Former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney has opened up on what he describes as the most difficult moment in a footballer’s career—accepting when they are no longer at their peak.
Drawing from his own experience, Rooney reflected on his decision to leave Manchester United in 2017 at the age of 31 after falling down the pecking order. He returned to Everton, the club where he began his professional career.
Rooney, who spent 13 years at Old Trafford following a £27 million move in 2004, enjoyed a decorated spell, making 559 appearances, scoring 253 goals, and winning multiple titles including five Premier League trophies, the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and FA Cup.
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, as reported by BBC Sport, he said the biggest challenge for players is recognising when their performance levels begin to drop.
“I did it at Manchester United when Zlatan Ibrahimovic came in and I wasn’t playing. I wanted to play so I left straight away. I accepted it,” Rooney said.
He compared his situation to that of Mohamed Salah, who is expected to leave Liverpool FC at the end of the season after nine years at Anfield.
Salah has been central to Liverpool’s success, winning major honours including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup. However, the current season has seen a dip in his performance by his usual high standards.
The 33-year-old forward is projected to play fewer than 30 league matches for the first time since joining Liverpool and is on course to finish with fewer than 10 league goals, having recorded seven goals and six assists so far.
“I said this since the start of the season, age gets to us all and your legs go. I think that’s happened to Salah this season and Virgil van Dijk hasn’t been the same this season,” Rooney added.
He also highlighted the broader impact on team dynamics when senior players experience a decline in form.
“They are the leaders in the dressing room. It’s hard for the other players to go and leave their mark or become the leaders,” he noted.
While suggesting that some players remain at clubs longer than they should, Rooney stopped short of calling for Van Dijk’s departure.
“I don’t think he will [leave] but you’ve seen players when they’ve stayed there for too long,” he said.
Both Salah and Van Dijk reached their peak under former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who led the club to Champions League success in 2019 and a historic Premier League title in 2020 before stepping down in 2024.
Rooney expressed admiration for Klopp’s personality and influence, noting he would have relished playing under him.
“Klopp was the only Liverpool manager I’ve looked at and would’ve loved to play for him, not for Liverpool, obviously,” he said.
He also compared Klopp to current Liverpool manager Arne Slot, suggesting the latter lacks the same presence.
“What Klopp brought, even when he’s walking around a restaurant with a bottle of beer, that’s what the people of Liverpool like,” Rooney added.
