Everton

Everton started their pre-season with a bang on Saturday, obliterating little-known Austrian side Irdning by the massive score of 22-0.

Kevin Mirallas stole the show in Austria with five second-half goals, while Cenk Tosun, Oumar Niasse and Ademola Lookman also impressed, scoring four, four and three goals, respectively. The Toffees were already up by 10 goals at half-time in Marco Silva's first match as manager.

Here's a look at the scoring breakdown:

FULL-TIME: ATV Irdning 0-22 Everton. No, that's not a typo. Marco Silva's side enjoy an emphatic win in Austria. @CenkTosun_ (4), Keane, Baines, Lookman (3), Mirallas (5), Niasse (4), Vlasic (2), Holgate and an own goal. #EFCLive pic.twitter.com/M7LnJrvqUF

— Everton (@Everton) July 14, 2018

Top clubs around the world generally schedule an easy fixture to start their pre-season, allowing the returning players to gain confidence, but Everton took that approach to new heights. ATV Irdning play in the Austrian Landesliga, a level below the third-division Regionalliga, which is divided into local leagues.

The town itself is a popular destination for clubs in pre-season, and it's easy to see why:

https://twitter.com/philkecho/status/1017798449453043712

But the local team was never expected to challenge the Toffees, who fielded a remarkably strong XI to start the match. The miniscule size of the ground was some indication the home side would be out of their depth:

https://twitter.com/philkecho/status/1018140538699173889

Leighton Baines and Mason Holgate bagged the first two goals, and after Michael Keane got his name on the board, the floodgates opened.

Tosun and Lookman, two players going into the season with high expectations, scored the remaining first-half goals at a blistering rate. 

Things got worse after the break, as Irdning had to battle fatigue as well as a far more talented bench. Everton's backups were eager to show what they could do, leading to more goals.

Fans were amused:

F/T: ATV Irdning 0 - 22 Everton pic.twitter.com/nQUWBMqCeC

— Grand Old Team (@grandoldteam) July 14, 2018

The Irdning scoreboard is having a few issues.

They don’t have the number ‘21’ available so they have changed it to Everton 2 - 1 ATV Irdning.

They have no confidence Irdning are getting a goal here. 😂

— 𝐓𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐄 𝐓𝐕 (@ToffeeTVEFC) July 14, 2018

Silva and his staff will learn little from this match, with their focus now on the next pre-season friendly against Bury on Wednesday.

Everton are reportedly closing in on the signing of Barcelona centre-back Yerry Mina in a potential €24 million (£21 million) switch. 

According to Ignasi Oliva Gispert of Goal, the Toffees are poised to sign the Colombia centre-back, who only joined the Blaugrana from Palmeiras in the January transfer window.

"With the expected arrival of Clement Lenglet from Sevilla and the established duo of Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti, Mina's prospects for minutes at Barcelona are dim," said Gispert, who added that Liverpool, West Ham United and Fenerbahce have also shown an interest in the 23-year-old.

Everton director of football Marcel Brands reportedly met with Barcelona on Monday to discuss a possible switch.

The defender is said to be keen to move to a team that will make him a key man, and Gispert has previously reported the Blaugrana are happy to sell the player if they can include a buyback option in any deal.

Mina was part of the Colombia side at the FIFA World Cup this summer and made his mark with three goals in the tournament, providing a major threat from set pieces. As noted by OptaJavier, not many players have showcased this kind of aerial dominance on such a big stage:

3 - Yerry Mina🇨🇴 is the first player to score three or more headed goals in a single #WorldCup since Miroslav Klose in 2002 (5). Hero. https://t.co/knqHVeGsBS

— OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) July 3, 2018

When Mina arrived at Barcelona there was a lot of expectation, as he'd been impressive during his time in Brazil.

Given his height, power and his obvious strength in the air, he can be a one-man wall when he's on his game. For Colombia alongside the dynamic Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Davinson Sanchez he was especially impressive.

Still, when he was thrown into the team at Barcelona last season there were issues. He started just four league games for the Blaugrana and was particularly poor in the 5-4 loss to Levante, the only match Barcelona lost in the entire 2017-18 La Liga season.

As noted by Rafael Hernandez of Grup14, he did at least enhance his reputation at the World Cup:

I’m sad for Yerry Mina, he had a heroic performance and leaves as a hero. More to come!

— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) July 3, 2018

It would be intriguing to see him in the Premier League, as Mina boasts the physicality to cope with the aggressive nature of English football.

The weaknesses in his game were exposed in the few appearances he had at Barca, though. 

Even so, football writer Jack Lusby feels as though the defender would be a good signing:

https://twitter.com/jacklusby_/status/1014572153130364928

Everton do need to strengthen their options at the back. While Mason Holgate is a fine prospect, Michael Keane struggled in his first season at the club, and although Phil Jagielka can still do a job, the Toffees skipper is 36 in August.

Mina would provide strength, power and a threat from set pieces. Plus, with some stability and football on a weekly basis, those lapses that have punctured his game would surely lessen. The fact Barcelona are keen to include a buyback clause in the deal means they believe Mina could become a fine player in the future.

Wayne Rooney's long-rumored move from Everton to D.C. United may be "close" to completion, ESPN FC's Rob Dawson reported Monday.

According to Dawson, Rooney traveled to the United States following the end of the Premier League season for some firsthand reconnaissance and "is on the verge of agreeing to the move."

Rooney is coming off a disappointing 2017-18 season for the Toffees. He made 31 league appearances, scoring 10 goals and registering two assists.

While Rooney's days as an elite striker in a major European league are almost certainly over, he could make an immediate impact for a D.C. United side that has the fewest points in MLS (10).

Rooney's true value, though, will likely come from a commercial perspective.

D.C. United is last in attendance, averaging 8,762 fans per game. Even the Columbus Crew, which has the specter of relocation hanging over the franchise, is drawing better.

United will christen Audi Field in its July 14 against the Vancouver Whitecaps. As it moves into a new stadium, the club will want a marquee star to help drive interest, especially among the more casual fans who are familiar with Rooney from his days with Manchester United.

Everton appointed former Watford and Hull City boss Marco Silva as their new manager on Thursday.

The Toffees announced his arrival via Twitter: 

🤝 | #WelcomeMarco pic.twitter.com/7pfgkNtgBw

— Everton (@Everton) May 31, 2018

Speaking to Evertontv (via the club's official website), Silva expressed his excitement to get started:

"I'm really proud to be the new Everton manager. I'm excited and I'm really happy to take this big challenge for us as a club and for me as a manager.

"I want to express my thanks to Farhad, to the Chairman, to the Board of Directors and to Marcel as well for the confidence in my work. I know the huge history of Everton as a club and what the fans expect. I'm sure with everybody working together I will be ready for this challenge."

Everton sacked Sam Allardyce—who had replaced Ronald Koeman six months prior—earlier in May after he led them from 13th to eighth in the table. The 63-year-old failed to win over supporters with his approach and style of football.

Silva arrived in the Premier League in January last year, having won the Taca de Portugal with Sporting CP and the Superleague Greece with Olympiakos, where he also oversaw a record run of 17 consecutive league wins.

The 40-year-old took charge of Hull City, who were bottom of the table, but despite guiding them to six Premier League wins, he was unable to steer them to safety, and they were relegated in 18th place.

Silva then took over at Watford and had picked up 18 points by November 19, putting them in eighth, but amid speculation he would replace Koeman at Goodison Park, the team's form suffered. They earned just five more points before he was sacked on January 21.

The coach employs bold tactics and instils focus, discipline and organisation in his sides, who typically look to pass the ball and patiently build attacks.

Excessive praise for Silva should be tempered by his struggles in his final months at Vicarage Road and the fact that, for all the improvement under him, Hull still went down. However, he remains an exciting appointment for the Toffees, who will hope to see a more positive brand of football next year.

Wayne Rooney will reportedly have a medical with DC United on Thursday ahead of a potential transfer from Everton. 

According to Steven Goff of the Washington Post, the former Manchester United and England forward is edging closer to a move to Major League Soccer after just a solitary campaign back at his boyhood club.

"The sides must still work out details on a multiyear pact, and United will have to reach agreement with Premier League side Everton on a transfer," said Goff. "But his visit to the city is a strong indication that things are moving along and an accord is near."

