Wayne Rooney has revealed the four faces of his Manchester United-inspired Mount Rushmore and the Red Devils legend controversially left off three big names.
The 38-year-old former Manchester United star had a prolific playing career at Old Trafford and is regarded as one of the best Premier League strikers of all time.
Rooney, whose son is part of the United youth academy, arrived at Old Trafford in 2004 after Sir Alex Ferguson snapped him up from Everton in a deal worth £27m.
The United legend made 559 appearances for the club and scored a whopping 253 times, eclipsing Sir Bobby Charlton as the Red Devils’ all-time leading scorer.
Rooney was later elevated to captain under former United manager Louis van Gaal, with the ex-United striker enjoying incredible success during his time at the club.
The former United skipper lifted five Premier League titles, a Champions League, a Europa League, an FA Cup and three League Cups before his Old Trafford exit.
Rooney’s United-inspired Mount Rushmore
Wayne Rooney returned to boyhood club Everton for a second spell in 2017 and later went on to play for MLS side DC United and Derby County.
Following the end of his playing career in 2021, Manchester United’s all-time top scorer went on to manage Derby County, DC United and Birmingham City.
Rooney, who was sacked from Birmingham City this month, was asked on CBS’s Morning Footy show in 2023 who would be on his United-themed Mount Rushmore.
The Morning Footy panel revealed to Rooney that they had placed him on their Mount Rushmore alongside Ferguson, Charlton and Paul Scholes.
“We had Sir Alex [Ferguson]… Bobby Charlton, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes,” the desk told Rooney.
Rooney then revealed his four picks for Mount Rushmore, with the former Birmingham City boss agreeing with the panel’s decision to select Ferguson.
However, the ex-United and Everton star then replaced himself, Charlton and Scholes with club legends Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and George Best.
“Yeah, I think for me, Sir Alex of course will be on there,” he said.
“I think Cristiano Ronaldo will be on there. And Ryan Giggs would be on there and probably George Best.”
Rooney’s Mount Rushmore of United misses off big names
A Mount Rushmore for almost any topic usually divides people, with United legend Rooney admitting that there are “so many people that could be on there.”
However, there will be no doubt that Rooney’s selection will cause controversy, especially with the likes of Charlton, Scholes and Eric Cantona all missing.
Charlton is widely regarded as one of England and United’s best players and was an ever-present figure at Old Trafford before his passing in 2023.
Cantona had a seminal impact during his legendary spell at Old Trafford in the 1990s and was admired by former United manager Ferguson during his time at the club.
Scholes, much like Cantona and Charlton, enjoyed an illustrious career at United and is widely considered one of the best midfielders of all time.
That’s not to mention United fans would argue for the likes of legendary former United manager Sir Matt Busby to be on a United-themed Mount Rushmore, too.