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Wayne Rooney testimonial: Manchester United striker's career in pictures

Rooney's United will face his only other professional club at Old Trafford on Wednesday as he prepares to start his 13th season at Old Trafford

Wednesday 03 August 2016 13:21 BST

Wayne Rooney's career in pictures

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1/18Wayne Rooney's career in pictures

Wayne Rooney's career in pictures

Breakthrough goal - 2002

Five days before his 17th birthday, Wayne Rooney scored a wonder goal against Arsenal in 2002 as the world realised his talent.

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Wayne Rooney's career in pictures

Switch to United - 2004

A £25.6m fee was soon agreed with Manchester United - despite interest from Newcastle - as Rooney switched Goodison Park for Old Trafford in 2004.

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Wayne Rooney's career in pictures

On the international stage - 2004

It got better for the powerful striker when he scored four goals in as many matches at Euro 2004.

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Wayne Rooney's career in pictures

The stunning goals continue - 2005

It wasn't long before Rooney had become a mainstay in Sir Alex Ferguson's United side, typified by his olley against Newcastle at Old Trafford.

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Wayne Rooney's career in pictures

The red mist descends - 2006

Always a cantankerous player, Rooney's demons haunted him at the 2006 World Cup in Germany as he was sent off for a stamp against Portugal.

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Wayne Rooney's career in pictures

First of many titles - 2007

Rooney had to wait until 2007 for his first taste of Premier League glory, scoring 14 goals as United lifted the title in 2008.

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Wayne Rooney's career in pictures

European glory - 2008

A year later, Rooney was invaluable to Ferguson again as the north west outfit defeated Chelsea in Moscow on penalties to win the Champions League.

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Wayne Rooney's career in pictures

Controversy returns - 2010

As England struggled to a 0-0 draw against Algeria in South Africa, the former Everton striker told supporters exactly what he thought about them into camera.

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Wayne Rooney's career in pictures

World Cup woe - 2012

Despite finally scoring for England at a World Cup in 2014, Rooney was unable to prevent a torrid group stage exit under Roy Hodgson in Brazil.

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Wayne Rooney's career in pictures

Contract talks - 2012

Rooney twice risked incurring the wrath of Ferguson during their time together, famously truning down a contract offer and threatening to leave until better terms were presented.

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Wayne Rooney's career in pictures

Success continues - 2013

In Ferguson's final season in charge, Rooney helped lift another Premier League title in 2013 alongside strike partner Robin van Persie.

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Wayne Rooney's career in pictures

Record breaker - 2015

In 2015, Rooney broke Sir Bobby Charlton's England goalscoring record with his 50th international goal from a penalty in a Euro 2016 qualifying match against Switzerland.

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Wayne Rooney's career in pictures

Switch to midfield - 2016

As Rooney began to age, then-United manager Louis van Gaal switched Rooney into midfielder where he helped the club lift the FA Cup in the Dutchman's last game in charge.

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Wayne Rooney's career in pictures

Mourinho era begins - 2017

Rooney lifts the League Cup trophy, the first major success under Jose Mourinho.

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Wayne Rooney's career in pictures

Record breaker, again - 2017

Rooney became United's all-time top goalscorer, beating Sir Bobby Charlton's long-standing record, after a last-gasp equaliser at Stoke City

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Wayne Rooney's career in pictures

European triumph - 2017

Rooney comes on in the closing minutes as United beat Ajax 2-0 to win the Europa League.

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Wayne Rooney's career in pictures

Return to Goodison - 2017

Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring against Stoke at Goodison Park, his first goal after returning to Everton (AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Wayne Rooney's career in pictures

Retirement from international football - 2017

The England captain hangs up his boots in September 2017. "Every time I was selected as a player or captain was a real privilege and I thank everyone who helped me," he said. "But I believe now is the time to bow out."

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Wayne Rooney's testimonial between Manchester United and Everton this evening is likely to be an emotional occasion for the England striker.

Rooney's United will face his only other professional club at Old Trafford on Wednesday as he prepares to start his 13th season at Old Trafford.

The game, which will also be Jose Mourinho's first as United manager at home, is raising funds for the Wayne Rooney Foundation which will distribute money to the NSPCC, Claire House Hospice, Alder Hey Childrens Hospital and the Manchester United Foundation.

The 30-year-old has won five Premier League titles in the north west since a £25m move in 2004 during a career littered with triumph and controversy.

Despite also winning the Champions League in 2008, helping defeat Chelsea in the final in Moscow, Rooney's legacy at United causes debate among supporters.

Successes on the pitch are placed alongside off-field strife, including a host of unpopular contract negotiations under Sir Alex Ferguson.

See above for a gallery of Rooney's key career moments, including breaking records for club and country but also featuring a few of his more unsavoury moments too.

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