'Still love the football club' - Wayne Rooney says his Goodison Park memories 'will last a lifetime' after Everton beat Southampton in Premier League
Published 18/05/2025 at 16:46 GMT+1
Wayne Rooney will go down as one of the greatest players ever to grace the Goodison Park pitch. The former England international burst onto the screen for The Toffees in the early 2000s, but would go on to leave the club for Manchester United in 2004. During the Goodison Park: End of an Era ceremony, the forward stressed how much he still loves the club.
Highlights: Ndiaye brace sees Everton bid farewell to Goodison Park in style
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Wayne Rooney insists his memories of Goodison Park will last a lifetime despite his rollercoaster relationship with Everton.
The former England striker left his boyhood club to join Manchester United in 2004, much to the disappointment of many Toffees fans, who were eager to keep hold of the prodigious young star.
Rooney would go on to become The Red Devils' all-time leading goalscorer, but he would also return to Goodison Park for a second spell in 2017.
Rooney spoke following the 2-0 victory against Southampton, which was the last Everton men's game at the famous ground, and he stressed that he still loves the club.
"I just want to say from my point of view, Everton is the club that I grew up as a young boy loving," he said during the Goodison Park: End of an Era ceremony.
"I still love the football club.
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SCENES! Everton walk out onto Goodison Park for last time in Premier League
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I know we have had ups and downs, and obviously I went and played for Manchester United, but the memories I have at this football club will last a lifetime."
Iliman Ndiaye found the back of the net twice to hand Everton a 2-0 victory over Saints, who had already been relegated back to the Championship.
Rooney spoke alongside Duncan Ferguson, and he feared that someone was joking when pairing him up with the tall Scot.
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"I think I'm getting stitched up by being asked to stand next Duncan," joked the former England striker.
"It is very emotional being here today.
"Hopefully, the new ground can bring the history that Goodison Park has.
"So yeah, I am looking forward to it."
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