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Associated Press

Wayne Rooney no longer has to hide his nighttime secret.
Although the striker left Everton in 2004 in pursuit of glory with Manchester United, the affection for his boyhood club never truly diminished – even while winning every major honour in European soccer with United and becoming the all-time leading scorer for English soccer’s biggest club.
A reunion with Everton was mooted for years and it finally came on Sunday. The 31-year-old Rooney completed an emotional return across northwest England by signing a two-year contract at Goodison Park.
“I’ve kept it quiet for the last 13 years,” Rooney said, “but I’ve actually been wearing Everton pyjamas at home with my kids. I had to keep that a bit quiet.
“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.”
Rooney always maintained that Everton was the only other Premier League club he could contemplate playing for after United.
Everton, though, is not welcoming back a player as energetic and dangerous in front as goal as the precocious teenager who left in 2004. In the twilight of his career, Rooney is only available after dropping out of both the United and England teams he captained.

Rooney’s hunger for the game, however, has never diminished. And after having to accept a reduced status over the last year for club and country, a return to Everton signals a fresh start. It could even help Rooney regain his England place in time for the World Cup next June and extend his England goal record of 53.
Rooney will now be a central figure once again in an Everton team that is looking to break the Premier League’s elite under coach Ronald Koeman.
“I have come back to Everton because I believe Ronald Koeman is building a team that can win something,” Rooney said, “and I look forward to playing my part in making that a reality for the club I have supported since a boy.”
Everton are on the verge of selling Romelu Lukaku to United but has signed goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, centre-back Michael Keane, midfielder Davy Klaassen and striker Sandro Ramirez this offseason.
Everton’s majority shareholder since February 2016, Iranian-British businessman Farhad Moshiri, wants to take the team higher than last season’s sixth place. Silverware is the target for a club whose last major trophy came with the 1995 FA Cup and won the ninth of its top-flight titles in 1987.
“Wayne has shown me that ambition that we need and that winning mentality,” Koeman said. “He knows how to win titles and I’m really happy he’s decided to come home. He loves Everton and he was desperate to come back. He is still only 31 and I don’t have any doubts about his qualities. It’s fantastic he’s here.”

Rooney scored a record 253 goals for United after moving from Everton for 27 million pounds as an 18-year-old in 2004, winning the Premier League title five times, the FA Cup once, the League Cup three times, the Champions League once and the Europa League last season.
“Thirteen years ago I went to United with the intention of winning trophies,” Rooney said, “and I have been fortunate to be a part of one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.”
In Rooney’s final season – Jose Mourinho’s first in charge – the United captain only started 15 league games.
“He has been a model professional throughout his time at the club and will remain in the history books for many years to come,” Mourinho said. “It is never easy to see a great player playing less football than he would like and I could not stand in his way when he asked to go back to Everton. His experience, focus and determination will be missed and I wish him well for the future.”
Rooney did not quite reach the heights expected of him when he was arguably at the top of his game in the 2009-10 season, at that time playing at a level comparable to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Rooney’s spell at United was also tarnished among sections of fans when he sought to leave the club in 2010 and again at the end of the 2012-13 season, clashing with then-manager Alex Ferguson both times.
Rooney was convinced to stay in 2013 by Ferguson’s immediate successor, David Moyes, at a time when the forward was still in big demand. Rooney departs United as a peripheral figure but he will still go down as one of the club’s greatest players of the modern era. And he has a chance now to cement his status in Everton folklore.
“[Goodison] has always been a special place, even when I’ve been on the opposing team,” Rooney said. “You always get that feeling when you walk out of the tunnel so to actually do it again in an Everton shirt will be a special moment for me.”


