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Wayne Rooney’s England career in numbers – Three Lions’ record goalscorer announces his international retirement

From a debut as a 17-year-old to making the most appearances for an outfield player in England history, Rooney has been a shining light for his country

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WAYNE ROONEY spent his entire England career trying to live up to the hype of being the country's saviour.

From the minute he burst onto the international scene as a 17-year-old, Rooney was regarded as one of the country's best hopes to finally win a trophy.

 Wayne Rooney has said goodbye to his England dreams after retiring from international football
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Wayne Rooney has said goodbye to his England dreams after retiring from international footballCredit: AP:Associated Press
 From the time he made his debut as a 17-year-old Rooney has carried the weight of the nation on his shoulders
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From the time he made his debut as a 17-year-old Rooney has carried the weight of the nation on his shouldersCredit: Getty Images

Like others in the so called golden generation of Three Lions stars, Rooney was ultimately to  fall short in pursuit of a medal at the very highest level.

But the rough diamond from working class streets of Croxteth did live up to his billing as being one of  the best the country has ever produced.

SunSport takes a look at Wayne Rooney's England career in numbers after he announced he international retirement today.

119 - The total appearances Rooney made for England, the most ever made by an outfield player and just six short of goalkeeper Peter Shilton's all-time record.

71 - The number of games England won when Rooney made an appearance. In that time the national team drew 29 and suffered 19 defeats.

53 - Rooney's England-record goal haul.

 Rooney scores against Croatia as he announces himself on tournament football at Euro 2004
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Rooney scores against Croatia as he announces himself on tournament football at Euro 2004Credit: Reuters

6 - Rooney has played in six major tournaments for his country, from Euro 2004 to Euro 2016.  It should have been seven but England failed to qualify for Euro 2008.

7 - Only seven of his goals have come at the final stages of international tournaments, four of them as an 18-year-old at Euro 2004.
1 - He has scored only once at a World Cup, against Uruguay in 2014.

 Rooney celebrates his only World Cup Finals goal when he scored against Uruguay at Brazil 2014
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Rooney celebrates his only World Cup Finals goal when he scored against Uruguay at Brazil 2014Credit: AP:Associated Press
 Wayne Rooney led the England team out as captain 22 times
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Wayne Rooney led the England team out as captain 22 timesCredit: Getty Images

22 - The number of times Rooney captained England from the start, as well as seven other occasions when he wore the armband for part of a game.

17 - Rooney made his international debut as a substitute in a friendly against Australia in February 2003 aged 17 years and 111 days - an England record at the time, since surpassed by Theo Walcott.

 Wayne Rooney in his 119th and final England appearance, taking on Scotland
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Wayne Rooney in his 119th and final England appearance, taking on ScotlandCredit: Getty Images

2 - The times he was sent-off playing for England. His first came at the 2006 World Cup against Portugal in the quarter-finals, before a red in a Euro 2012 qualifier in Montenegro saw him suspended from the first two games of the tournament.

6 - Rooney played under half a dozen England managers - Sven-Goran Eriksson, Steve McClaren, Fabio Capello, Roy Hodgson, Sam Allardyce and Gareth Southgate.

 Wayne Rooney bowed out of tournament football with the Euro 2016 defeat to Iceland
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Wayne Rooney bowed out of tournament football with the Euro 2016 defeat to IcelandCredit: AP:Associated Press
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