ROONEY SPEAKS ON WHY HE RETURNED TO EVERTON, AND WHAT WINNING A TROPHY THERE WOULD MEAN TO HIM.

He has won a Champions League, five Premier Leagues, one FA Cup, three League Cups, the Europa League and one FIFA Club World Championship.


Yet Wayne Rooney claims winning a trophy with his beloved Everton would be the “pinnacle” of his glorious career.

Rooney, 31, is back at Goodison Park, 13 years after he left for £26.5million as an 18-year-old, and says landing some silverware would top the lot for him.

Everton lifted their last trophy, the FA Cup in 1995 and Rooney says he dreams of ending their long wait for success.

“That would be the pinnacle,” he said. “I really feel now the club is moving in the right direction, bringing the right calibre of players in. I want to be part of it and hopefully part of a successful Everton team.

“It’s a great feeling to be back. I’m excited, I cannot wait to meet the lads, get on the training pitch and then get on the pitch to play. I’m ecstatic – I just cannot wait to get back playing.

“The first game back will be an emotional day for me and I’m looking forward to it. I’m not just coming back because it’s the team I support, the team I grew up playing for – I’m coming back because I feel the club can move forward and be successful. I want to be part of it.”

The striker knows that as England and United’s record goal-scorer, pressure would be on him to deliver the goods for the Toffees.

“There will be pressure on me to perform, but I’m ready to go,” he said. “I believe I can help move this club forward and be more successful on the pitch.

“I’m excited by the signings that the club have made.

This club is moving forward. This football club should be winning trophies and we’re taking huge steps to being involved and trying to win trophies.

“I firmly believe we have the potential to be a success in the league and the cup competitions.

We’re certainly capable of winning one of the cups.

“You have to take it step by step – it’s a difficult set of fixtures to start the season, so we have to make sure we get a good pre-season so we’re capable of starting well.

“With the new stadium in the pipeline, it’s an exciting time to be an Everton player, to be an Everton fan.

“It’s on us players to make those times even more exciting by giving them good performances and try to help them be successful.”

Manager, Ronald Koeman and chairman Bill Kenwright were key to Rooney's decision to return.
“Ronald Koeman was very influential in me coming here,” he added. “When it was obvious I was going to leave United this summer, Ronald said how much he wanted me at the club and that had a huge impact on me.

“Bill obviously played a big role in it, but the important one was Ronald Koeman.”