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Agence France-Presse

England’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney insists Everton is “not a retirement home” after making an emotional return to Goodison Park.
Rooney rejoined his boyhood club on Sunday after 13 years at Manchester United where he was also the record goalscorer having broken another United icon Bobby Charlton’s mark last season.
The 31-year-old believes he can bring back success to a club who have not lifted a trophy since winning the FA Cup in 1995.
“I’m not coming into a retirement home,” said Rooney.
“I want to play, win and be successful. I feel good. I’m not fit at the moment but that will build up in the next few weeks.

“I’m excited. I think it’s the right time and I’m ready for it.”
Rooney admitted in May he had become frustrated by a lack of game time at Old Trafford, where he made just 15 Premier League starts last season.
Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku completes move to Manchester United in record deal
Rooney hopes he can get more regular games at Goodison Park to secure a place in England’s World Cup squad next summer.
The striker has lost both his place and the captaincy since Gareth Southgate took charge, and knows he faces a battle to get back into the side.
Watch: Wayne Rooney’s first training session back at Everton


“I’m focused on Everton, playing well for Everton,” said Rooney, who appeared at his first major finals for England at Euro 2004 and scored four goals.
“If I do that Gareth Southgate will have a decision to make, whether he puts me back in the squad or not.
‘I’ve been wearing Everton pyjamas for the last 13 years’ – Wayne Rooney’s dark secret finally revealed as he rejoins boyhood club
“Hopefully my performances are good enough for Everton and he won’t be able to ignore me if they are.”
Rooney was a nine-year-old spectator at Wembley the last time they won a trophy after beating United in the 1995 FA Cup final.

“You play football to try to win trophies and that’s what we want to do,” said Rooney.
“We want to be successful and we know the right man to lead us to it. It’ll be incredible to win something with Everton.
Wayne Rooney opts against China move to rejoin Everton after 13 years at Manchester United
“I was at the FA Cup final in 1995 when we won that and to win a trophy with Everton would be a special moment.”
Rooney faces the challenge of settling into a squad which is losing last season’s leading scorer Romelu Lukaku to United in a £75 million (HK$755 million) deal.

“We had a great striker like Romelu scoring 25 goals last season, but we needed more players with more productivity,” said Everton manager Ronald Koeman.
“It’s what we need to improve. I’d rather have several players scoring 10 goals. Wayne can bring that to the team.
“The experience of Wayne is really important to bring over to the rest of the players.
“He is an example for the younger players. I think we have missed a player like Wayne to have that experience in the team.
Wayne Rooney’s agent in Beijing to discuss Chinese Super League switch, say reports
“So far we are doing good business and you will see in the next weeks, maybe we will do more.”
Rooney may be happy to have returned to the club he supported as a boy but his family too are ecstatic.
“My eldest lad was the happiest ever, I think, and also my Dad who’s Evertonian,” said Rooney.
“He’s gone off to watch me for the last 13 years at Manchester and now he’ll have a five-minute drive to watch me play again so I think he’s really happy.”


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English Premier League

Everton is no ‘retirement home’, says Wayne Rooney after Manchester United switch

Everton's Wayne Rooney poses with the club shirt. Photo: Reuters

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton - Wayne Rooney Press Conference - Liverpool, Britain - July 10, 2017 Everton's Wayne Rooney signs autographs for fans after the press conference REUTERS/Phil Noble

England soccer star Wayne Rooney, right, holds an Everton shirt with his new manager Ronald Koeman during the press conference at Goodison Park, Liverpool, England Monday July 10, 2017. Rooney returned to his original club Everton from Manchester United. (Nigel French/PA via AP)

epa06077746 (FILE) Manchester United's Wayne Rooney in action during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain, 07 November 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 *** 52359914

A Way back: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho offers hope to dropped Wayne Rooney

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney (centre) was introduced by Jose Mourinho in the closing stages. Photo: EPA

Britain Football Soccer - Manchester United v Leicester City - Premier League - Old Trafford - 24/9/16 Manchester United's Wayne Rooney on the bench Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

TOPSHOT - Manchester United's English striker Wayne Rooney (R) controls the ball during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on September 24, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / ANTHONY DEVLIN / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. 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. /

Britain Football Soccer - Manchester United v Leicester City - Premier League - Old Trafford - 24/9/16 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

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

Nice work if you can get it – Wayne Rooney could get HK$5.5 million a WEEK in Chinese Super League

Manchester United's captain Wayne Rooney stands dejected as Sunderland's Wahbi Khazri celebrates his goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Sunderland and Manchester United at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland, England, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Is Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney set for a big-money move to China with Shanghai Shenhua? Photo: AP

Wayne Rooney is not going to China, says Jose Mourinho – at least not this season

Jose Mourinho congratulates Wayne Rooney after the striker is substituted. Photo: Reuters

epa05719031 Everton's Morgan Schneiderlin makes his Everton Debut during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton FC and Manchester City at Goodison Park in Liverpool, Britain, 15 January 2017. 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.

Manchester United's English striker Wayne Rooney runs with the ball during the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Manchester United and Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on January 29, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Paul ELLIS / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. 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. /

‘No player is beyond Chinese clubs’ reach’ as Wayne Rooney to China rumours resurface

Wayne Rooney returns to England after his team’s flop at Euro 2016. Photo: Reuters

epa05190096 Jackson Martinez of Evergrande Taobao reacts to a missed shot at goal during the AFC Champions League group H match between Sydney FC and Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao at Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia, 02 March 2016. EPA/PAUL MILLER AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

FILE- In this Sunday Aug. 14, 2011 file picture, the then Real Madrid's coach Jose Mourinho from Portugal, right, shakes hands with former Barcelona's coach Josep Guardiola before their Super Cup first leg soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid. Mourinho and Guardiola will go head-to-head for the first time as English Premier League managers on Sept. 10 when Manchester United and Manchester City meet in the derby at Old Trafford. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza, File)

Sport

Football

Former England captain returns to Goodison Park 13 years after leaving for Old Trafford


Manchester United FC

Everton is no ‘retirement home’, says Wayne Rooney after Manchester United switch

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Former England captain returns to Goodison Park 13 years after leaving for Old Trafford

Former England captain returns to Goodison Park 13 years after leaving for Old Trafford