London (AFP)
Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney and former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira were inducted on Wednesday into the Premier League Football Hall of Fame.
The duo holds the ninth and tenth numbers in the list of the most prominent stars of the league, occupying a prominent place in the Hall of Fame with David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Alan Shearer, Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp, Ireland’s Roy Keane and French Eric Cantona and Thierry Henry.
Rooney, who is currently supervising the training of Derby County in the reserve championship, is ranked second in the list of top scorers in the Premier League with 208 goals scored in the “Red Devils” and Everton shirts.
“It is a great honor for me to be in the Premier League Hall of Fame, alongside such an impressive group of players,” said the 36-year-old former international striker.
“When I was growing up, I watched the Premier League as much as I can remember. It has always been my dream to be a footballer, score goals and win trophies and I have been lucky enough to win the Premier League five times and I have so many great memories during my career with Everton and Manchester United and I am proud of what we have achieved.”
For his part, Vieira, the current Crystal Palace coach, played 307 matches in the league and won the title three times, while holding the captain’s armband for Arsenal “Invincible”, which is still the only team to win the title without losing a match.
“It’s a fantastic achievement to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame,” said the France World Cup winner, who ended his playing career with Manchester City.
And the 45-year-old former midfielder added: “When I received the news, I remembered when I was young, playing in Senegal, or in one of the suburbs of Paris, and having my name with these players makes me feel proud and realize how good I was.”
The Hall of Fame honors the best players to have played in the Premier League since its launch in 1992.
