Rooney no stranger to challenges
Just 17 minutes into his 2004 debut for Manchester United, former Everton striker Wayne Rooney got the better of his nerves by latching onto a through ball and firing his first goal for the club high into Turkish club Fenerbache's net.
Often one to exceed expectations, Rooney turned a fine debut into a great one only 11 minutes later. Receiving a square ball from veteran Ryan Giggs, Rooney skipped past one defender to direct a brilliantly placed effort just inside the left-hand post.
After the break, Rooney, now undoubtedly at ease, stepped up to take a United free kick. His team mates would not regret giving the youngster the chance to do so, as his curled effort rose over the bar and flew into the left corner. At 18, Rooney had scored a hat-trick in his first ever Champions League game.
Less than two years prior, Rooney had become the Premier League's youngest ever scorer by scoring a long-range effort against Arsenal. The goal had everyone talking about Liverpool's new golden boy. At 16, Rooney was still living at his parents' council estate, collecting £80 per week to play for his home-town club.
The springboard for Rooney's move to United was his convincing display for England in the 2004 European championships, where he scored four goals in the group stage and provided the bulk of the team's attacking inspiration alongside Michael Owen.
Limping off in England's quarter final against Portugal with a metatarsal injury that would keep him out until his United debut months later, the bullish striker effectively ended England's hopes of reaching the next round in the tournament.
Rooney, who had proven equally comfortable orchestrating attacking plays and finishing them off, looked certain to become invaluable for his club and national teams in years to come.
Hesitant start at United
While Rooney quickly became popular with manager Sir Alex Ferguson, it took the youngster slightly longer than expected to find his form at the club. His first trophy for United came in 2006, as he became man of the match in United's League Cup-final defeat of Wigan.
While bagging 16 league goals that season, Rooney's first two years at United had been plagued by disciplinary problems for the hot-tempered player. In September 2005, Rooney sarcastically clapped the referee for handing him a yellow card, earning him another booking and his first red card for the club.
The striker was slightly out of focus during the start of the 2006–2007 season, picking up an unnecessary red card in the pre-season Amsterdam Tournament and going ten games without scoring in the Premier League. But Rooney, often one to bounce back, grabbed a total of 14 league goals that season as United won the league for the first time since his arrival.
Ronaldo the centre of attention
While the silverware to Rooney's name would increase dramatically in the 2007–2008 and 2008–2009 seasons, the striker's individual form had to give way to the definite ascendancy of his team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.
United won two league titles and the 2008 Champions League during these seasons, which often saw Rooney deployed on the left wing of a three-man attack. Despite playing out of position, the Englishman claimed 12 league goals in both seasons.
Ronaldo's departure for Real Madrid in the summer of 2009 left many expecting Rooney to fill the Portuguese winger's shoes at the club. It was a huge task, but Rooney stepped up to the plate with plenty of confidence.
Personal success in 2009-2010
Now relied upon as United's first-choice striker, Rooney thrived in his new role and scored 26 league goals, only three short of Chelsea's Didier Drogba, that year's top scorer. He also scored five goals in the Champions League, and three in other competitions, bringing his season's total to 34 goals.
United won the 2009-2010 League Cup, but apart from that victory it seems Rooney's personal form has had trouble synchronizing with the success of his club.
Having opened his scoring account in the league against West Ham this season, the English striker is set to make his own and United's team performances count this year. He will also be instrumental to Fabio Capello's national team, despite Rooney's uninspired showing in the 2010 World Cup.
Now faced with press allegations about his personal life, pressure is also mounting off the pitch for Rooney. But having witnessed his way of handling pressure, it should be expected that the 24-year-old will overcome once again.
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