According to Paul Joyce of The Times, Rooney is moving closer to completing a transfer away from Goodison Park:

Wayne Rooney to hold talks with D.C. United this week. No deal complete, further discussions at this stage

— paul joyce (@_pauljoyce) May 23, 2018

Wayne Rooney will hold talks with D.C. United this week ahead of a potential move to MLS, reports @_pauljoyce pic.twitter.com/Ts7KGO5A1j

— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 23, 2018

Goff added that England's all-time record goalscorer is also set to tour Washington and visit the site of the club's new stadium ahead of the possible transfer, with a source referenced in the report adding that Rooney has already looked at houses in North Virginia.

Rooney left Manchester United in the summer of 2017 as their all-time record goalscorer, a five-time Premier League winner and with a UEFA Champions League title.

After struggling throughout 2016-17 under new manager Jose Mourinho, Rooney switched back to Everton, and initially it was a move energised the forward again, as he netted in his first two games for the club.

Tony Scott of the Liverpool Echo summed up how important he was to Everton last season in an attacking sense:

EFC stats 17/18
Wayne Rooney EFC Team ranking-

1st - Goals scored (10 goals from 27 starts)
2nd - Chances created (Sigurdsson 1st)
1st - Shots
1st - Shots on target
2nd - Key passes per game (Sigurdsson 1st)
1st - Goals involved in.

EFC failed to win a PL match without Rooney

— Tony Scott (@Tony_Scott11) May 10, 2018

However, after a change of manager, with Ronald Koeman replaced by Sam Allardyce, Rooney was shifted into a deeper midfield position, and while he was able to produce some good performances—including a hat-trick against West Ham United—in the main he toiled.

While the trademark passion and industry remains, Rooney no longer has the dynamism to get around the pitch in the way he used to. 

Rob Vera from The Blue Room believes that, after some significant restructuring at Everton at the end of the season, moving Rooney on would be the best decision for the club:

The single most important addition to the fortunes of the Everton squad this summer would be the subtraction of Wayne Rooney. Having him at the club creates an implied and undue pressure on the new manager to play someone who can no longer perform consistently at this level. #EFC

— Rob Vera (@TheRobVera) May 18, 2018

Everton have brought in a new director of football in Marcel Brands, while Allardyce, sacked at the end of the season, is poised to be replaced by Marco Silva, per Sky Sports.

Letting Rooney depart would mean Everton were letting their top scorer go for the second consecutive summer, as Romelu Lukaku left for United ahead of the most recent season. But with Everton seemingly taking a more long-term view in their approach, perhaps it's best for the club and Rooney to go their separate ways again.

Everton confirmed on Wednesday that the club and Sam Allardyce have parted ways.

The club's official Twitter account relayed the news, bringing an end to the 63-year-old's stay at Goodison Park:

🔵 | Sam Allardyce has left his role as manager.

More: https://t.co/0kJowzOX0r pic.twitter.com/ErJpWEEN7T

— Everton (@Everton) May 16, 2018

Henry Winter of The Times relayed a statement from Everton chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale about the decision to move on Allardyce:

Via #efc pic.twitter.com/4d1FpjUtRQ

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) May 16, 2018

According to BBC Sport's Phil McNulty, the favourite to take over on Merseyside is former Watford and Hull City boss Marco Silva.

Allardyce was appointed by the Toffees in November on an 18-month deal following the decision to move on from Ronald Koeman.

The former England manager took over with Everton in 13th position in the Premier League and pushed the team up to eighth place away from a relegation battle. However, Allardyce and his approach have been unpopular with the supporters.

As relayed by Luke O'Farrell of ESPN, while Allardyce defended the style of football he used at Goodison Park, the statistics paint a picture of a team lacking in attacking imagination:

Allardyce: "You can't knock our football."

Everton are 19th on shots, shots on target, chances created and dribbling since his arrival. Everton are in the bottom half for all other significant attacking statistics across his 21 league games.

— Luke O'Farrell (@lukeofarrell) April 24, 2018

While the recruitment of players like Cenk Tosun and Theo Walcott helped Everton improve in January, Allardyce's cautious approach also alienated some exciting young attackers on the club's books, including Nikola Vlasic and Ademola Lookman.

The latter, in particular, has made the decision to send him out on loan to RB Leipzig look foolish, as he's been excellent since moving to the Bundesliga. As noted by Matt Cheetham of Sky Sports, the Toffees would've benefitted from having someone like Lookman around:

Lookman now involved in more goals in last 5 apps for Leipzig (7) than any Everton player’s managed in all 25 games under Sam Allardyce.

