Rooney
10 April 2003, 04:14 PM
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Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Wayne Rooney are standing
before God at the throne of Heaven.
God looks at them and says; "before granting you a
place at my side, I must first ask you what you
believe in."
Addressing Ronaldo first he asks, "what do you
believe?"
Ronaldo looks God in the eye and states passionately,
"I believe Football to be the food of life. Nothing
else brings such unbridled joy to so many people from
the slums of Rio to the bright lights of Madrid. I
have devoted my life to bring such joy to people who
stood on the terraces supporting their club."
God looks up and offers Ronaldo the seat to his left.
He then turns to Luis Figo , "and you, Luis , what do
you believe?"
Figo stands tall and proud, "I believe courage, honour
and passion are the fundamentals to life and I've
spent my whole playing career providing a living
embodiment of these traits."
God, moved by the passion of the speech offers Figo
the seat to his right.
Finally, he turns to Wayne Rooney , "and you, Wayne ,
what do you believe?"
"I believe" says Rooney "you're sitting in my seat."
before God at the throne of Heaven.
God looks at them and says; "before granting you a
place at my side, I must first ask you what you
believe in."
Addressing Ronaldo first he asks, "what do you
believe?"
Ronaldo looks God in the eye and states passionately,
"I believe Football to be the food of life. Nothing
else brings such unbridled joy to so many people from
the slums of Rio to the bright lights of Madrid. I
have devoted my life to bring such joy to people who
stood on the terraces supporting their club."
God looks up and offers Ronaldo the seat to his left.
He then turns to Luis Figo , "and you, Luis , what do
you believe?"
Figo stands tall and proud, "I believe courage, honour
and passion are the fundamentals to life and I've
spent my whole playing career providing a living
embodiment of these traits."
God, moved by the passion of the speech offers Figo
the seat to his right.
Finally, he turns to Wayne Rooney , "and you, Wayne ,
what do you believe?"
"I believe" says Rooney "you're sitting in my seat."
10 April 2003, 04:22 PM
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The sweet irony of Wayne Rooney's man of the match
display against Turkey was that the young England
striker was not allowed to savour his champagne prize.
At 17, Rooney is not legally old enough to drink, yet
he is old enough to carry the weight of a nation's
expectations squarely on his burly shoulders.
The pundits virtually had to hold themselves back from
showering superlatives as talk of future world
domination tripped almost apologetically from their
lips.
So where were the great strikers when they were
Rooney's age?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of birth:
23-10-1940
International debut: 1957 v Argentina, aged 16
International caps: 111
International goals: 96
PELE
At the age of 17 Pele was already a World Cup winner.
The youngest player ever to appear in a World Cup, he
scored twice in the final against Sweden in 1958 to
serve notice of the greatness to come in his
glittering career.
He scored a further 94 goals at international level,
though Pele remained in Brazil for virtually the whole
of his club career.
He played his first professional game in 1956 at the
age of 15 and played in four World Cups - scoring 12
goals in 14 matches.
He played 1,036 games for Santos, was deemed a
"national treasure" and saw the street in which he was
born named Pele Street before finishing his
professional career in America with New York Cosmos.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of birth:
30-10-1960
International debut: 1977 v Hungary, aged 16
International caps: 90
International goals: 33
DIEGO MARADONA
At the age of 17 Argentina's young prodigy suffered
international heartbreak. Having made his debut for
his country as a 16-year-old, many expected him to be
named in Carlos Mennotti's World Cup squad in his
Argentina homeland.
But Maradona, already a star at club side Boca
Juniors, was one of three players left out from the
provisional squad and recalls: "That day I swore I
would go for revenge."
The 17-year-old's vow came true as Maradona
established himself as probably the most gifted player
of all time, yet his glittering career was tainted
with controversy.
The 1986 World Cup quarter-final win over England
perfectly illustrated his mercurial footballing life
as he followed the infamous "Hand of God" goal with
arguably the greatest World Cup goal of all time.
A World Cup winner in 1986, he also helped Napoli win
Italy's Serie A twice and the Uefa Cup.
