Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney was honoured by the Football Writers’ Association after becoming the club’s all-time top goalscorer.
READ: Rooney’s 250th United goal
Some of the finest and most established sports journalists gathered at the Savoy Hotel to pay tribute to Rooney, who broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s long-standing record on Saturday.
The England captain scored a last-gasp free-kick against Stoke City on Saturday to clinch his 250th goal for the club during their 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium.
This was the fifth time the writers had arranged a tribute dinner for an individual player, with Rooney following fellow United icons Ryan Giggs and David Beckham, while also including Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
I would like to thank the football writers for this prestigious award. I was looking at the list of previous award winners and it is an honour for me to be in their company,’ Rooney said during his acceptance speech.
‘I’d like to say thank you to the managers I have worked with – each one has contributed to me being the player I am – and thank you to my team-mates.
‘I’d also like to say a big ‘thank you’ to my family and to Paul Stretford who has played a huge role in my life as a friend and an agent. And I’d like to thank Jose Mourinho for giving me tomorrow off.’