With Wayne Rooney reverting to the Nike T90 Laser II last weekend and throwing his future with the Swoosh into doubt, we take a look back at 30 of his most significant boots from throughout his career. From a teenage wonderkid in golden Umbro wheels to becoming England's all time leading goalscorer as one of Nike's lead faces. Kicking things off in '02...
Umbro XAI | Everton Debut | August 2002 – Rooney made his Everton debut for his boyhood club wearing Umbro. With England strikers Alan Shearer and Michael Owen both wearing the brand Umbro were one of the key players on the market and Rooney followed suit in XAI silo.
Umbro XAI II | First Everton Goal | October 2002 – Just five days before his seventeenth birthday Rooney hammered home a stoppage time winner to end Arsenal's 30 game unbeaten run. It was the goal that announced Rooney onto the world stage and he scored it in a golden Umbro XAI II boot, a colour fitting for his career that was to come.
Umbro XAI III | England Debut | February 2003 – A seventeen year old Rooney remained in Umbro for his England debut. The Everton youngster won his first of 119 caps as England lost to Australia at West Ham's Boleyn Ground.
Umbro XAI IV | Final Umbro Boot | March 2003 – Rooney's final Umbro boot before signing for Nike was the XAI IV. Rooney's performances for Everton were being recognised worldwide and the Swoosh made the first move before any club by signing up the striker to a long-term contract.
Nike Air Zoom Total 90 II | First Nike Boot | June 2003 – Still recognised as one of the greatest Nike silos of all time, Rooney began his Nike career in the Air Zoom T90 II. Rooney scored his first England goal in the silo becoming the youngest player to score for the Three Lions at 17 years and 317 days.
Nike Air Zoom T90 III | Euro 2004 | June 2004 – The summer of 2004 was when Rooney muscled his way onto the world scene. From boy to man. Scoring four goals as England progressed from the group stages, Rooney wore the third generation of the T90 series and was quickly becoming one of the brand's leading athletes.
Nike Air Zoom T90 III | Man United Debut | October 2004 – An inevitable move to Manchester United followed the 2004 European Championships and Rooney quickly justified his £30m price-tag by firing in a hat-trick on his debut wearing the white and golden edition of the Nike Air Zoom T90 III.
Nike T90 Supremacy | 2006 World Cup | April 2006 – By 2006 Rooney was one of Nike's lead frontmen. An expectant England watched Rooney make his World Cup debut in the fourth-generation of the Nike T90 series, but Rooney failed to score after recovering from injury in time to feature.
Nike T90 Supremacy | Red Card vs Portugal | July 2006 – The boot that left a print on Ricardo Carvalho's groin. Arguably Rooney's lowest point in his career (on the pitch anyway) and one that hit home hard for a player that was flying high at the top of the game.
Nike T90 Laser I | UCL Semi Final | May 2007 – Rooney's ferocious shot power and prolific accuracy saw him as the perfect player to headline the new Nike T90 Laser series. The Laser series would last four generations with Rooney at the forefront of every marketing campaign.
Nike T90 Laser II | Golden Boy | July 2008 – The second generation Nike Total 90 Laser could well be Rooney's favourite from the series, as it's the boot that he returned to last weekend. The appearance in the 2008 boot sparked rumours of a Nike exit and it'll be interesting to see if he remains in the silo.
Nike T90 Laser II | England Captain | November 2009 – Rooney was given the England captain's armband for the first time as the Three Lions took on Brazil in Qatar. The second generation T90 saw more frequent colourway releases, with Rooney donning the Silver/Orange/Black drop here.
Nike T90 Laser III | 2010 League Cup Final | February 2010 – Rooney lifted silverware shortly after moving into the Nike T90 Laser III by scoring the winning goal at Wembley as United lifted the League Cup.
Nike T90 Laser III | 2010 World Cup | June 2010 – The World Cup in South Africa provided a chance for Rooney and England to redeem themselves from the past World Cup and failure to qualify for Euro 2008. But Rooney failed to get himself on the scoresheet once more as England were dumped out by Germany.
