Wayne Rooney: Age, Net Worth, Career Stats & Role (2024)

Few careers in English football have packed as many goals, titles, and record-breaking moments as Wayne Rooney’s. Now at 38, his journey from teenage sensation to manager of Plymouth Argyle offers a fascinating story of evolution. Here’s a detailed 2024 profile covering his age, net worth, career stats, and what he’s doing now.

Age: 38 years (born October 24, 1985) ·
Net worth: Estimated $170 million ·
Career goals (club): 313 goals (club career) ·
England caps: 120 caps ·
England goals: 53 goals

Rooney’s key statistics are summarized below.

What is Wayne Rooney’s age?

Early life and birth details

• Born on October 24, 1985 in Liverpool, England (Britannica (encyclopedia))
• Full name: Wayne Mark Rooney (Premier League (official competition))
• Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.76 m) (Official Wayne Rooney Stats (personal website))

Age milestones

• Made senior England debut at age 17 years and 111 days (England Football (national governing body))
• Became youngest Premier League goal scorer during debut with Everton (Britannica (encyclopedia))
• Turned 38 in 2024 (Britannica (encyclopedia))

Age remains the foundation of his timeline, but it’s his early peak that sets the bar for his second act.

What is Wayne Rooney’s net worth?

Sources of income

• Manchester United salary (peak: estimated £300,000 per week) (GOAL (football news outlet))
• Endorsements from brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, and EA Sports (The Sport Review (sports news))
• Business ventures: horse racing, media appearances, and the Wayne Rooney Foundation

Earnings from football

Rooney reportedly earned over £100 million in salary alone from his playing career. His transfer to Manchester United in 2004 cost £25.6 million (Britannica (encyclopedia)). Combined with bonuses and image rights, his total football income is substantial.

Endorsements and business

Sponsorship deals added significantly. GOAL (football news outlet) estimated his net worth at around £170 million ($207 million) in 2024, though other sources offer lower figures. The Sport Review (sports news) notes that no official public figure exists, and the Daily Mirror once estimated up to $170 million, while The Sunday Times pegged his wealth near £82 million.

The discrepancy itself is a pattern: high‑profile athletes rarely have singular net‑worth numbers.

What is Wayne Rooney’s career?

Club career overview

• Everton (2002–2004): 77 appearances, 17 goals (Official Wayne Rooney Stats (personal website))
• Manchester United (2004–2017): 559 appearances, 253 goals (Official Wayne Rooney Stats (personal website))
• Everton (2017–2018): 40 appearances, 11 goals (Official Wayne Rooney Stats (personal website))
• D.C. United (2018–2020): 52 appearances, 23 goals (D.C. United (MLS club official site))
• Derby County (2020–2021): 35 appearances, 7 goals (Britannica (encyclopedia))

International career

• England debut: 2003 (England Football (national governing body))
• 120 caps, 53 goals — all-time leading scorer for England (England Football (national governing body))
• Retired from international football in August 2017 (England Football (national governing body))

Managerial career

• Derby County (player-coach 2020, manager 2021–2022) (Britannica (encyclopedia))
• D.C. United (head coach July 2022 – 2023) (The Sport Review (sports news))
• Birmingham City (manager from October 2023) (Wikipedia (user-contributed encyclopedia))
• Plymouth Argyle (manager from 2024) (Britannica (encyclopedia))

The challenge for Rooney now is translating his playing intelligence into consistent managerial results.

What are Wayne Rooney’s stats?

Premier League career stats

Rooney played 491 Premier League matches, scoring 208 goals and providing 103 assists (Premier League (official competition)). That makes him the second-highest scorer in Premier League history at the time of his retirement.

Manchester United stats

• 559 appearances, 253 goals (Official Wayne Rooney Stats (personal website))
• Club all-time top scorer (Official Wayne Rooney Stats (personal website))

England national team stats

• 120 caps, 53 goals (England Football (national governing body))
• All-time top scorer for England (England Football (national governing body))

Behind the raw numbers, a pattern emerges: Rooney’s output peaked between 2006 and 2012, when he averaged 30+ goals per season for Manchester United. After 2013, injuries and a shift to a deeper midfield role reduced his scoring but added playmaking assists.

Six clubs, one pattern: Rooney was a high-volume scorer who also created chances. His 188 assists across all competitions highlight his dual threat, ranking him among the most complete forwards of his generation (Official Wayne Rooney Stats (personal website)).

Where is Wayne Rooney now?

Current role

As of 2024, Rooney is the manager of Plymouth Argyle, a club in the EFL Championship (Britannica (encyclopedia)). He was appointed in 2024, continuing his managerial career after previous spells at Derby County, D.C. United, and Birmingham City.

Recent activities

• Media appearances: punditry on Sky Sports and BBC (GOAL (football news outlet))
• Foundation work: Wayne Rooney Foundation supports children’s charities (Official Wayne Rooney Stats (personal website))
• Horse racing: co-ownership of several racehorses

Future plans

Rooney has expressed ambition to manage at a higher level, potentially in the Premier League one day. His immediate focus is on stabilising Plymouth Argyle and developing a young squad. The long-term trajectory is unclear, but his name remains a draw for clubs and broadcasters alike.

For Rooney, the 2024/25 season will determine his managerial trajectory.

Wayne Rooney: Timeline

• 1985 – Born in Liverpool (Britannica (encyclopedia))
• 2002 – Professional debut for Everton (Britannica (encyclopedia))
• 2004 – Transferred to Manchester United (Britannica (encyclopedia))
• 2008 – Won UEFA Champions League (Britannica (encyclopedia))
• 2017 – Left Manchester United as all-time top scorer (253 goals) (Official Wayne Rooney Stats (personal website))
• 2018 – Joined D.C. United (D.C. United (MLS club official site))
• 2020 – Joined Derby County as player-coach (Britannica (encyclopedia))
• 2021 – Retired from playing; became Derby County manager (Britannica (encyclopedia))
• 2024 – Appointed manager of Plymouth Argyle (Britannica (encyclopedia))

The timeline shows a steady progression from player to manager, though the managerial chapters are still being written.

Clarity: What we know vs. what’s uncertain

Quotes

“I am proud to have scored 53 goals for England and to have worn the armband for my country.”

— Wayne Rooney, as reported by England Football (national governing body)

“Wayne Rooney was a fantastic player for Manchester United, one of the best I ever managed.”

— Sir Alex Ferguson, as cited by Britannica (encyclopedia)

The quotes reinforce the contrast between his secure playing legacy and his uncertain managerial future.

For football fans and stakeholders, the implication is clear: Rooney’s playing career is a gold standard, but his managerial future is still unproven. Whether he can replicate his on-pitch intelligence on the sideline will define his second act. For Rooney, the 2024/25 season will be telling.

Frequently asked questions

These answers round out the core facts about Rooney’s life and career.

Related reading

• Derek Jeter: Biography, Net Worth, Relationships & Career Facts — sports legend profile
• Conor McGregor: Net Worth, Losses & Current Status — athlete financial breakdown