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England captain Wayne Rooney could become the nation's record goalscorer on Saturday.
Rooney, 29, needs just two goals to beat Sir Bobby Charlton's tally of 49 goals and faces lowly San Marino next - the Manchester United captain has four in his previous three against the minnows.
But one man standing in his way, the Sammarinese goalkeeper Aldo Simoncini, says he has been given "extra motivation" after finding out that Rooney might break the record against his team.
Show all 100 1 /100Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Everton goal to remember: Everton 2-1 Arsenal (October 2002) A sixteen-year-old Rooney takes to the field, with 10 minutes to play and the game level, to blast in his first Premier League goal and win the match
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments What they said… ‘I think Rooney is the most brilliant young player in Europe, I like him very much indeed’ – Pele post Euro 2004
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Honours... Won his first Premier League title in 2006-07, with five in total
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Everton goal to remember: Leeds United 0-1 Everton (November 2002) Another late substitute appearance and another match-winning goal for the impressive teenager
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Before he was famous… Wayne Rooney was born in Croxteth on October 24, 1985
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Great game… Manchester United debut hat-trick vs Fenerbache (September 2004)
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Off-field headlines: BBC Young Sports Personality (December 2002) 17-year-old Rooney became only the second person to win the award, after bursting onto the scene for Everton
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments What they said… ‘For me, the jury's still out on Wayne. I think he's got a hell of a lot to do. Wayne has achieved nothing - and would probably say that himself’ – Roy Keane
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Everton goal to remember: Southampton 3-3 Everton (February 2004) Now an established member of the Toffees first-team, Rooney adds a few more million pounds to his price tag with his first Premier League brace
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments In his own words... ‘I met with David Gill last week and he did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad. I then told him that I would not be signing a new contract’ – talking about his Manchester United future in 2010
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Manchester United goal to remember: Manchester United 6-2 Fenerbahce (September 2004) Rooney made his United debut under the pressure of being the world’s most expensive teenage footballer; with a Champions League hat-trick capped with a stunning free-kick, he looked a bargain
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments England goals to remember: Brazil vs England – June 2013 At the Maracana, with England holding Brazil 1-1, the Three Lions countered quickly. Rooney picked the ball up 35 yards out, ran at the defence before curling one into the top corner from 20 yards
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Manchester United goal to remember: Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United (January 2005) In his first Liverpool-United game, Rooney fired past Jerzy Dudek to score a goal that almost guarantees any United player legendary status
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Great game… Everton goals vs Wrexham – first two professional goals (October 2002)
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Off-field headlines: Tabloid scandal (August 2004) Rooney was forced to release a statement apologising for visiting prostitutes during his ‘young and stupid’ teenage years
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments What they said… ‘I like the way he plays and I’ve said that to all my French team-mates. I like people who can make me jump off my feet’ – Thierry Henry
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments On-field controversy: Throwing the armband (November 2004) A series of reckless fouls saw Rooney booked. After being substituted after 42 minutes, he swore at the bench and threw the armband worn in memory of Emlyn Hughes to the floor
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Manchester United goal to remember: Manchester United 2-1 Newcastle (April 2005) A goal to impress even the great Alan Shearer, this unstoppable 25-yard volley had the veteran looking on with as much disbelief as everyone else in the stadium
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Honours... Won the League Cup in 2005-06, with two in total
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments England goals to remember: England vs Poland – October 2013 Perhaps not the best, but certainly an important goal for England. Opening the scoring against Poland in a game England had to win, Rooney’s header paved the way for England to top the group
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Manchester United goal to remember: Everton 0-2 Manchester United (August 2005) Everton fans were reminded just what a player they had sold when Rooney latched onto a defensive error to seal another United victory
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Off-field headlines: Sued by David Moyes (April 2007) Rooney was sued for substantial damages by former manager Moyes over claims made in his autobiography. The two would work together again at Manchester United
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments What they said… ‘[Rooney] looks a bit chubby’ - Vegard Forren
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Great game… Manchester United’s 8-2 victory over Arsenal – overlooked but scored a hat-trick (August 2011)
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments On-field controversy: Champions League vs Villarreal (September 2005) Booked for unintentionally fouling someone, Rooney then sarcastically applauded the referee… only to be booked again
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments In his own words... ‘Nice to see your own fans boo you’ – talking about the England fans booing the players off the pitch after a 0-0 draw with Algeria at the 2010 World Cup