He was joint winner with Pele of Fifa's World Player
of the Century award in 2000.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of birth:
22-09-1976
International debut: 1994 v Argentina, aged 17
International caps: 67
International goals: 47
RONALDO
Often compared to his compatriot Pele and has already
won the World Player of the Year award twice, yet at
the age of 17 Ronaldo was still waiting to make his
international mark.
At 16, he was a professional with Cruzeiro in Brazil
and a year later he was part of the Brazil squad which
won the World Cup in America, though he failed to get
off the substitutes' bench.
A forlorn figure in Brazil's 1998 World Cup final
defeat at the hands of hosts France, but rejuvenated
last summer as he ended with the golden boot as top
scorer following two goals in the World Cup final win
over Germany in Japan.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of birth:
13-08-1970
International debut: 1992 v France, aged 22
International caps: 63
International goals: 30
ALAN SHEARER
Shearer made his mark as a 17-year-old with
Southampton, becoming the youngest player ever to
score a Football League hat-trick when he celebrated
his Saints debut with three goals in a 4-2 win over
Arsenal.
Signed his first professional contract five days
later, but had to wait until the age of 22 for his
first international cap, scoring on his debut in a 2-0
win against France.
Twice became Britain's most expensive footballer when
he moved to Blackburn for £3.3m and then Newcastle for
£15m.
Footballer of the Year in 1994 and the first player to
reach 100 Premiership goals as he helped Rovers to the
Premiership title in 1995.
Retired from international football following Euro
2000 in order to concentrate on his club performances.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of birth:
14-12-1979
International debut: 1998 v Chile, aged 18
International caps: 46
International goals: 20
MICHAEL OWEN
A star of Liverpool's 1996 FA Youth Cup triumph, Owen
burst on to football's big stage at the age of 17 with
a goal against Wimbledon on his Liverpool debut.
Won his first international cap against Chile at the
age of 18 and, like Rooney, prompted a public clamour
for his regular inclusion.
England boss Glenn Hoddle gambled on the teenager at
France 1998 and the move paid instant dividends as
Owen struck a wonder goal against Argentina.
Hamstring and tendon problems hampered his progress
but Owen remains England's first-choice striker and
boasts nearly 50 caps at the age of 23.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of birth:
30-11-1960
International debut:
International caps: 80
International goals: 48
GARY LINEKER
At 17, Lineker was making his name as a Leicester
reserve team striker, and had to wait until New Year's
Day 1979 to make his debut at the age of 18.
Top-scored in his first four seasons with Leicester
and spent nine seasons with his home-town club before
joining Everton in an £800,000 deal.
Named Footballer of the Year in 1986 after scoring 38
goals and subsequent moves to Barcelona and Tottenham
followed.
Was a late starter at international level but went on
to become England's second highest goalscorer, his
48-goal total leaving him one short of Sir Bobby
Charlton.
Made his name internationally when he became the only
Englishman to win the World Cup Golden Boot with six
goals in 1986 and is England's top World Cup scorer
with 10 goals.
But his England career ended controversially when he
was substituted by Graham Taylor as England tumbled
out of the 1992 European Championships.
display against Turkey was that the young England
striker was not allowed to savour his champagne prize.
At 17, Rooney is not legally old enough to drink, yet
he is old enough to carry the weight of a nation's
expectations squarely on his burly shoulders.
The pundits virtually had to hold themselves back from
showering superlatives as talk of future world
domination tripped almost apologetically from their
lips.
So where were the great strikers when they were
Rooney's age?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of birth:
23-10-1940
International debut: 1957 v Argentina, aged 16
International caps: 111
International goals: 96
PELE
At the age of 17 Pele was already a World Cup winner.
The youngest player ever to appear in a World Cup, he
scored twice in the final against Sweden in 1958 to
serve notice of the greatness to come in his
glittering career.
He scored a further 94 goals at international level,
though Pele remained in Brazil for virtually the whole
of his club career.
He played his first professional game in 1956 at the
age of 15 and played in four World Cups - scoring 12
goals in 14 matches.
