Wayne Rooney’s funniest and most underrated moments during his time at Manchester United

Wayne Rooney was hoping that his Derby County side would draw his former club Manchester United in the FA Cup - and his wish came true.The two clubs go head-to-head at Pride Park on Thursday evening for a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals. All eyes will, of course, be on Derby’s No. 32.Rooney will forever be a Man Utd legend. He’s the Red Devils’ all-time leading goalscorer and undoubtedly one of the greatest players in the club’s illustrious history.The forward spent 13 years at Old Trafford and scored 253 goals in 559 games, winning a host of major honours in the process, including five Premier League titles and the Champions League.We all know about Rooney’s greatest moments during his time at Old Trafford - the bicycle kick v Manchester City, the unstoppable volley against Newcastle and so on - but we thought we’d take a look back at his funnest and most underrated moments from his spell with the Premier League giants.Here our some of our favourites…

Skinhead Rooney >>>

Man Utd fans adored Rooney’s work ethic and willingness to get stuck in. He could be absolutely ferocious at times.

Hull City’s George Boateng and Andy Dawson found this out the hard way during a Premier League clash at Old Trafford in 2008.

How Rooney only escaped with a yellow card, well, only the referee Mike Dean can answer that one…

Getting decked by Phil Bardsley

Back in 2015, Rooney made the front pages of Britain’s tabloids after footage emerged of him getting knocked out in his kitchen by Phil Bardsley.

The pair were boxing when Bardsley caught Rooney with a jab. Poor old Wazza didn’t know what day of the week it was.

… and his celebration

Rooney then scored in the following game against Tottenham and produced this legendary celebration.

“When it was coming out, I went to see [Louis] van Gaal,” Rooney revealed in a 2019 interview. “I said ‘this story’s coming out about me and Phil Bardsley fighting in the house’.

“And he p***** himself laughing. He found it hilarious.”

Charades with Fergie

Rooney and Sir Alex Ferguson clashed on many occasions but this moment on ‘The Big United Quiz’ in 2011 is pure gold.

The forward, who was on the same team as Jonny Evans and Ryan Giggs against a team led by Ferguson, momentarily took his life into his own hands after being forced to act out the film ‘Bend It Like Beckham’.

With Evans and Giggs struggling, Rooney decided to reenact the moment Fergie kicked a boot at Beckham.

“This is going to cost you!” Ferguson said to his star striker.

Showing no respect to Pep

Don’t keep the ball away from Wayne Rooney, Pep. There will only ever be one winner there.

Swearing down the camera at West Ham

Rooney had a notoriously fiery temper during his United days and was handed a two-match ban after swearing into a TV camera after scoring a hat-trick against West Ham in April 2011.

‘What?! F***ing what?’ a celebration.

Was it worth the two-match ban, though? Probably not, in fairness.

This bizarre celebration against Chelsea

Talking of legendary celebrations, how is it even possible to end up in this position?

When Colleen allowed him to leave the house like this

Mid-2000s Rooney summed up in one glorious image…

Meltdown v Fulham

Rooney had a tenancy to absolutely explode at times. Back in March 2009, he was shown a red card and warned about his future conduct by the Football Association after throwing the ball in anger at referee Phil Dowd before punching the corner flag.

Just look at the speed that he launched that ball towards the ref!

When Louis van Gaal told him how to shoot

Rooney is Man Utd and England’s all-time top goalscorer - he doesn’t need to be told how to shoot.

But Louis van Gaal clearly believed otherwise. In a pre-season training drill, the veteran Dutch coach pulled Rooney up on his shooting technique, telling him to look at the goalkeeper before taking his shot.

It didn’t make him a better striker.

Laughing at Memphis Depay’s failed bicycle kick

Memphis Depay provided some light-hearted entertainment during Rooney’s testimonial in August 2016.

Both Rooney and his eldest son, Kai, failed to hide their amusement in a clip that quickly went viral on social media.

Giving some to Robert Pires

Rooney was never overawed by star players from the moment he made his professional debut.

And there was a brilliant moment in Man Utd’s classic 4-2 win over Arsenal in 2005 where he clashed with Robert Pires, even taking the mick out of the Frenchman’s sideburns.