Jamie Carragher: 'Wayne Rooney one of the best'

By Paul Gorst, Reporter | 14 November 2014

Ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher claims that Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney was one of the best players he faced during his 17-year career.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has claimed that Wayne Rooney was one of the finest players that he ever played against during his 737-game career for the Reds.

Rooney made his debut for Everton back in 2002 before moving to Manchester United for around £30m two years later, and Carragher stated that the England captain was one of the toughest opponents he came up against in his 17 years at Anfield.

He told talkSPORT: "He is certainly right up there with the best [I have played against]. There have been better strikers in the Premier League and there probably are right now, but with Wayne Rooney you know what you are getting season in, season out.

"He has been doing it for over a decade now at one of the biggest clubs in world football and been very successful.

"After the 2004 European Championship, we were maybe thinking we would have one of the best players in world football in a few years time. It never materialised on that front, when you look at players like Messi, Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic, but he has had a phenomenal career and he is a top player."

Rooney was given the United captaincy by Louis van Gaal earlier this year.