Wayne Rooney targeting silverware with Everton after sealing return to boyhood club from Manchester United
Rooney has said winning a trophy with Everton would represent the 'pinnacle' of his career
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Your support makes all the difference.Wayne Rooney has claimed winning a trophy with Everton would represent the “pinnacle” of his career, after it was announced on Sunday that he was leaving Manchester United after 13-years to return to his boyhood club.
Rooney, 31, has signed a two-year deal with the club he first joined as a 9-year-old, with Romelu Lukaku preparing to join United.
The veteran striker left Everton to join United in 2004 and enjoyed a trophy-laden spell with the club, winning five Premier League titles, the FA Cup, three League Cups, the Champions League, Europa League and Fifa Club World Cup.
He is also England’s all-time record goal-scorer, having scored 53 goals for the national team.
But upon his return to the Merseyside club, Rooney said winning a trophy with Everton would eclipse all of those achievements.
“(Winning trophies with Everton) would be the pinnacle,” Rooney told the club website.
“I really feel now the Club is moving in the right direction, bringing the right calibre of players in. I want to be part of it and hopefully part of a successful Everton team.
“It’s a great feeling to be back. I’m excited, I cannot wait to meet the lads, get on the training pitch and then get on the pitch to play. I’m ecstatic – I just cannot wait to get back playing.
“I’m excited, and I’m excited by the signings that the Club have made. This club is moving forward. This football club should be winning trophies and we’re taking huge steps to being involved and trying to win trophies.”
Rooney also acknowledged that his first game back for his boyhood club will be an emotional affair. He grew up supporting Everton and joined the club at the age of nine. Two years later and he was the Everton mascot for the Merseyside derby against Liverpool.
“The first game back will be an emotional day for me and I’m looking forward to it,” he added.
“I’m not just coming back because it’s the team I support, the team I grew up playing for - I’m coming back because I feel the Club can move forward and be successful. I want to be part of it.
“There will be pressure on me to perform, but I’m ready to go. I believe I can help move this club forward and be more successful on the pitch.
“With the new stadium in the pipeline, it’s an exciting time to be an Everton player, to be an Everton fan. It’s on us players to make those times even more exciting by giving them good performances and try to help them be successful and bring trophies to the Club.”
The former England and Manchester United captain also revealed that both Ronald Koeman and club chairman had played key roles in his return to the club, after 13-years at Old Trafford.
“Ronald Koeman was very influential in me coming here,” he added.
“When it was obvious I was going to be leaving Manchester United this summer, Ronald came out a few times and said how much he wanted me at the Club and that had a huge impact on me. There were other options there but once I knew that Everton wanted me to come back then it was the only option for me.
“Bill obviously played a big role in it but the important one was Ronald Koeman. He was the one who picks the team and he’s the one who has his ideas on the football pitch. There were a lot more things behind the scenes which needed to happen but, for me, the important person to speak to was Ronald Koeman.
“As I spoke to Ronald and saw it in his eyes that he wanted me to be part of his team, it was a no-brainer for me and the only place I was going to go.”
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