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#8 Wayne Rooney
Clubs: Everton, Manchester United
EPL Apps: 471
Goals: 202
Assists: 101
League titles: 5
Individual accolades: Player of the Season x 1
He might not have scored the expected bulk of goals, but Wayne Rooney leads by example in so many ways. These days, it seems a pity to see Wazza being criticized for not being up to the mark when his club needed him the most.
Wayne Rooney in his peak was more than just a footballer. Apart from being the brilliant goalscorer, he was in his early days, the Englishman seemed to fit seamlessly nearly in any position on the pitch. But, his virtue of unselfishness as a player has been not respected insufficiently, don't you think?
Whenever United experienced problems, the Englishman was always ready to fill in, displaying a rare sense of professionalism. Jose Mourinho was said to have cried when he left, something he never did for any other player. That speaks loads about his importance.
In Football - Bloody Hell!, Patrick Barclay's biography on Sir Alex, he states an incident where Wayne Rooney was ready to play as a centre-half against Chelsea with first-team defenders out injured.
It really pains to see people criticizing a rare legend who always put the interests of his team ahead of him.
Regardless of the countless debates about whether Rooney truly fulfilled his potential or not, none can refute the Evertonian's claim as one of the greatest epitomes of the Premier League.