He played 1,036 games for Santos, was deemed a
"national treasure" and saw the street in which he was
born named Pele Street before finishing his
professional career in America with New York Cosmos.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of birth:
30-10-1960
International debut: 1977 v Hungary, aged 16
International caps: 90
International goals: 33
DIEGO MARADONA
At the age of 17 Argentina's young prodigy suffered
international heartbreak. Having made his debut for
his country as a 16-year-old, many expected him to be
named in Carlos Mennotti's World Cup squad in his
Argentina homeland.
But Maradona, already a star at club side Boca
Juniors, was one of three players left out from the
provisional squad and recalls: "That day I swore I
would go for revenge."
The 17-year-old's vow came true as Maradona
established himself as probably the most gifted player
of all time, yet his glittering career was tainted
with controversy.
The 1986 World Cup quarter-final win over England
perfectly illustrated his mercurial footballing life
as he followed the infamous "Hand of God" goal with
arguably the greatest World Cup goal of all time.
A World Cup winner in 1986, he also helped Napoli win
Italy's Serie A twice and the Uefa Cup.
He was joint winner with Pele of Fifa's World Player
of the Century award in 2000.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of birth:
22-09-1976
International debut: 1994 v Argentina, aged 17
International caps: 67
International goals: 47
RONALDO
Often compared to his compatriot Pele and has already
won the World Player of the Year award twice, yet at
the age of 17 Ronaldo was still waiting to make his
international mark.
At 16, he was a professional with Cruzeiro in Brazil
and a year later he was part of the Brazil squad which
won the World Cup in America, though he failed to get
off the substitutes' bench.
A forlorn figure in Brazil's 1998 World Cup final
defeat at the hands of hosts France, but rejuvenated
last summer as he ended with the golden boot as top
scorer following two goals in the World Cup final win
over Germany in Japan.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of birth:
13-08-1970
International debut: 1992 v France, aged 22
International caps: 63
International goals: 30
ALAN SHEARER
Shearer made his mark as a 17-year-old with
Southampton, becoming the youngest player ever to
score a Football League hat-trick when he celebrated
his Saints debut with three goals in a 4-2 win over
Arsenal.
Signed his first professional contract five days
later, but had to wait until the age of 22 for his
first international cap, scoring on his debut in a 2-0
win against France.
Twice became Britain's most expensive footballer when
he moved to Blackburn for £3.3m and then Newcastle for
£15m.
Footballer of the Year in 1994 and the first player to
reach 100 Premiership goals as he helped Rovers to the
Premiership title in 1995.
Retired from international football following Euro
2000 in order to concentrate on his club performances.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of birth:
14-12-1979
International debut: 1998 v Chile, aged 18
International caps: 46
International goals: 20
MICHAEL OWEN
A star of Liverpool's 1996 FA Youth Cup triumph, Owen
burst on to football's big stage at the age of 17 with
a goal against Wimbledon on his Liverpool debut.
Won his first international cap against Chile at the
age of 18 and, like Rooney, prompted a public clamour
for his regular inclusion.
England boss Glenn Hoddle gambled on the teenager at
France 1998 and the move paid instant dividends as
Owen struck a wonder goal against Argentina.
Hamstring and tendon problems hampered his progress
but Owen remains England's first-choice striker and
boasts nearly 50 caps at the age of 23.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of birth:
30-11-1960
International debut:
International caps: 80
International goals: 48
GARY LINEKER
At 17, Lineker was making his name as a Leicester
reserve team striker, and had to wait until New Year's
Day 1979 to make his debut at the age of 18.
Top-scored in his first four seasons with Leicester
and spent nine seasons with his home-town club before
joining Everton in an £800,000 deal.
Named Footballer of the Year in 1986 after scoring 38
goals and subsequent moves to Barcelona and Tottenham
followed.
Was a late starter at international level but went on
to become England's second highest goalscorer, his
48-goal total leaving him one short of Sir Bobby
Charlton.
Made his name internationally when he became the only
Englishman to win the World Cup Golden Boot with six
goals in 1986 and is England's top World Cup scorer
with 10 goals.
But his England career ended controversially when he
was substituted by Graham Taylor as England tumbled
out of the 1992 European Championships.
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