— Matt Cheetham (@Matt_Cheetham) May 12, 2018

While Allardcye has not endeared himself to supporters at Everton, he's by no means solely responsible for the malaise the club finds itself in.

Ahead of the 2017-18 season the club invested heavily in the transfer market, although director of football Steve Walsh and Koeman failed to find an adequate replacement for top scorer Romelu Lukaku, who moved to Manchester United.

New signings Michael Keane, Sandro Ramirez and Davy Klaassen failed to find their feet, and the team lurched towards the relegation zone. When Koeman was sacked after a 5-2 loss to Arsenal, Everton found themselves in 18th position in the table.

Allardyce steadied the ship from that point on, although as noted by Royal Blue Mersey, his record doesn't compare favourably to his predecessors:

Sam Allardyce's win percentage at Everton is 38.5%. Ronald Koeman's was 41.3%, Roberto Martinez's 42.7%.

We're going backwards.

— Royal Blue Mersey (@RBMersey) May 14, 2018

Any successor has some talented players to work with in the likes of Walcott, Tosun, Pickford and Gylfi Sigurdsson. Youngsters such as Lookman, Vlasic, Tom Davies and Mason Holgate also have a bright future ahead if they're nurtured correctly.

Silva would potentially invigorate the team with attacking and high-intensity football if he was to come in. Everton supporters will hope he can lift the club off its haunches after a spectacular false dawn. 

Wayne Rooney has told Everton that he wants a transfer to D.C. United in MLS, according to Matt Lawton of the Daily Mail.

Lawton reported: "The former England captain is on the verge of joining the MLS club after his representatives travelled to Washington, D.C., for talks. Rooney's agent, Paul Stretford, was in the U.S. capital to discuss a contract that will run until the end of the 2020 MLS season."

The deal would reportedly be for a £12.5 million fee.

Steven Goff of the Washington Post reported that "inside the old walls of team headquarters at RFK Stadium, there is cautious optimism—'We're holding our breath,' one person said—that United will land the greatest scorer in the history of Manchester United and the English national team, who also stands second in Premier League annals."

Rooney, 32, has scored 10 goals and put up two assists in 31 Premier League appearances (27 starts) for Everton this season. His performances have earned him an average grade of 6.64 from WhoScored.com, ranking him 15th on the Toffees. 

The impact he could have on D.C. United and MLS, however, is far greater. Much like Zlatan Ibrahimovic with L.A. Galaxy, Rooney would add a big-name, marketable star to the league, albeit one perhaps past his prime.

Rooney's move isn't guaranteed. As Goff noted, Rooney is set to make around $10 million this season, meaning United would have to open up the purse strings to satisfy him. But per Goff, United have reportedly been monitoring players like Javier Hernandez, Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli and Andres Iniesta and reached out to Rooney last summer, so the club appears ready to make a splash.

Everton striker Wayne Rooney is reportedly in advanced talks to join Major League Soccer side D.C. United this summer.

The 32-year-old is said to have become frustrated at Goodison Park and negotiations have "accelerated in recent weeks," according to Steven Goff at the Washington Post.

Everton manager Sam Allardyce said Tuesday he wants Rooney to stay and that it would take a "massive" offer to tempt him away from his boyhood club, per David Prentice at the Liverpool Echo:

"There are rumours about Wayne going elsewhere abroad – in China and America – but rumours are rumours we won’t find out until Wayne and his agent have been contacted whether he wants to move, but at the moment he is an Everton fan and an Everton player. So I wouldn’t consider anything on the cards on the moment. It would have to be massive for him to want to leave Everton. Do I want him to stay? Yes."

Rooney is Everton's top scorer this season with 11 goals in 36 appearances in all competitions for the Toffees. He also won the club's goal of the season award for his strike against West Ham United, as shown by the club's Twitter account:

⚽️ | With 57% of the public vote, @WayneRooney's strike from inside his own half against West Ham is named the @Carling Goal of the Season. #TheDixies pic.twitter.com/EkdNfjhjxm

— Everton (@Everton) May 1, 2018

The former England international only rejoined Everton from Manchester United in summer 2017, but it has been a difficult season for the Merseyside club. Manager Ronald Koeman was sacked in October 2017 after a poor start, and new boss Sam Allardyce has stabilised the club but is unpopular with supporters.

