David Moyes says he expects the West Ham fans to give Wayne Rooney the Premier League send-off he deserves ahead of what looks to be his final game in English football on Sunday.
Rooney, who has reportedly agreed a deal to move Stateside and join DC United in MLS this summer, visits London Stadium with Everton on the last day of the season this Sunday.
Having been the manager to introduce Rooney to the Premier League at Everton back in 2002, Moyes says the ‘proper football people’ of West Ham will recognise just what the former England striker has done for football in this country.
With Premier League safety now secured, all focus in Stratford will be on ending the season in a positive light, something which could lend to Rooney being given a good reception.
“Proper football people know. I’ve got no doubt that West Ham will remember it,” Moyes said.
“I was manager of Manchester United when he scored the goal here at Upton Park from the halfway line.
“The ball broke and he scored from the halfway line and I know there have been a lot of that type but I thought it was a brilliant goal on the day.
“We won at Upton Park actually and I was the manager of United and it was a great goal.”
It is somewhat fitting that Rooney will end his Premier League career against the manager with whom it all began.
However, after the former Manchester United captain scored a spectacular goal against the Hammers on a day to forget at Goodison, Moyes may well prefer his former charge stays off the pitch.
“I never thought of that [Rooney ending his Premier League career against me]. If it was, it would be nice in a way,” the Scotsman added.
“I don’t expect Wayne to be finishing here. I hope Wayne goes and has another couple of hundred games in the MLS.
“I don’t want him to do what he did to us the last time so I’d rather he didn’t play!
“Overall Wayne went back to his boyhood club, he will always be an Evertonian whatever anybody says.
“He will always be respected at Manchester United, he will be a legend there for what he’s done, but he will always be an Evertonian.”
