a touch more lucidly, no?
Defenders (part II)
Centre Back: Mikael Silvestre
Then: Having joined Silvestre in 1999 after stints with Rennes and Internazionale, the versatile Frenchman played centre-back and left-back intermittently for United and racked up a quite amazing 361 appearances for the Red Devils. Later joined Arsenal (43 apps) and Weder Bremen (31) before branching out to try “soccer” with the Portland Timbers (8 apps) and brave Chennai’s heat and Marco Materazzi’s mouth to play 6 times for Chennaiyin in the Indian Super League. Also made 40 appearances for France in between
Now: On retiring, Silvestre took up a director of football role with boyhood club Rennes but left (by mutual consent, they said) after a year and a half on 22 December 2016
Quirky Fact: Manchester United actually got Arsenal to pay nearly a million Euros for the Frenchman. Oh, and he has 5 Premier League winner's medals.
Left Back: Gabriel Heinze
Then: The combative Argentine had joined United the same year as Rooney after building his reputation at Newell’s Old Boys, Real Vallodid, Sporting CP and Paris Saint-Germain (this was before they got super-rich). He spent three eventful years at United, making 83 appearances and left for Real Madrid after a proper ol’ bust-up with Fergie. He later moved on to Marseille before retiring with AS Roma in 2012. He was also a mainstay of the Argentine team and made 71 appearances for Los Albiceleste
Now: Heinze dabbled in coaching (despite not having the requisite licenses) and spent three months with Godoy Cruz in the Argentine Primera Division before getting sacked following a record of 10 GP, 2 W, 2D, 6L.
Quirky Fact: He was the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year in 2004-05; beating out Wayne Rooney to the prize. (the Englishman won it the next year)
Midfielders (part I of II)
Right Wing – David Bellion
Then: David Bellion arrived at United a year prior to Rooney after spells at Cannes and Sunderland and spent two years with the Red Devils before being farmed out on loan to West Ham United and Nice. He was then sold off to the latter club but there was a mid-career jumpstart when Bordeaux signed him and he had seven long years there. He later retired at French third-tier side Red Star FC. Oh and scored the sixth goal in that Rooney debut match!
Now: He was last reported to have been working for an art gallery – “I work for Ymer & Malta, a little gallery in Paris, and I collect works of art. I have two paintings of theirs. The woman who set it up offered me the chance to represent them, and I said yes straightaway. Living in Paris enables me to do this” - said he
Quirky Fact: Due to his undisputed pace on the ball, the Frenchman used to be known as “ the new Thierry Henry”
Centre-midfield – Eric Djemba-Djemba
Then: So good they named him twice? He joined United in the same year as Bellion after just one two-year stint at Nantes. He spent 2 years at United, appearing 20 times in the red shirt before moving on to *takes deep breath* Aston Villa, Burnley, Qatar SC, Odense Boldklub (in Denmark, if you were wondering), Hapoel Tel Aviv, FK Partizan Belgrade, St. Mirren, Chennaiyin, Persebaya Surabaya (in the Indonesian SECOND division) and Voltigeurs de Châteaubriant (French FOURTH division)
Now: The Cameroonian, who made 34 appearances for the Indomitable Lions, currently plies his trade with Swiss FIFTH division side FC Vallorbe-Ballaigues.
Quirky Fact: For those who haven’t seen him play, the man was essentially Eric Bailly and Marcos Rojo rolled into one: aggression-wise. Arsene Wenger once called a challenge he made on Sol Campbell in his first appearance in England... “obscene”.
Midfielders (part II)
Centre Midfield – Kleberson
Then: The first Brazilian to play for the club, Kleberson moved to United from Atletico Paranaense after playing a starring role in Brazil’s World Cup winning run in 2002 (as Scolari’s trusted midfield enforcer). The Red Devils beat out interest from Barcelona, Newcastle United, Leeds United and Celtic to sign him for £6.5 million. He moved after making just 30 appearances in two years and spent time playing for Besiktas (67 apps), Flamengo (123 apps), Bahia (23 apps) before moving North to play for the Philadelphia Union and Indy Eleven (the latter in the hipster North American Soccer League)
Now: Aged 38, he currently marshalls midfield Fort Lauderdale Strikers... the same team the George Best once trotted out 33 times for.
