Wayne Rooney and Patrick Vieira have been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame for the first time.
With 208 goals for Manchester United (with whom he won five league titles) and Everton, Rooney is the Premier League’s all-time second-leading scorer.
During his 11 seasons with Arsenal, Vieira won three Premier League titles and captained the ‘Invincibles’ to the title in 2003/04, when they went undefeated.
Rooney and Vieira join Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Dennis Bergkamp, Steven Gerrard, and David Beckham as the ninth and tenth players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, respectively.
Rooney: It’s a tremendous honor to be inducted.
Rooney made his Premier League debut for Everton when he was 16 years old, scoring a fantastic winner against Arsenal at Goodison Park.
In August 2004, he joined Manchester United for approximately £30 million, and went on to become an Old Trafford legend.
Wayne Rooney scored 183 goals in 13 years at United, won the league five times (including three in a row between 2006/07 and 2008/09), and was voted the league’s Player of the Season in 2009/10.
At United, he won the Premier League Goal of the Season award twice, in 2004/05 for a long-range volley against Newcastle United and in 2010/11 for a bicycle kick against title rivals Manchester City.
“It’s a wonderful honour for me to be named in the Premier League Hall of Fame, among an exceptional group of players who have previously been inducted,” the 36-year-old, who currently manages Championship side Derby County, said.
“As long back as I can remember, I followed the Premier League as a kid.” My ambition has always been to play professional football, score goals, and win trophies, and I’ve had the good fortune to win the Premier League five times.
“I have so many wonderful memories of my time at Everton and Manchester United, and I’m quite pleased of what we accomplished.” For me, being inducted into the Hall of Fame is a huge honor, and I’m grateful to be recognized.” Wayne Rooney said.
Vieira: Induction reminds me of how good I was
Vieira joined Arsenal from AC Milan in 1996, and in his second season at the club, he helped the Gunners win the Premier League for the first time.
In 2000/01, he was voted Premier League Player of the Season, and he went on to win the titles in 2001/02 and 2003/04 with teammates Henry and Bergkamp, both of whom have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
During his 307 Premier League games for Arsenal and Manchester City, where he played one season before retiring in 2011, the Frenchman scored 31 goals and provided 34 assists.
“Being inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame is a tremendous achievement,” the 45-year-old, who presently leads Crystal Palace, said. When I heard the news, I imagined myself as a small boy playing in Senegal or a Paris ghetto.
“Being in the Premier League, the best league in the world, with the best players is bigger than anything I could have imagined.” It makes me proud to see my name among those players, and it reminds me of how amazing I was.
“It’s not an awful corporation to be a part of.” I was fortunate enough to play alongside several of them, like Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp. As a result, sharing the stage with them reminds me that I had a successful career.”
“What makes me extremely happy and proud is when new, up-and-coming holding midfielders reference your name as an example of how they want to play.”
You can vote for next inductees
Since its founding in 1992, the Premier League Hall of Fame has recognized and celebrated the remarkable ability and talent of people who have graced the league. It is the league’s highest individual honor given to players.
All inductees receive a medallion with their name and the year of their induction inscribed on it, as well as a £10,000 donation from the Premier League to a charity of their choice.
A shortlist of 25 additional nominees eligible to join the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2022 will be announced on Wednesday at 4pm, with fans invited to help select six further inductees.
Voting will take place at www.premierleague.com/halloffame and on the official Premier League app until 9pm (UK time) on Sunday 3 April.