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Manchester United goal to remember: Manchester United 2-1 Portsmouth (January 2007) Rooney was summoned from the bench to break down Portsmouth in the FA Cup, and he did just that. The second of his two goals was a moment of genius; a perfectly-weighted lob over David James
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Before he was famous… He played for Copplehouse Boys when he was spotted at Everton, aged nine
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Off-field headlines: Marries long-term partner (June 2008) Coleen McLoughlin became Mrs Rooney when the childhood sweethearts were wed in Italy
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments England goals to remember: England vs Switzerland – June 2004 His first goal in tournament football for England set Rooney on his way towards the record. The header was one of two goals that day in a 3-0 win for England
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments What they said… ‘Wayne said that we should have pursued Mesut Ozil, who had joined Real Madrid from Werder Bremen. My reply was that it was none of his business’ – Sir Alex Ferguson on Rooney’s first transfer request
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Manchester United goal to remember: Manchester United 4-0 Watford (January 2007) The fourth goal in this home demolition of Watford was a shining example of the excellent relationship Rooney had built with Cristiano Ronaldo, as he latched on to his pass to score with a clever lob
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Honours... Won his only UEFA Champions League in 2007-08
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments On-field controversy: England vs Northern Ireland (September 2005) Got involved in a flare-up with Keith Gillespie in the first half of the match, before pushing Rio Ferdinand and swearing at David Beckham
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Off-field headlines: Caught smoking (June 2008) Rooney was pictured lighting up on his Las Vegas honeymoon in the summer of 2008, much to the annoyance of Sir Alex
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Manchester United goal to remember: Manchester United 3-2 AC Milan (April 2007) With United trailing 2-1 in this Champions League semi-final, Rooney levelled, and struck and injury-time winner with a smart first-time effort from outside the area
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments England goals to remember: England vs Denmark – November 2003 Attempting to play in Emile Heskey, the ball rebounded off Thomas Helveg for Rooney to run on to. The forward then blasted the ball past Thomas Sorensen
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments What they said… ‘I said to him only one thing. I said: ‘Well, just remember one thing, respect this club. I don't want any nonsense from you, just respect the club’ which, you know, I don't know if he has done that’ – Sir Alex Ferguson
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Honours... FWA Footballer of the Year 2009-10
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Great game… Manchester United vs Bolton saw Rooney score his first domestic hat-trick (October 2006)
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments England goals to remember: Russia vs England – October 2007 Micah Richards booted the ball forward for Michael Owen to head down. Rooney then chested it before he unleashed a stunning volley to give England the lead
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Manchester United goal to remember: Manchester United 1-0 Roma (October 2007) His first goal in the iconic Manchester United number 10 shirt was this Champions League winner against Roma
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Off-field headlines: Birth of first child (November 2009) Rooney’s first son, Kai, arrived in November 2009, and he was followed by another boy, Klay, in May 2013
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Honours... PFA Fans’ Player of the Year: 2005-06, 2009-10
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments What they said… ‘He has to rank right up there in the pantheon of English football's finest’ – Former England striker Gary Lineker
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Manchester United goal to remember: Manchester United 4-0 Aston Villa (March 2008) At the peak of his devastating partnership with Ronaldo, the pair tore through a helpless Villa side. Rooney scored the standout goal, as he ran onto the Portuguese’s clever flick to round the keeper
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments On-field controversy: World Cup 2006 (July 2006) Sent off for appearing to stamp on Ricardo Carvalho and then pushing Cristiano Ronaldo
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments England goals to remember: England vs Iceland – June 2004 His second of the match, Rooney gets the ball 35 yards out before pulling off a sublime shot to get the goal
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments On-field controversy: His return to Everton… (October 2008) Kissed the Manchester United badge on his shirt, a gesture aimed at irate Everton fans. He was booked and then substituted
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Manchester United goal to remember: Newcastle 1-2 Manchester United (March 2009) The Magpies must be sick of Wayne Rooney. The striker showed ability with both feet to control and turn with the right before smashing in with his left to net the equaliser
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Great game… Manchester United’s 4-0 victory over Hull saw Rooney score every goal (January 2010)
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Off-field headlines: PFA Player of the Year (April 2010) Rooney’s 34 goals before the end of March were not enough to win United the title, but did earn him his only PFA Play of the Year award to date
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments What they said… ‘I have no problem with Wayne Rooney breaking my goalscoring record both here at United and for England’ – Sir Bobby Charlton
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments England goals to remember: Croatia vs England – June 2004 The world were about to take notice of the Everton youngster – he played a one-two with Michael Owen in the centre circle before running at the defence and slotting the ball home