Quirky Fact: Manchester United once fielded a Champions League starting XI that featured David Bellion, Eric Djemba-Djemba, and Kleberson. And the young 'uns moan about Marouane Fellaini!
Left Wing – Ryan Giggs
Then: A Manchester United legend who had been playing first team football for United for nigh on fourteen years and had already made 600+ appearances when Rooney was making his United debut. On which he scored the opener.
Now: A Manchester United legend, and the most decorated British footballer of all time, having won himself 13 Premier Leagues 4 FA Cups and a couple of Champions League while amassing a whopping 963 appearances. Not too shabby, eh?
Quirky Fact: The Welshman was never sent off in his 24-year playing career for Manchester United. He has also scored in every season he’s played in... 24 consecutive Top Division seasons scored in consecutively is a record that’s going to stand a while.
Forwards
Centre Forward – Ruud van Nistelrooy (scored the fifth goal that night)
Then: The undisputed number one man at United, having arrived there from PSV Eindhoven (where he scored 75 goals in 91 games), Rutgerus Johannes Martinus van Nistelrooy (Ruud, for you and me) formed a brilliant (and strangely underrated) strike partnership with the young man right from the off (He assisted Rooney for his first ever United goal with a sublime through ball). Left United (after 219 games and 150 goals) for Real Madrid after a massive clash of egos with Ferguson and played rather well for them scoring 64 goals in 96 games. His career then tailed off with stints at Hamburger SV and Malaga. Oh, and he’s got 35 goals in just 70 games for the Netherlands.
Now: After joining PSV as a coaching intern in 2013, working with the under-17s. he tried his hand at being a TV analyst. After the 2014 WC, he joined as assistant to Guus Hiddink in 2014, before becoming PSV's attacking coach for their youth teams. He then moved on to become the first team’s attacking coach this season. No wonder they scored 88 goals in 34 games this time around, eh?
Quirky Quote: Actually, nothing quirky about it... it’s actually rather nice: “He’s a phenomenal talent and the prospect of him pulling on a United shirt is frightening. I don’t know many clubs that wouldn’t want him in their side as he’s an incredible player. And, if he does become available, Manchester United should do everything in their power to sign him. It certainly excites me to think he could be playing at United next season.” – RvN on the possibility of United signing Wayne Rooney
Centre Forward – Wayne Rooney
Then: A pudgy, fresh-faced lad who’d just made a fairytale move to United from Everton and decided to announce himself to Old Trafford the only way he knew how.... spectacularly.
Now: A tough, grizzled veteran - who lived up to every bit of hype that first hattrick delivered (and then some) - who’s just made a fairytale move from United to Everton. For those who spent their time following every kick of his 13-year Manchester United career... how time flies, eh?
Quirky Video: He has scored better goals, more important goals, goals against far superior opponents... but none epitomised the man quite like this –
Substitutes (Part I of IV)
Central Midfielder – Darren Fletcher (on for Giggs in the 62nd minute)
Then: A United academy graduate, the Scot had become an essential cog in Fergie’s United machine by the time Rooney arrived. He spent a hugely successful 13 years at the club, making 342 appearances, and was only let go after he was diagnosed with career-threatening ulcerative colitis. Ever the fighter, he recouped to join West Brom on a free transfer and last season played every single game for them.
Now: The 33-year-old has just signed a two-year contract with Stoke City.
Quirky Fact: Fletcher was set to become the youngest player ever to appear in the Manchester United first-team when he was selected for the club's final fixture of the 99-00 season (against Aston Villa) but PL rules prohibited players on schoolboy contracts from appearing at the senior level, and Fletcher's debut was delayed!