Everton fans showed their disapproval by walking out in protest at Allardyce at the end of Saturday's final home game of the season against Southampton, per David Maddock at the Mirror.

Rooney has defended his manager, per Indy Football:

Wayne Rooney on Sam Allardyce: "He has done the job that’s been asked of him. When he took over we were 17th in the league. We’re sitting here now in ninth position." pic.twitter.com/ri4xPFN6R5

— Indy Football (@IndyFootball) April 19, 2018

Yet there has been friction between the striker and his manager. Rooney reacted angrily after being substituted in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool, per Telegraph Football:

A furious Wayne Rooney mouths 'bull****' as he's replaced 15 minutes into the second half.

Everton 0-0 Liverpool #EVELIVhttps://t.co/0PufqNuVZL pic.twitter.com/jZcOJI3Ny0

— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) April 7, 2018

Rooney has struggled for form in recent months and is yet to score in 2018. The striker is increasingly frustrated at Everton, and there are divisions at the club, per Dominic King for the Daily Mail.

The striker has also not quite had the impact at Everton that he might have envisaged when he returned, although he does still have another year left on his current contract.

Sports writer Thomas Floyd said he could have a big impact at D.C United:

I'm convinced a 32-year-old Wayne Rooney could have a David Villa-type impact in #MLS. The ability is there and he plays with work ethic — he just isn't the type to phone it in.

— Thomas Floyd (@ThomasFloyd) May 8, 2018

Rooney may find himself increasingly sidelined next season if he stays at Everton, which could prove a factor in any decisions regarding his future. However, wrenching him away from his boyhood club could still prove to be a tough task.

Theo Walcott scored the only goal of the game as Everton beat Newcastle United 1-0 at Goodison Park on Monday.

The win moves the Toffees above Leicester City and into eighth place in the table while Newcastle remain in 10th.

Here's a look at the latest Premier League standings, the Week 35 results and upcoming fixtures.

      

Week 35 Results

West Bromwich Albion 2-2 Liverpool

Watford 0-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 4-1 West Ham United

Stoke City 1-1 Burnley

Manchester City 5-0 Swansea City

Everton 1-0 Newcastle United

         

Premier League Table (games played, goal difference, points)

1. Manchester City: 34, +73, 90

2. Manchester United: 34, +39, 74

3. Liverpool: 35, +43, 71

4. Tottenham Hotspur: 34, +35, 68

5. Chelsea: 34, +25, 63

6. Arsenal: 34, +20, 57

7. Burnley: 35, +3, 53

8. Everton: 35, -14, 45

9. Leicester City: 34, +2, 44

10. Newcastle United: 34, -8, 41

11. Bournemouth: 35, -17, 38

12. Watford: 35, -18, 38

13. Brighton & Hove Albion: 34, -15, 36

14. Crystal Palace: 35, -18, 35

15. West Ham United: 34, -21, 35

16. Huddersfield Town: 34, -27, 35

17. Swansea City: 34, -24, 33

18. Southampton: 34, -20, 29

19. Stoke City: 35, -33, 29

20. West Bromwich Albion: 35, -25, 25

             

Saturday, April 28

Liverpool vs. Stoke City

Burnley vs. Brighton & Hove Albion

Crystal Palace vs. Leicester City

Huddersfield Town vs. Everton

Newcastle United vs. West Bromwich Albion

Southampton vs. Bournemouth

Swansea City vs. Chelsea

      

Sunday, April 29

West Ham United vs. Manchester City

Manchester United vs. Arsenal

        

Monday, April 30

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Watford

          

Monday Recap

Everton kicked off the game with something of a first as they used the world's first virtual mascot. Keith Downie at Sky Sports explained how it worked:

This is tonight’s match mascot at Goodison: the world’s first virtual mascot, controlled from home by chronically ill 14-year-old Everton fan Jack McLinden. Phil Jagielka will carry Jack out onto the pitch tonight. pic.twitter.com/S6LSO7Zh2L

— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) April 23, 2018

Newcastle knew a a win would see them leapfrog the Toffees in the table, but chances were few and far between in a tame first half, as shown by Sky Sports Statto:

No shots on target in the 1st half for Everton (7 off target). Since Nov 30 (the date Sam Allardyce was appointed), no team has had fewer shots on target in home PL games
30 Everton, Huddersfield
34 Swansea
35 Burnley, Newcastle pic.twitter.com/oxA2n1WJZ7

— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) April 23, 2018

Everton took just six minutes of the second half to take the lead when Walcott fired the ball home for the opener. The hosts crossed from the right, and although the England international miscontrolled initially, the ball broke for him to rifle into the roof of the net.

