Berliner Tageszeitung - Rooney and Vieira join Premier League Hall of Fame

NYSE - LSE

CMSC	0.18%	21.99	$
CMSD	-0.14%	22.15	$
BTI	1.96%	61.77	$
RIO	1.13%	94.42	$
GSK	4.4%	53.66	$
NGG	3.22%	82.85	$
BCE	1.87%	21.42	$
BP	3.34%	37.4	$
BCC	0.59%	75.93	$
RELX	1.72%	31.93	$
JRI	0.46%	13	$
RYCEF	2.74%	19.68	$
RBGPF	3.73%	68.15	$
VOD	1.06%	13.15	$
AZN	5.79%	195.15	$

Rooney and Vieira join Premier League Hall of Fame

SPORTS 23.03.2022

Rooney and Vieira join Premier League Hall of Fame

Manchester United great Wayne Rooney and former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira were Wednesday inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.

Text size:

The pair are the ninth and 10th players named in the select group, joining David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Dennis Bergkamp, Frank Lampard, Roy Keane, Eric Cantona, Thierry Henry and Alan Shearer.

Rooney, currently manager of Championship side Derby, is second on the list of all-time Premier League goalscorers, with 208 goals for Manchester United and Everton.

"It's a huge honour for me to be named in the Premier League Hall of Fame, alongside an incredible group of players who have already been inducted," said the 36-year-old former forward.

"Growing up, I watched the Premier League as far back as I can remember. My dream was always to become a professional footballer, score goals, and win trophies and I was lucky enough to win the Premier League five times.

"I have so many brilliant memories from my years playing for Everton and Manchester United and I'm really proud of what we achieved."

Vieira, now manager of Crystal Palace, played 307 times in the Premier League, winning the competition three times including as captain of the Arsenal "Invincibles" team, who remain the only club to have won the title without losing a game.

"Being inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame is a fantastic achievement," said the French World Cup winner, who finished his playing career at Manchester City.

"When I received the news, I thought about being a young boy playing in Senegal, or in a suburb of Paris."

The former midfielder, 45, added: "To be there with the best players in the Premier League, the best league in the world, is bigger than what I was ever thinking about. To have my name around those players makes me proud and makes me realise how good I was."

The Hall of Fame recognises the top players who have graced the Premier League since its launch in 1992.

Rooney and Vieira are the first two inductees of 2022, with a public vote opening up on Wednesday to decide another six to join them from a shortlist of 25 former players.

Richard Masters, the Premier League's chief executive, said: "Wayne Rooney and Patrick Vieira are two of the finest players to have played in their respective positions and are worthy additions to the eight players who entered the Hall of Fame last year."

A. Bogdanow--BTZ

Featured

Gotterup wins PGA John Deere after Kohles splashdown

Chris Gotterup won the John Deere Classic on Sunday for his third PGA Tour title of the year after co-leader Ben Kohles plunked his approach into water on the final hole.

FIFA clear US star Balogun to play in World Cup after Trump call

FIFA cleared US star striker Folarin Balogun to play in the World Cup co-hosts' showdown with Belgium despite his red-card ban after a personal phone call from President Donald Trump, it emerged Sunday, igniting a furious row that has rocked the tournament.

Haaland knocks Brazil out of World Cup as Norway reach quarters

Erling Haaland scored two late goals to send Norway through to a first World Cup quarter-final with a stunning 2-1 win over Brazil that condemned the five-time champions to their earliest exit since 1990.

Gauff downs Bencic to book maiden Wimbledon quarter-final

Coco Gauff clinched a dramatic late-night victory over Belinda Bencic on Sunday to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time in her career.