In a recent episode of Stick to Football, Wayne Rooney gave fans—and his former colleagues—a peek behind the curtain of football’s highest-paid deals, and the numbers left everyone stunned.
The Manchester United icon didn’t hold back when talking about the biggest contract of his career, and the reactions from Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Ian Wright, and Roy Keane were priceless.
The £17 Million Shock
Rooney revealed that his most lucrative deal came in 2014 when he signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with Manchester United.
Reports at the time suggested he was earning a jaw-dropping £300,000 per week.
Beyond the hefty salary, the agreement included commercial rights and ambassadorial roles that extended beyond his playing days—making the total package even more impressive.
The disclosure caused quite the stir among his co-panelists.
Neville joked that he now wished he had an agent during his negotiations, hinting that Rooney’s deal had set a benchmark that most players of his era could only dream of.
Legacy on the Pitch
Money aside, Rooney’s achievements at Old Trafford are what truly define him.
The former England captain remains United’s all-time leading goalscorer, with 250 goals in 559 appearances across 13 seasons.
His trophy cabinet includes five Premier League titles, a Champions League, the FA Cup, three League Cups, and the Europa League—a career most players could only aspire to.
Yet, his earnings highlight the dramatic evolution of football salaries in England.
As the Premier League attracted more investment, players like Rooney saw their market value skyrocket, leaving previous generations’ contracts looking modest by comparison.
Neville, Carragher, and Keane Reflect
During the discussion, Gary Neville shared his own contract history, noting he earned a basic salary of £1.75m, later rising to £2.25m.
He admitted that money was never his priority: “I never once worried about the money side of it. I just thought that if I can get to the end of my career at 35 or 36 at United then I know I’ll be alright.”
Jamie Carragher chimed in, recalling that his largest deal was around £3m, much of it tied to performance bonuses—especially after Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League victory.
Roy Keane added that he earned about £5m at his peak, reflecting both his talent and the times, but he acknowledged that even those sums seem modest compared to modern contracts.
The Changing Football Economy
Rooney’s revelation underscores how football finances have shifted dramatically over the past two decades.
Contracts today aren’t just about salaries—they include commercial deals, sponsorships, and post-retirement roles, all of which can dwarf the earnings of even some of the sport’s greatest icons.
What Next for Rooney and the Legends?
While the focus on money can spark lively debates, the legacy of Rooney, Neville, Carragher, and Keane is cemented in their performances on the pitch.
For Rooney, his next chapters could involve ambassadorial roles, media appearances, or coaching opportunities, continuing his influence on football long after hanging up his boots.
For his contemporaries, reflecting on past contracts may inspire them to embrace modern football’s financial opportunities more proactively.
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