WAYNE ROONEY says he was close to playing for the Republic of Ireland.
But the England icon – second on the all-time caps and goals for the Three Lions – snubbed Ireland boss Mick McCarthy because he was called up by the U21s and not the seniors.
YouTube @The OverlapWayne Rooney appeared on the latest episode of The Overlap[/caption]
YouTube @The OverlapRooney, 39, sat alongside Gary Neville[/caption]
Rooney, then at Everton, was approached by team-mate Lee Carsley through McCarthy as he qualified through his paternal grandparents.
Asked which other country he would have played for, ex-Manchester United striker Rooney, speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, said: “Mine would be Ireland. Mick called me up.
“I spoke to Lee Carsley, and he spoke to Mick and I was close to doing it.
“Then they called me up for the 21s. I was like, ‘I’m not playing for Ireland U21s’. I can play for England 21s.
“It obviously never happened, and I went to play for England.
“I would have probably went [if they put me in the first team].”
Ex-United team-mate Roy Keane quipped: “That was another one of your big mistakes.
“You could have played for Ireland. You live to regret it!”
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Rooney went on to be an England legend, winning 120 caps and scoring 53 goals in a 15-year international career where he was captain for three years.
He made history as the youngest player to play for his country when he won his first cap in a friendly defeat to Australia at the age of just 17-years and 111 days.
Rooney also went on to become to the youngest player to score for England when he netted against Macedonia at the age of 17.
He also made history as the youngest scorer in European Championship history when he netted a brace against Switzerland at Euro 2004, however the record was broken just four days later by Swiss midfielder Johan Vonlanthen.
Times Newspapers LtdRooney is one of England’s greatest ever players[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
