Wayne Rooney retires from international football

Wayne Rooney, England’s all-time top goalscorer, has announced his retirement from international football.

There aren’t many players in English football who can say that they have won sixteen trophies, but Wayne Rooney is a player who has achieved all of this during his thirteen year spell at Manchester United, something that is demonstrated in our infographic we have created on Rooney’s career.

Since leaving the Red Devils to return to Everton in the summer, Rooney has joined the 200 club, by scoring his 200^th Premier League goal against his former club’s city rivals, Manchester City. Alan Shearer was the only member of the 200 club until that goal and you can bet on football that Rooney will still look to chase Shearer’s total of 260 Premier League goals.

Rooney is also joint 5^th with Luis Suarez, Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero for having scored six Premier League hat-tricks. Alan Shearer’s eleven hat-tricks is unlikely to be caught by Rooney as he is in the latter stages of his illustrious career.

With all of this experience Rooney will be one of the figureheads at Everton and many of the younger players at the club will be turning to him to lead from the front. This is especially the case as the club has begun poorly, thanks to some difficult fixtures but now that some of the toughest games have been played, manager Koeman can look at picking up some vital points.

Here is a statement from Wayne on his decision to retire form international football:

It was great Gareth Southgate called me this week to tell me he wanted me back in the England squad for the upcoming matches. I really appreciated that.

However, having already thought long and hard, I told Gareth that I had now decided to retire for good from international football.

It is a really tough decision and one I have discussed with my family, my manager at Everton and those closest to me.

Playing for England has always been special to me. Every time I was selected as a player or captain was a real privilege and I thank everyone who helped
me. But I believe now is the time to bow out.

Leaving Manchester United was a tough call but I know I made the right decision in coming home to Everton. Now I want to focus all my energies on helping them be successful.

I will always remain a passionate England fan. One of my very few regrets is not to have been part of a successful England tournament side. Hopefully the exciting players Gareth is bringing through can take that ambition further and I hope everyone will get behind the team.

One day the dream will come true and I look forward to being there as a fan – or in any capacity.