Central Midfielder – Liam Miller (on for Nistelrooy in the 81st minute)
Then: The Irishman arrived the same season as Rooney but didn’t quite have the same impact. He’d made the rather surprising transfer after his performances at Celtic (44 apps) attracted attention; he played only 22 times for United (scoring twice) before he moved on to Leeds United, Sunderland, Queens Park Rangers, Hibernian, Perth Glory, Brisbane Roar, Melbourne City and Cork City
Now: The 36-year-old is still active, and currently plies his trade with Wilmington Hammerheads in the ultra-hipster United Soccer League (second division to the MLS, alongside the NASL)
Quirky Fact: Liam Miller played 22 times for Manchester United.
To his eternal credit, he’s always been positive about the rather torrid spell he endured at Old Trafford – “Man Utd didn't work out but I have no regrets about giving it a go”
Substitutes (Part II)
Phil Neville (on for Heinze in the 81st minute)
Then: Was a pale imitation of his older brother Gary – but could do a useful job anywhere in defense and central midfield and thus made 386 appearances for United in the decade he spent at the club; and added to it with 303 appearances for Rooney’s current club, Everton!
Now: Is a pale imitation of his elder brother Gary – was his assistant at Valencia, and is now a TV analyst with Sky.
Quirky Video: This will never stop being funny... or awkward:
Goalkeeper – Ricardo
Then: Before David de Gea, there was Ricardo López Felipe. The Atletico Madrid youth team player moved to United via Valladolid a couple of years before Rooney but didn’t have anything like the impact that his fellow Atleti youth-team graduate would have a decade later. He played just once in the Premier League and four times in the Champions League for United. He ended his career with Osasuna, where he made nearly 200 appearances over 8 years.
Now: In 2013, he joined Club Brugge KV as goalkeeping coach before moving on to his current position as Japan’s goalkeeping coach.
Quirky Fact: He conceded a penalty with his first touch in the Premier League (fouling Andy Cole, then of Blackburn)... but saved David Dunn’s attempt! (United won that game 2-1)
Substitutes (Part III)
Could play anywhere on the field - John O'Shea
Then: John Francis O’Shea had been playing for five years at United and had racked up well over 110 caps for the Red Devils when Rooney arrived. Even then he was seen as the one-stop-shop for any kind of fix that Fergie needed and slotted in seamlessly across defense and midfield: whatever the situation demanded. This utility meant he played 393 times for United before moving on to Sunderland. Oh, he’s also represented Ireland 116 times!
Now: The 36-year-old is currently club captain at Sunderland and has made 208 appearances for them... all – rather unusually if you’ve only seen him play for United - at centre back.
Quirky Video: He quite literally played everywhere for Manchester United:
Centre Forward - Alan Smith
Then: The Englishman joined Manchester United from great rivals Leeds (228 apps, 56 goals) for £7 million the same summer Rooney did but had a far less successful time of it. He stayed for three years but was able to score just 12 goals in 93 appearances for the Red Devils. He later moved on to MK Dons, Newcastle United and MK Dons again
Now: By the time he left United he’d become a central midfielder – and that’s where he plays currently for Notts County in League Two (fourth division)
Quirky Fact: A Leeds Academy graduate who played for them for six years, he was a Hero for the local fans (the image of him kissing the badge and crying was the most iconic image of Leed’s relegation in 2004). But he soon became a hated villain after moving to hated rivals Manchester United! (This despite the fact that Smith chose to waive the personal transfer fee owed to him by the club because they couldn’t afford it – oh, and it was later revealed that Leeds themselves had engineered the move as no other club had offered up-front money)
Substitutes (part IV)
Right Wing - Cristiano Ronaldo
You might have heard of him.
Then: A brash young dribbler who was in the process of being dismissed as nothing but a flash-in-the-pan entertainer.
Now: As my colleague Rohith Nair put it, the man has a day job in Madrid at the moment
Quirky Video: Not quirky... simply awesome.
Match facts:
Fenerbache XI: Rustu, Baris, Luciano, Ozat, Akyel (Akin 61), Balci, Aurelio, Marcio Nobre, Sanli, Alex, Van Hooijdonk.Subs Not Used: Demirel, Rodriguez, Yozgatli, Hacioglu, Turaci, Sahin.
Goals from their end: Marcio Nobre 47, Sanli 60.
Attendance: 67,128
Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium).
The only reason we’re talking about the match, and will do so for quite a while? Wayne Mark Rooney
