In his prime, Wayne Rooney was not only one of the greatest English talents to ever lace up a pair of boots, but he was also one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League. Back in 2014, the Manchester United star was reported to have signed a new contract at Old Trafford worth £300,000 per week. Over a decade on, and only one current Red Devil takes home more.
Given what he had achieved in his career, it is no surprise to see that Rooney was compensated. However, his first-ever contract back in his Everton days is bound to raise a few eyebrows, as his weekly salary was below that of the country’s minimum wage.
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Rooney’s First Contract Less Than £100 Per Week
The then teenager earned a substantial bonus per appearance
According to a 2003 report from the Guardian, it was claimed that when Rooney first broke into the Everton senior squad, the teenager was earning just £90 per week due to still being on an apprentice wage. For context, when he signed his £300,000 contract for Manchester United in 2014, Rooney would be earning £90 every three hours.
In order to boost his earnings, the Three Lions youngster would also receive a bonus of £1,500 per appearance for the club.
However, when it came time for the wonderkid to put pen to paper on his first professional contract, Rooney was handed a mega pay rise – a 14,344% increase, to be exact, as he jumped to a £13,000 weekly salary. The report also detailed that the striker was meant to sign a deal worth £8,000 prior to the aforementioned contract, but his switch of agent put a halt to those negotiations.
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Rooney’s First Car
The Everton youngster did not get a typical sports car
Whilst most footballers are quick to splash the cash on the latest luxury vehicle or sports car, the same can’t be said for a young Rooney, as his first car was a relatively modest one. As part of a sponsorship deal the teenager had signed with Ford, the striker was given a Ford KA as a gift for scoring his first Premier League goal against Arsenal.
As one of the most exciting wonderkids the sport has ever seen, it was an ingenious marketing campaign for the motor company, and Rooney explained he was more than happy with his mode of transport.
“I’m only 18, haven’t been driving long, and I don’t think I’d be ready to drive a very fast car,” Rooney told The Times. “I like to keep it simple.
“The Sportka’s great for getting around the city streets of Liverpool — nice and nippy.”