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Before he was famous… Aged 10, he was mascot for Everton in the Merseyside derby. In the warm up he chipped Everton ‘keeper Neville Southall
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Manchester United goal to remember: Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United (January 2010) A goal that highlighted both Rooney’s sheer determination to score goals, and United’s ability to counter attack. From an Arsenal corner, Rooney passed to Nani, burst past the retreating Gunners and fired home
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments In his own words... ‘It is up there with my best’ – talking about his goal Vvs West Ham from just inside their half
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Honours... PFA Young Player of the Year: 2004-05, 2005-06
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Off-field headlines: United contract: Round one (October 2010) The star-striker demanded to leave United, claiming the future of the team to be unsecure. He signed a new deal just days later
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments What they said… ‘He's a player I like very much but I can't say more. He's fast and direct, but he is a Man United player’ – Jose Mourinho amid speculation over a transfer to Chelsea
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Manchester United goal to remember: Manchester United 2-1 Manchester City (February 2011) Wow. Nani’s deflected cross looked to be too far behind Rooney for him to score, but some excellent acrobatics sent the ball sailing into the top corner, and the United fans into jubilation
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments On-field controversy: Premier League vs Fulham (March 2009) Booked for throwing the ball away, his second yellow card, Rooney appeared to unleash a load of abuse towards referee Phil Dowd before assaulting the corner flag when leaving the pitch
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments England goals to remember: Macedonia vs England – September 2003 Connecting with Emile Heskey’s knock down, Rooney latched on to the ball and found the bottom corner of the net. In doing so, he became England’s youngest ever goal scorer… and still holds that record
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Manchester United goal to remember: Chelsea 0-1 Manchester United (April 2011) A few days after being hit with an FA charge for swearing into a camera, Rooney reminded his long-term suitors Chelsea of his on-field ability and produced his oddest celebration to boot
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments On-field controversy: World Cup 2010 (June 2010) Capping the dismal tournament off for England was Rooney shouting ‘It’s nice to see your home fans boo you’. England had just drawn 0-0 with Algeria
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Great game… England vs Switzerland – scored his first tournament goals for the national team (June 2004)
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments What they said… ‘Rooney is the biggest England talent I've seen since I arrived in England’ – Arsene Wenger in 2004
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Off-field headlines: Off-field headlines: Threatens abusive tweeter (May 2011) Rooney responds to an abusive follower by saying: ‘I will put u asleep within 10 seconds hope u turn up if u don't gonna tell everyone ur scared u little nit. I'll be waiting.’
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments England goals to remember: England vs Liechtenstein – September 2003 Another goal from a knock down, this time Rooney volleys it into the bottom corner after sending the goalkeeper the wrong way
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Great game… England vs Iceland – scored a brace in a 6-1 win (June 2004)
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Manchester United goal to remember: Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United (May 2011) Though often criticised for his performances in the biggest games, Rooney was the standout United performer in this Champions League final, scoring their only goal as they succumbed to Barcelona
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments In his own words... ‘Truly if there was any justice England would now be preparing for a World Cup semi-final. Sadly, however, that is not to be in 2006.’ – talking about England’s World Cup exit in 2006
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Before he was famous… He was scouted after Copplehouse Boys club did not pay the £1.50 match fee
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments England goals to remember: Estonia vs England – October 2014 In a game where England threatened very little, it took a spectacular Rooney free-kick to break the deadlock and earn England all three points
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments What they said… ‘Everyone knows Wayne is not the sort of person, with his Liverpool accent, who is going to be able to stand up in front of a lecture room of people’ - England manager Roy Hodgson
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments On-field controversy: Manchester United vs Wigan (February 2011) Appeared to catch James McCarthy with an elbow in an off-the-ball incident. The referee missed it and he stayed on the pitch
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Great game… Croatia vs England – scored twice in a 4-2 victory at Euro 2004 (June 2004)
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Off-field headlines: United contract: Round two (May 2013) Ferguson revealed that Rooney had requested a second transfer, after leaving him out of the squad for his final fixture at Old Trafford. Rooney secured a bumper new contract under David Moyes
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Manchester United goal to remember: Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal (August 2011) The star of a Premier League demolition, Rooney netted a superb hat-trick, the second of which was a well-placed effort after a smart free-kick routine
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments England goals to remember: Croatia vs England – June 2004 His first of a brace, he picked the ball up from 20 yards out and blasted it home
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments In his own words... ‘If you look at the teams that have won the tournament in previous years, you can see that nastiness in them. I think we need to get that in us. Maybe we are too honest’ – talking about the 2014 World Cup defeats