Nike T90 Laser III | Bicycle Kick vs City | February 2011 – The greatest goal of Rooney's career to date came in exceptional circumstances at Old Trafford. An acrobatic bicycle kick in the Manchester Derby will take some beating.
Nike T90 Laser III | 2011 UCL Final | May 2011 – Rooney remained in the T90 Laser III for the rest of the season as Manchester United reached the Champions League Final. Rooney was on the scoresheet but the losing side also, as Barcelona ran out 3-1 winners at Wembley.
Nike T90 Laser IV | Laser Guided | September 2011 – Rooney switched into what was to be the final T90 Laser series as he kicked off the 2011/12 season. The T90 generations perfectly captured Rooney's style of aggressive attacking play and bullet shot and left many players frustrated when it was replaced in 2013.
Nike T90 Laser IV | Euro 2012 | June 2012 – Before the T90 Laser IV was retired it had one last international tournament in its locker. Euro 2012 saw the introduction of the 'Clash Pack' as Nike released all their silos in white designs with a block coloured rear. England? Nah, out on pens again.
Nike T90 Laser IV | Last League Title | May 2013 – Rooney remained in the T90 Laser IV to win his last Premier League title for Manchester United. Rooney would go on to win more titles and smash more records but his domestic dominance began to slow down after this league success.
Nike Hypervenom | Swoosh Shake Up | June 2013 – Rooney was forced into the Hypervenom series as Nike focused the new silo on the next generation of creative young talent. Neymar was installed as the lead face of the boot and he came up against Rooney as England re-opened the Maracana against Brazil.
Nike Hypervenom | 2014 World Cup | June 2014 – The Hypervenom did provide Rooney with first and only World Cup Finals goal as he drew England level against Uruguay in Brazil. That was as good as it got for England as they crashed out of the Group Stages.
Nike Hypervenom | 100th England Cap | November 2014 – The Hypervenom also marked a huge landmark in Rooney's career as he reached his 100th England cap. For the Euro 2016 Qualifier against Slovenia at Wembley Rooney wore a Hypervenom with '100' personalised on the upper.
Nike Hypervenom II | All Time Leading England Scorer | September 2015 – Rooney became England's all time leading goalscorer when he scored from the spot against Switzerland at Wembley in September 2015 wearing the second generation Hypervenom boot.
Nike Hypervenom II | Euro 2016 | June 2016 – Another European Championship, another disappointment for Rooney and England as the Man United striker played his last tournament game for the Three Lions. His last tournament goal coming as England crashed out in the last 16 to Iceland.
Nike Hypervenom II | Final England Cap | November 2016 – Rooney's final and 119th England cap came as England beat Scotland at Wembley in a 2018 World Cup Qualifier. Rooney ended his England career as his country's most capped outfield player.
Nike Hypervenom II | All Time Leading MUFC Scorer | January 2017 – The Hypervenom II was the boot that Rooney became Manchester United's all-time leading goalscorer in, as well as England's. Rooney bent in a late free kick at Stoke City to write himself in the Old Trafford history books.
Nike Hypervenom II | WR250 | January 2017 – To celebrate Rooney's record breaking feat Nike supplied him with a Man United themed Hypervenom II design titled the WR250 edition. Rooney wore the design for a handful of games as he played out the final few months of his United contract.
Nike Hypervenom III | MUFC Farewell | May 2017 – Rooney fittingly played his last Man United game in a final as the Red Devils lifted the Europa League title. Wearing the third generation Hypervenom, Rooney remained in the lo-cut edition as Nike's pool of younger talent sported the hi-collared design.
Nike Hypervenom III | Everton Return | July 2017 – Is the 'Lock In Let Loose' colourway the final boot worn by Wayne Rooney as an official contracted Nike player? Rooney made his Goodison Park return this summer wearing the boot before switching out of it prematurely last weekend.
Nike T90 Laser II | Swoosh Exit? | October 2017 – Rooney made a surprise return to the T90 Laser II this weekend as he scored from the penalty spot against Brighton. The boot choice has indicated that Rooney's contract with Nike has expired and he's wearing an old favourite until he makes his next move.
Got a favourite Wayne Rooney boot? Call it out below.
