Mail on Sunday sports journalist Oliver Holt joined Joe Molloy to discuss the trials and tribulations of England’s all-time leading goal scorer Wayne Rooney. Rooney is the subject of a much anticipated Amazon Prime documentary which is due to be released on Friday 11th.
Showcasing Rooney’s most memorable moments, the documentary has already hit the headlines due to Rooney’s admission about struggles with alcohol binges and one decision that led to the England star changing his football studs with the intention of hurting a fellow footballer.
“He was untouchable, he was a talent,” said Holt, as he discussed 18-year-old Rooney bursting onto the scene in 2004.
“We had the best player in the world. He tore one of the best teams in the world apart.”
Holt believes England would have gone on to win the tournament if Rooney had not been sidelined due to injury, but as promising as England looked in 2004, both England and Rooney “never hit those highs again.”
Despite England not winning a major tournament, Rooney’s Manchester United career can be described as legendary, and Holt suspects Rooney will hope this documentary “will show a different side to him.”
“I suspect he’s become slightly frustrated by this idea of him as some sort of party animal."
Since Rooney's playing career, he has been widely praised for his foray into management.
“He is in a different stage of his career now” noted Holt. “He is winning lots of plaudits and quite rightly. I think it's for the dignity and the ability with which he’s managing”.
Rooney is showing no signs of slowing down as his bid to save Derby County’s season continues. Holt suspects the new documentary will draw a line under Rooney's illustrious career. It will ultimately “allow him to move on and be seen in a more serious light.”
Article written by Oliver Dingley
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
