John Rooney (footballer)

John Richard Rooney (born 17 December 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Macclesfield.

John Rooney
Rooney playing for New York Red Bulls in 2011
Personal information
Full nameJohn Richard Rooney[1]
Date of birth (1990-12-17) 17 December 1990 (age 33)[1]
Place of birthLiverpool, England
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Position(s)Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Macclesfield
Youth career
1996–2002Everton
2002–2008Macclesfield Town
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2008–2010Macclesfield Town41(3)
2011New York Red Bulls5(0)
2012Orlando City9(2)
2012–2013Barnsley0(0)
2013–2014Bury3(0)
2013–2014Chester (loan)4(1)
2014–2016Chester108(25)
2016–2017Wrexham33(11)
2017Guiseley (loan)7(1)
2017–2018Guiseley31(5)
2018–2020Barrow83(27)
2020–2022Stockport County55(20)
2022Barrow27(5)
2022–2023Oldham Athletic32(2)
2023–Macclesfield26(15)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:44, 9 April 2024 (UTC)

He is the younger brother of former England forward Wayne Rooney. Although born in England, Rooney has expressed a desire to represent the Republic of Ireland at international level.[2]

Early life

John Rooney was born in Liverpool, Merseyside[1] to Jeanette Maria Rooney (née Morrey) and Thomas Wayne Rooney. He is of Irish descent and was brought up in Croxteth with older brothers Graeme and Wayne; all three attended Our Lady and St. Swithin's primary school and the De La Salle Humanities College.[3]

Career

Everton

John Rooney started at the Everton Youth Academy at the age of six.[4]

Macclesfield Town

After being released by Everton, Rooney moved to Macclesfield Town in 2002, where he signed professional terms on 14 July 2008,[5] 4 months after his professional debut against Barnet on 24 March 2008.[6] His first ever career goal came against Dagenham & Redbridge in a 2–1 loss on 28 March 2009.[7] Rooney's Macclesfield contract expired at the end of the 2009–10 season (after refusing to sign a new contract).[8]

New York Red Bulls

After trials with Derby County[9] and Huddersfield Town were unsuccessful[10][11] Rooney went to Seattle Sounders FC and Portland Timbers on trial to enter the next Major League Soccer Draft.[12] Rooney signed with Major League Soccer on 28 December 2010 and played at the 2011 MLS Combine in Florida.[13]

On 13 January 2011, Rooney was selected in the second round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by New York Red Bulls.[14] He made his debut for the club on 16 April as an 89th-minute substitute in a 3–0 victory over San Jose Earthquakes at Red Bull Arena.[15] On 28 June in his first start for New York, Rooney scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 victory over FC New York in the US Open Cup.[16]

Orlando City

Rooney was waived by New York on 23 November 2011[17] and he signed with USL Pro club Orlando City on 27 January 2012.[18]

On 25 February 2013, in his debut, Rooney scored his first goal with the club against Toronto FC in the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic in a 2–2 draw.[19] On 15 April, Rooney scored two goals and assisted a goal in a 4–1 win against the Wilmington Hammerheads.[20] On 22 May, Rooney again scored two goals in the second round of the US Open Cup in a 7–0 trashing of KC Athletics.[21]On 27 July, Orlando City won the 2012 Regular season title after they defeated the Charleston Battery 4–0 (with 3 games remaining in the season), as a result, John Rooney won his first championship in his career.[22] Rooney finished the season with 13 appearances and 5 goals as Orlando were eliminated in the Semi-final of the Playoffs to the Wilmington Hammerheads.[23]

Barnsley

After leaving Orlando City, Rooney was offered a contract by English club Barnsley in October 2012.[24] He signed a contract with the club on 25 October 2012.[25] He was released at the end of the season.[26]

Bury

On 10 July 2013, Bury announced they had signed Rooney on a twelve-month contract.[27]

Chester

He was loaned to Conference Premier side Chester until January 2014. He made four appearances and scored once. In January 2014, the transfer was permanent as he signed a contract keeping him until the end of 2014–15 season.[28]

Wrexham

On 7 June 2016, Rooney signed a one-year deal with Wrexham.[29][30] He made his debut for the club on the opening day of the 2016–17 season, in a 0–0 draw with Dover Athletic,[31] scoring his first goal for the club in their following match, converting a penalty during a 3–2 victory over Guiseley.[32]

In February 2017, Rooney joined Guiseley on loan for the remainder of the 2016–17 season after being unable to agree terms over a contract dispute.[33] Following his return to Wrexham at the end of the season, Rooney was one of several players who were not offered new deals.[34]

Barrow

In July 2018 he joined Barrow on a one-year contract. He helped them win the Vanarama National League title in the 2019-20 season, scoring 19 league goals from midfield in that curtailed season, becoming the club's second top scorer after Scott Quigley, winning several club awards and the Mark Harrop National League Player of the Season. .[35][36][37]

Stockport County

On 20 July 2020, Rooney signed for National League side Stockport County for an undisclosed fee.[38]

Barrow return

On 30 January 2022, Rooney returned to League Two side Barrow for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half year deal.[39]

Oldham Athletic

On 27 September 2022, Rooney signed for National League club Oldham Athletic on a two-year deal with the option for a third[40] following the mutual termination of his Barrow contract earlier that day.[41]

Macclesfield

On 31 August 2023, Rooney had his contract terminated by mutual consent,[42] allowing him to join Northern Premier League Premier Division club Macclesfield.[43]

Personal life

He is the younger brother of former Manchester United and England captain, and current Plymouth Argyle manager Wayne Rooney.

His cousin, Tommy Rooney, also played for Macclesfield Town in the 2004–05 Football League Two.[44]

Career statistics

As of match played 9 April 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Macclesfield Town2007–08[45]League Two2000000020
2008–09[46]League Two142101000162
2009–10[47]League Two25110101[a]1282
Total413202011464
New York Red Bulls2011[48]MLS50210071
Orlando City2012[48]USL Pro92000092
Barnsley2012–13[48]Championship0000000000
Bury2013–14[48]League Two3000100040
Chester (loan)2013–14[48]Conference Premier41001[b]051
Chester2013–14[48][49]Conference Premier214002[c]3237
2014–15[48]Conference Premier4611402[b]05211
2015–16[50]National League4110106[d]04810
Total112265011312829
Wrexham2016–17[48]National League3311201[b]03611
Guiseley (loan)2016–17[48]National League7171
Guiseley2017–18[48][51]National League315322[e]0367
Total3863220438
Barrow2018–19[48]National League4610101[b]04810
2019–20[48]National League3717101[b]23919
Total832720228729
Stockport County2020–21[48]National League3616442[f]14221
2021–22[48]National League194301[b]0234
Total55207400316525
Barrow2021–22[48]League Two19500195
2022–23[48]League Two8000201[a]1111
Total275002011306
Oldham Athletic2022–23[48]National League322301[b]0362
Macclesfield2023–24[52]NPL Premier Division2615428[b]33820
Career total464117309503011529137

Honours

Orlando City SC

Barrow

Individual

References