Rooney is nearing 100 England caps after shining in a youth tournament 12 years ago, but his former team-mates haven’t been so lucky…
Wayne Rooney will earn his 100th England cap today when he leads out the Three Lions against Slovenia, twelve years on from playing at the European Under 17 Championships in 2002.
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Since then the Manchester United forward has won it all, but as the Daily Mail today revealed, many of his former teammates have not been so lucky. The Mail counted down what happened to other members of the squad:
Steven Drench
Then: Blackburn Rovers; Now: Guisley and goalkeeping coach with Blackburn’s academy
Signed for Morecambe in 2006 and won Player of the Year as part of their 2006-07 promotion winning-squad that returned to the Football League. Now playing for Conference North side Guiseley.
James Biggins
Then: Nottingham Forest; Now: Customer Service Officer in Melbourne
Has since worked as an assistant hotel manager at the Waltons Hotel in Nottingham, assistant manager at Le Mistral restaurant in Nottingham and as an account manager for EON. Currently Customer Service Officer at the Victorian Building Authority in Melbourne Australia.
Gary Borrowdale
Then: Crystal Palace; Now: Greenwich Borough and working on own business
Made 100th appearance for Crystal Palace aged just 21. Named Young Player of the Year in the 2006-07 season, before electing to join former boss Ian Dowie at Coventry City. Left Gillingham last summer and has dropped back into non-league football with Greenwich Borough, who are in the Southern Counties East Football League.
Ross Gardner
Then: Newcastle; Now: Engineer at British Gas
On Nottingham Forest’s books as an 18-year-old in the 2004-05 season, felt out of favour with new manager Colin Calderwood in 2006. Moved into non-league football playing for Shildon then Eastwood Town. Hasn’t played since 2012, now a technical installation engineer at British Gas.
David Raven
Then: Liverpool; Now: Inverness
Established himself as Carlisle United’s first-choice right-back from 2006-2010 making 137 appearances for the club. Plagued with constant injuries since leaving the League 2 club. Now playing for Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Premier League.
Chris Hogg
Then: Ipswich; Now: Needham Market and Ipswich academy coach
Made captain for Scottish Premier League club Hibernian at the start of the 2009-10 season. Left the club in 2011 to join Inverness Caledonian Thistle after making 143 appearances for Hibernian. Now representing Needham Market Football Club in the Isthmian League Division One North.
Wayne Routledge
Then: Crystal Palace; Now: Swansea
Apart from Rooney the most recognisable name on the team sheet from 2002. Been around the block in regards to football clubs, 29 years old and has played for ten different clubs including Aston Villa, Newcastle and Spurs. Now established as a regular in Swansea’s first-team.
Lee Croft
Then: Crystal Palace; Now: St Johnstone
The highlight of his career was playing for Manchester City in between a loan spell at Oldham Athletic. Made 118 appearances at Norwich scoring two goals over a three-year period. Now playing in the Scottish Premier League with St Johnstone.
Stacy Long
Then: Charlton Athletic; Now: Coach at Total Football Academy
Spell in the non-league with Ebbsfleet United, before joining Stevenage. Part of the team that gained back-to-back promotions to League 1 in 2010-11. Released by Stevenage in 2012 before returning to Ebbsfleet for a second-spell. He was released by the club last summer.
Mark Smyth
Then: Liverpool; Now: Prestatyn Town
Helped Bangor City win the Welsh Premier League in 2011, before being released in 2013. Signed for Connah’s Quay last summer after a brief spell with Prestatyn Town in the Welsh Premier League but has since returned to Wales.
Mat Sadler
Then: Birmingham City; Now: Rotherham
Represented several clubs including Birmingham City, Walsall and Crawley Town. Hasn’t made an appearance for Rotherham United yet after joining the Championship club last summer.
Nicky Eyre
Then: Tottenham Hotspur; Now: Goalkeeping gloves business
Retired from football on the 11th October 2014 after declaring, ‘The goalkeeper tightrope we walk every game has finally snapped for me’. Played for Conference Premier League sides Grays Athletic, Rushden and Diamonds and Dagenham & Redbridge.
David Mannix
Then: Liverpool; Now: Warrington Town and part time football coach
Given a 10-month ban in July 2009 for breaching FA rules on betting and fined £4,000, currently playing for Northern Premier League side Warrington Town. Captained the side who beat League Two Exeter City 1-0 in the first round of the FA Cup recently.
Tom Groves
Then: Nottingham Forest; Now: Haughmond FC
Playing for Haughmond Football Club, who play in the West Midlands Regional League, the 10th tier of English football.
Scott Brown
Then: Everton; Now: Grimsby Town
Began his career in Everton’s youth system alongside Rooney but failed to make a breakthrough. Made 63 appearances scoring 5 goals for Bristol City between 2004-07. Since has played for eight teams and now plays for Grimsby Town in the Conference.
Dorryl Proffitt
Then: Manchester City; Now: Unknown
Last reported to be playing for Baddeley Green, scoring the winner against Sneyd in the Sentinel Cup final. Was on Manchester City’s books at one time and also had a loan spell at Coventry City.
Sean Doherty
Then: Fulham; Now: Marine FC an Under 21 performance analyst at Everton
Began his career with Fulham before moving to Everton. Currently plays his football for Marine Football Club in the Northern Premier League. Played in Belgium for a year for Royal Antwerp in 2007, scoring once in seven games.
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