Wayne Rooney Reflects on Iconic Manchester Derby Moments
Wayne Rooney has experienced many memorable moments in Manchester derbies, both positive and negative.
In a recent episode of his BBC podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show, he recounted a particularly challenging defeat during Sir Alex Ferguson's tenure, where he even found himself celebrating with players from the opposing team.
As Manchester City prepares to host Manchester United on Sunday at 16:30 BST, Rooney shared his insights with former City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips.
One of the most unforgettable derbies took place in October 2011, when City triumphed over United with a stunning 6-1 victory at Old Trafford. Rooney remarked, "That was a significant moment for City; you could sense their rise. To come to Old Trafford and win 6-1 was a statement. I remember being on the pitch, and it was unbearable. In the second half, it felt like goals were just piling up, and I thought, 'Get me off this pitch.'"
Despite the defeat, Rooney had a birthday celebration to attend that evening, which included several City players like Joe Hart and Gareth Barry. He reflected, "I couldn't cancel the party; family and friends had made plans. So, I went. We had the United lads and some City lads together. I remember me, Crouchy [Peter Crouch], and Harty [Joe Hart] got up and sang a Backstreet Boys song. Looking back, I should have canceled, but everyone had arranged their time off and babysitters."
Months prior to that infamous match, Rooney scored one of the most iconic goals in Premier League history during a derby. His overhead kick secured a late 2-1 victory in February 2011, which later earned the Premier League Goal of the 20 Seasons award in 2012. "I played poorly that day; it was one of my worst performances. I couldn't control the ball," he admitted. "The goal became iconic because it was a derby win, but you don't practice overhead kicks."
Rooney's favorite derby memory, however, was from 2007 when United won 1-0 thanks to a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo, putting them on the brink of the title. "The next day we won the league. We all celebrated together, knowing that if we won that game against City, the league was ours," he recalled.
In their conversation, Rooney and Wright-Phillips also discussed the pressures of being part of footballing families. Wright-Phillips, whose father Ian Wright is an Arsenal legend, noted the challenges faced by his son D'Margio, who plays for Belgian club Beerschot. He shared, "People expect you to play like your father. My daughter has faced similar expectations at 11, even being booed off the pitch when injured. I always tell her to just play her game and let her football do the talking."
Wright-Phillips continued to describe D'Margio's journey, highlighting the difficulties of navigating the highs and lows of a football career. "He did well at Stoke, but then faced challenges with a new manager. Now he's learning how to handle setbacks, which many young players don’t see coming. Football isn't just about playing; it’s about learning to deal with adversity too."
Rooney also spoke about his son Kai, who has been playing for Manchester United's Under-18 team at just 15 years old. "There's added pressure on them. When Ronaldo returned, there were significantly more spectators at the matches watching the younger players, which can be daunting. They need to be prepared for that pressure," he said.