Sports writer Lee Ryder said Magpies manager Rafael Benitez would not be happy with the goal:

Rafa will be furious by the manner #nufc conceded the opener. Slimani lost the ball and Bolasie's cross was hit and hope before United couldn't clear their lines. Has been so unlike #nufc recently.

— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) April 23, 2018

Opta showed how Walcott seems to thrive against Newcastle:

10 - Theo Walcott has been directly involved in 10 goals in his last nine Premier League games against Newcastle (5 goals, 5 assists). Haunt.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 23, 2018

Newcastle sent on Dwight Gayle just after the hour mark, and he might have equalised within a minute but put a half-volley over the bar from close range. A surge forward also saw him cynically brought down by Michael Keane on the edge of the box, but Matt Ritchie could only fire his free-kick over the bar.

Everton survived a late penalty shout when the ball appeared to hit Phil Jagielka's hand in the area, but referee Bobby Madley wasn't interested and the hosts survived to claim all three points.

Wayne Rooney has said he spurned the opportunity to earn "a lot of money" in China so that he could maintain his "desire to play" by returning to Everton from Manchester United.

England's all-time top goalscorer ended a 13-year stay at Old Trafford to complete a move back to his roots at Goodison Park and told BBC's Football Focus he didn't want to end his playing days "earning a lot of money" abroad (h/t Press Association's Carl Markham, via MailOnline):

"That's not me, I need those goals, I need that pressure. That desire to play would have been lost if I'd chosen that other option.

"I knew that coming back to Everton was more pressure—that's what I wanted.

"I wanted to prove myself again to the Everton fans and to try to help this club move forward and win silverware."

Rooney went on to say he thought a reunion with the Toffees was the "perfect fit" for him, alluding to staying "two or three years" at Goodison, despite the fact his contract is set to expire at the end of next season.

The 32-year-old has scored 10 times in 22 Premier League appearances for the Toffees this term, and BT Sport Score recently touched upon the boosting effect he has seemed to have on his team:

Everton have now won 5 out of 7 Premier League games under Sam Allardyce when both Gylfi Sigurdsson and Wayne Rooney start the game 🤷‍♂️#BTSportScore pic.twitter.com/PydXDvWD6q

— BT Sport Score (@btsportscore) February 10, 2018

Rooney added: "The one thing which stays is my attitude to playing, my attitude to win, but of course you change and adapt your game and that's what I feel I've done over the last few years. Two years ago, I thought my best position to play was midfield, and that's starting to happen now."

As one of the most marketable names in world football at the height of his powers, Rooney could have commanded eye-watering wages if he made the move to China's Super League last year.

Matt Lawton and Sami Mokbel reported for the Daily Mail in May of last year that at least two clubs had made offers, and he stood to earn £50 million over the course of a two-year stay in the Far East.

Instead, he opted for a move back to Merseyside and took a 50 percent cut on his £300,000-per-week Manchester United salary, per the Daily Mail's Jack Gaughan, which equates to just short of £8 million per year.

Rooney appears to be fulfilling that desire to compete with Everton, too, and Bleacher Report's Matt Jones hailed his influence on a convincing 3-1 win over Crystal Palace at the beginning of February:

Thought that was Rooney's best performance for a while today. Really sensible on the ball, didn't fling himself into tackles. Only really started to get expansive when the game was won

— Matt Jones (@MattJFootball) February 10, 2018

Sam Allardyce's side may not be competing for the Premier League crown or the UEFA Champions League trophy as Rooney frequently did during his days at United, but there's more value to be had than money alone.

His transition to midfield helped extend his career as a Red Devil, and Rooney is now enjoying a renaissance at his boyhood club, which is worth more to the former striker than any retirement plan in a foreign setting.