Football
Anuj Vignesh 7y

Match-winning goals, first silverware: Wayne Rooney's romance with Old Trafford

With Wayne Rooney pledging his immediate future to Manchester United, Jose Mourinho has confirmed that the England striker will be in the squad for the League Cup final on Sunday. Rooney is no stranger to big games, having featured in nine major finals in his time at Old Trafford.

But how did he fare in each of those matches? Here's a look:

2005 FA Cup Final

May 21, 2005

Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United (Arsenal won 5-4 on penalties)

Rooney signed for Manchester United in 2004 and took little time adjusting to life at Old Trafford, marking his debut campaign with 17 goals and a PFA Young Player of the Year award. He carried his form to the FA Cup final against Arsenal, where he played on the right flank to devastating effect, giving Ashley Cole a torrid time at left-back. A livewire throughout the game, Rooney hit the post, forced two fine saves from Jens Lehmann and created numerous chances for his strike partners Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo. United, though, failed to find a goal, forcing the game into a shootout. Rooney converted his spot kick and was later named the Player of the Match, but Paul Scholes' miss handed Arsenal a 5-4 win.

2006 League Cup final

February 26, 2006

Manchester United 4-0 Wigan Athletic

Rooney tasted his first piece of silverware in Feb. 2006, starring in a 4-0 thrashing of Wigan in a lopsided League Cup final in Cardiff. With Sir Alex Ferguson leaving Van Nistelrooy out of the XI, Rooney partnered Louis Saha up front and scored twice, in the 33rd and 61st minutes. Saha and Ronaldo also got on the scoresheet, while Rooney picked up another Player-of-the-Match award.

2007 FA Cup final

May 19, 2007

Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United

Manchester United went into the 2007 FA Cup final having just ended their three-year drought for a Premier League title, beating Mourinho's Chelsea by six points. The two sides met again in the new Wembley stadium in a tight contest, with Rooney having little time and space to make a decisive impact. He went on a mazy run in the first half only to be denied by Petr Cech, and in extra time, set up Ryan Giggs for a chance with a low cross from the right. Chelsea held on, though, and Didier Drogba's strike in the 116th minute settled the tie.

2008 UEFA Champions League final

May 21, 2008

Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea (Manchester United won 6-5 on penalties)

United and Chelsea once again met in a cup final, but this time, Rooney ended on the victorious side. In a tense night in Moscow, Rooney played a supporting role in a three-pronged attack, sitting deep to allow Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez to do most of the damage. Rooney nearly found Tevez for a tap-in during the first half, and ran himself to the ground for the rest of the night, often tracking back to help Wes Brown at right-back. He was substituted by Nani in extra time and watched from the dugout as United clinched a dramatic 6-5 win in the shootout.

2008 FIFA Club World Cup final

December 21, 2008

LDU Quito 0-1 Manchester United

As European Champions, United took part in the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan. Rooney scored twice in a 5-3 victory against Gamba Osaka in the semifinals, before once again making the difference in the final against LDU Quito, latching on to a back-heel from Ronaldo and firing into the far post. He walked away with his third Player-of-the-Match award in a major final.

2009 UEFA Champions League final

May 27, 2009

FC Barcelona 2-0 Manchester United

In May 2009, United had the chance to become the first team to retain the Champions League, but were completely outclassed in the final by Pep Guardiola's Barcelona in Rome. Most of United's attackers had quiet games, and Rooney was no different, spending the majority of the 90 minutes chasing shadows and hounded out of possession by Barcelona's intense pressing.

2010 League Cup final

February 28, 2010

Aston Villa 1-2 Manchester United

United entered the 2010 League Cup final as the holders, though Rooney was absent for the 2009 shootout victory against Tottenham Hotspur. Forced on as a substitute in the first half due to an injury to Michael Owen, Rooney once again emerged the match winner, heading Antonio Valencia's cross over Brad Friedel's outstretched arm and into the net in the 74th minute. Rooney ended the season with 34 goals -- his most prolific to date -- and was named the PFA Player of the Year.

2011 Champions League final

May 28, 2011

Manchester United 1-3 Barcelona

United reached their third Champions League final in four years, but just like in Rome, Barcelona produced a passing masterclass to run out 3-1 winners. Rooney was arguably United's best player on the night and scored the equaliser with a powerful first-time finish after exchanging passes with Giggs. He had two more brief glimpses at goal in the second half, but by then, the match was all but over.

2016 FA Cup final

May 21, 2016

Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United

Deployed in an unconventional midfield role alongside Michael Carrick, captain Rooney was at the centre of a United comeback win against Crystal Palace. With United a goal down and just nine minutes left on the clock, Rooney carried the ball from midfield and dribbled his way past four Palace shirts, before pulling back a cross from the right. Marouane Fellaini chested the ball down, allowing Juan Mata to volley home the equaliser. United went on to score a winner in extra time through Jesse Lingard, as Rooney finally lifted the one trophy that was missing from his cabinet. Once again, he was adjudged as the Player of the Match.

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