‘I’ve been wearing Everton pyjamas for the last 13 years’ – Wayne Rooney’s dark secret  finally revealed as he rejoins boyhood club

Wayne Rooney in action for Everton back in 2004. Photo: AP

epa06077745 (FILE) Manchester United's Wayne Rooney reacts after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Southampton at the Old Trafford in Manchester, Britain, 11 January 2015 (reissued 09 July 2017). Rooney rejoins Everton from Manchester United after 13 years. EPA/PETER POWELL EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. *** Local Caption *** 51732175

FILE - In this Tuesday Aug. 31, 2004 file photo, Wayne Rooney, left, walks with Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester England. Wayne Rooney has left Manchester United to rejoin Everton after 13 years at Old Trafford, it was announced on Sunday, July 9, 2017. Everton says Rooney signed a two-year contract.(AP Photo/Samantha Smith, file)

At 30, where does Wayne Rooney stand among the greats of the English game?

Wayne Rooney needs 14 more goals to break Bobby Charlton's Manchester United scoring record. Photo: AFP

A young Wayne Rooney after scoring against Portsmouth in 2005. Photo: AP

Wayne Rooney published his first autobiography, Wayne Rooney My Story So Far, in 2006. Photo: AFP

England Captain Wayne Rooney to retire from international duty following 2018 World Cup

Wayne Rooney has said he will retire from international duty after the 2018 World Cup. Photo: AFP

England's Wayne Rooney speaks to the media during a press conference at St George's Park near Burton-Upon-Trent in central England on August 30, 2016 ahead of their World Cup 2018 qualifier football match against Slovakia. England face Slovakia in a World Cup qualifier in Trnava on September 4. / AFP PHOTO / Anthony Devlin / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

Britain Football Soccer - EURO 2016 - England return to UK following EURO 2016 elimination - Manchester Airport - 28/6/16 England's Wayne Rooney arrives back at Manchester Airport REUTERS/Andrew Yates Livepic

Britain Football Soccer - England Training - St. George’s Park - 30/8/16 England's Wayne Rooney after training Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

England's Wayne Rooney (back) shoots the ball past Denmark's Per Nielsen (front) to score in the international friendly soccer match at Old Trafford, Manchester, November 16, 2003. REUTERS/Paul Sanders

Wayne Rooney opts against China move to rejoin Everton after 13 years at Manchester United

Wayne Rooney is Manchester United’s record goalscorer. Photo: AP

(FILES) This file photo taken on January 21, 2017 shows A combination of pictures created in London on January 21, 2017 shows Manchester United's English striker Wayne Rooney celebrating scoring (clockwise from top L) against Swansea City at Old Trafford on January 2, 2016, Birmingham City at St Andrews on December 28, 2005, Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on December 1, 2013, Newcastle United at St James' Park on January 12, 2016, Portsmouth at Old Trafford January 27, 2007, Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on September 14, 2013, Aston Villa at Old Trafford on April 4, 2015, Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford on December 30, 2009 and Wayne Rooney (C) applauding at the end of the match after earning United a late 1-1 draw by scoring his 250th goal for the club against Stoke City at the BET365 stadium in Stoke-on-Trent on January 21, 2017, as he became Manchester United's all-time leading goal-scorer on January 21, 2017 when he netted his 250th goal for the club against Stoke City. Engla

FILE - In this Saturday, April 17, 2004 file photo, Chelsea's Geremi, behind falls as Everton's Wayne Rooney appeals for a foul, during their English Premier League soccer match at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground in west London. Wayne Rooney has left Manchester United to rejoin Everton after 13 years at Old Trafford, it was announced on Sunday, July 9, 2017. Everton says Rooney signed a two-year contract.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant, file)

(FILES) This file photo taken on February 12, 2011 shows Manchester United's English striker Wayne Rooney (2nd L) scores their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on February 12, 2011. England and Manchester United's record goalscorer Wayne Rooney completed a move back to his first club Everton on July 9, 2017, the player told the Press Association in a statement. / AFP PHOTO / Andrew YATES

Sport

Football

The striker has come back to Goodison after joining Manchester United in 2004


‘I’ve been wearing Everton pyjamas for the last 13 years’ – Wayne Rooney’s dark secret finally revealed as he rejoins boyhood club

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The striker has come back to Goodison after joining Manchester United in 2004

The striker has come back to Goodison after joining Manchester United in 2004