Proud Andorra star amazed to discover Wayne Rooney has his shirt 16 years on and challenges England legend to find it
WAYNE ROONEY amazed an Andorra football icon by revealing he still has his shirt.
England legend Rooney, who will be working as a pundit on BBC’s coverage of the tournament, opened up on his mindset when it came to swapping shirts with other players.
PAWayne Rooney swapped shirts with an Andorra star back in 2008[/caption]
The star revealed the match-worn shirt on his social media page
Speaking to BBC 5 Live Sport, he explained how his arrogance at the time meant he would never ask for a rival player’s shirt, even if it was a superstar such as Zinedine Zidane or Thierry Henry.
Asked about players coming to get his shirt, Rooney, 38, said: “I always respected any player who came up and asked for my shirt.
“Even to the point we were playing Andorra, and I remember one of the players come up and asked for my shirt and I give him the shirt and he gives me his.
“And I’ve seen players where they just throw it into the kit and aren’t interested, whereas I’d always show respect and take it home and keep the shirt.”
Rooney then confirmed there was a shirt from the player somewhere in his house, and the player the former Manchester United and Everton ace swapped with has now challenged him to find the kit.
Ildefons Lima, who has the most caps for his country with 137 between 1997 and 2023, was the player in question who Rooney swapped with 16 years ago.
Lima, 44, reacted to Rooney’s admission on social media by saying: “Great news, @WayneRooney still owns my shirt .”
Lima showed off a picture of Rooney’s shirt from a 2010 World Cup qualifier played in 2008 alongside his massive collection of other match-worn shirts.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
Ildefona Lima challenged Rooney to find the kit he swapped
England won the game, played in front of 10,300 fans at the Estadio Olimpico de Montjuic in Barcelona, Spain, 2-0 with a brace from Joe Cole before Rooney and Lima swapped jerseys.
And 16 years on the former defender has now challenged the England legend to find the shirt.
He said: “Don’t worry @WayneRooney , your shirt is in the best hands Can you show me mine??? .”
Rooney may not have time to immediately find the kit considering his working commitments over the summer before taking on the Plymouth job.
BBC and ITV’s Euro 2024 line up in full
Here’s how each channel will line-up:
BBC presenters:
Gary Lineker, Alex Scott, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman
ITV presenters:
Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods
BBC pundits:
Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Rio Ferdinand, Ellen White, Frank Lampard, Ashley Williams, Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, Cesc Fabregas, Thomas Frank, David Moyes, Rachel Corsie and James McFadden
ITV pundits:
Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Karen Carney, Graeme Souness, Eni Aluko, Ange Postecoglou, Danny Rohl and Christina Unkel
BBC commentators:
Guy Mowbray, Robyn Cowen, Vicki Sparks, Steve Wilson, Steve Bower and Jonathan Pearce
ITV commentators:
Sam Matterface, Clive Tyldesley, Seb Hutchinson, Pien Meulensteen and Joe Speight
BBC co-commentators:
Danny Murphy, Martin Keown, Jermaine Jenas and James McFadden
ITV co-commentators:
Lee Dixon, Ally McCoist and Andros Townsend
He named his England starting XI for the Euros earlier this week, declaring he would not have Trent Alexander-Arnold anywhere near the Three Lions midfield.
Rooney instead opted for a midfield of Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden, while also slotting Kyle Walker in at right-back.
His front three meanwhile consisted of Anthony Gordon on the left wing alongside Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka.
Wayne Rooney’s England line-up
EURO 2024 LIVE: LATEST UPDATES FROM THE TOURNAMENT