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments What they said… ‘If Wayne is going to be one of the best footballers in the world, this World Cup is where he has to produce’ – Paul Scholes prior to the 2014 World Cup
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments On-field controversy: Montenegro vs England (October 2011) In an attempt to win the ball, Rooney kicked his opponent on the back of his leg. Not only did he not win the ball, he was given a red card…
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Before he was famous… Michael Owen was his childhood hero
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Manchester United goal to remember: Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United (December 2012) Though the match will be remembered for Robin van Persie’s winner, Rooney scored the opening two goals, which were much needed for United after their 6-1 humbling in their previous meeting with City
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments What they said… ‘His ability is fantastic, but his attitude when he plays football is that he is willing to die for the team’ – Cristiano Ronaldo
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments England goals to remember: England vs Argentina – November 2005 Rooney did what he so often has for England, ran on to a loose ball before blasting the ball home to level things in the match
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Great game… Belarus vs England – found the net twice in this World Cup qualification victory (October 2008)
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Honours... PFA Premier League Team of the Year: 2005-06, 2009-10, 2011-12
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments On-field controversy: Manchester United vs West Ham United (September 2014) Attempting to cynically tackle Stewart Downing, Rooney’s ill-timed lunge did exactly what it was supposed to… apart from get him sent off
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments What they said… ‘For me, Rooney is not the player who scores 40 goals a season. But he is the player who helps his partner score lots of goals because he is working for one, two and maybe three other players. It seems like he has a strong mentality to win - like me he doesn't like to lose’ - Zlatan Ibrahimovic
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Manchester United goal to remember: West Ham 0-2 Manchester United (March 2014) Rooney reminded the world he is still capable of the incredible with the first of his two goals in this match; a magical moment of improvisation from just inside the Hammers’ half
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments England goals to remember: England vs Slovakia – March 2009 Another brace for Rooney, this time he calmly created space by rounding the goalkeeper before slotting the ball home
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Great game… Brazil vs England – It doesn’t get much better than scoring at the Maracana, which is exactly what Rooney did in this 2-2 draw (June 2013)
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments In his own words... ‘He was vitally important. I’m grateful to him for having the faith to bring me in from Everton. It was a great feeling. Sir Alex is the best manager there’s been and for him to recognise my talent and want me to join this club was a great honour for me’ – Rooney on Sir Alex Ferguson
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments England goals to remember: San Marino vs England – March 2013 With England winning 5-0, the game was already over. But that did not stop Rooney from scoring a free-kick from 25 yards. England went on to win 8-0
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments In his own words... ‘Obviously I'm not going to be as big a legend as Sir Bobby Charlton - he's won the World Cup. To eclipse that I'd have to win the World Cup’ – Rooney on becoming an England legend
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments What they said… ‘He is a very good player but not the best in Manchester’ – Mario Balotelli during his time at Manchester City
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments Honours... Won England Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009
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Goals, games, fame and shame - Wayne Rooney in 100 moments England goals to remember: Uruguay vs England – June 2014 While it may not have been a spectacular goal from Rooney, it is one he will remember. The tap-in was his first England goal at a World Cup finals tournament
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"I didn’t know about the record, but now that I do, it’s extra motivation for me," Simoncini told 888sport.com . "I see it as a personal challenge and it will be difficult, but it’s just another challenge. Rooney will reach it, because he’s a great player. I just hope it’s in the game after they face us."
If England win and other results go their way, Roy Hodgson's team will qualify for Euro 2016. San Marino have not won any of their previous 118 official games, drawing only three, and have conceded 531 goals in that time.
But Simoncini says the England team always treat the part-timers with respect.
Rooney has scored four goals in three games against San Marino (Getty Images) "We’ve faced England three times now and they have always acted like gentlemen with us," added Simoncini. "Even though we’re a small nation, they’ve always shown us respect. I have a lot of respect for the English players because they’ve always been gentlemen with us, and I really appreciate that.
"They know we go out to try to honour the shirt and the country. Other countries have treated us like we don’t deserve to be there, but never England.
"When I play against teams like England, I don’t just fear their strikers, I even fear their defenders!” he revealed. “People who are used to defending, against us, become attackers, because everyone attacks us! Whoever I have in front of me; if it’s Rooney or whoever, it will be very difficult."
Simoncini continued: "The result is the last thing I think about. When I go out onto the pitch, I concentrate on doing the best I possibly can. Basically, the best we can hope for is not getting hammered."
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