Gary Lineker says that Wayne Rooney’s public image will be transformed by an upcoming documentary about him. The former England captain was delighted to see one of his successors become the nation’s record scorer on Tuesday with the goal against Switzerland that took his tally to 50, but the impression persists that the Manchester United striker divides opinion and he is not cherished as he might be.
Lineker has enjoyed access to Rooney and the player’s family for a BBC 1 programme which will be screened on Monday 5 October and he says that the public will finally see the real Rooney. “It will be revelatory and it will transform the public opinion of him,” Lineker, who is also a presenter for BT Sport, said. “He comes over honestly and frankly. We don’t get a glimpse into footballers’ personal lives, and this film certainly does that. I think it will be a real eye-opener. He’s a decent guy with a lovely family and I think that comes across.”
The documentary is called Rooney – The Man Behind the Goals, and Lineker said with a smile that he and the production team had “really needed him to break the record” during the past international break. A late penalty against Switzerland took Rooney past Bobby Charlton on England’s all-time list, while Lineker sits third with 48 goals. “I was thrilled for Wayne and thrilled for the programme that we have made,” Lineker said.
Rooney said: “I have been approached many times about allowing the cameras into our lives and always said ‘no’. But now seems the right time. This film is not just about my goals, it’s about the people I care most about – my team-mates, the people closest to me but, most importantly, my family.”
Rooney’s new record looks safe enough for at least another generation with Danny Welbeck, on 14 England goals, his nearest challenger. Lineker said it was pointless to put a figure on the number of international goals that the 29-year-old could score but he predicted it would be “into the 60s”.
Lineker said: “You never know how long a player has left, especially with strikers. Once you turn 30, as a striker, you are usually on the way down and playing from the age of 16, at such a high level, has to take its toll. But as a player who is not entirely reliant on pace, you would hope that Wayne’s got a few years left. Physically, he is very strong and you would hope he can make it to the next World Cup.
“You can see a lot more goals coming. You would definitely, definitely back him to score plenty more. He could put the record, not out of sight, but into the 60s. With the break-up of the old Soviet Union, the break-up of Balkan countries, plus Liechtenstein, San Marino and so on, you would fancy his chances of scoring more. You would think that when he looks at England’s next World Cup qualifying group, his eyes would light up.”
England have been drawn to face Slovakia, Scotland, Slovenia, Lithuania and Malta but right now, it is next summer’s European Championship in France that looms large. Rooney has scored six goals at major tournaments, which is four short of Lineker’s haul. Lineker, though, would be happy to see Rooney break this record, too.
“I hope he does – we will probably win the Euros, if he does,” he said. “Personal records are not what football is all about but as goalscorers we live and die by figures and numbers because, ultimately, that’s how people will judge you. He’s got six in tournament football, so he could conceivably go past my total and that would suggest England are doing rather well, which is long overdue.”
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