sport news Man United legend Wayne Rooney reveals the name he went during his time in the ... trends now
As far as football icons go in England, there aren't many bigger than former Three Lions skipper Rooney.
Since his emergence over 20 years ago now, Rooney has frequently been in the headlines on both the front and back pages, as well as holding goal-scoring records at both Manchester United and England.
In fact, for some generations of football fans, Rooney will perhaps be the face that first comes to mind when they think about the game, having been the face of the video game FIFA on a number of occasions at the peak of his powers.
As such, the idea that people might not immediately be shouting his name from the moment he walks into the room is a strange one.
Yet the Man United and England legend has revealed that his profile in America was so low that he actually had to go by a completely different name at times in public.
Wayne Rooney spent more than two-and-a-half years in the MLS as a player and manager at DC United
Rooney is one of the greatest players in Manchester United's history and still holds their goal-scoring record
In 52 games for the American club Rooney scored 25 goals and provided 14 more assists
Wayne's wife Coleen did not move to the US during her husband's time with DC United
Following his disappointing exit from Birmingham City, Rooney has dabbled in gaming, playing FC 24 with the likes of social media stars Angry Ginge, Chunkz, Filly, and Mark Goldbridge, as well as rapper Aitch and darts sensation Luke Littler.
And when streaming with his new team-mates, Rooney revealed how not only did people not know his name, but they couldn't even understand him speaking when he first moved across the pond to play for DC United.
On the live stream, Rooney said: 'When I was in the US, everyone thought I was Irish... When I was at Starbucks, I don't think they got my name right once... I got called "Won", I got called "Win"...
'So in the end, I just start saying (my name was) Ian.'
Rooney arrived at the MLS outfit as a statement signing, having left boyhood club Everton after just one year on a free transfer.
You'd be forgiven for thinking that he went on to have something of an anonymous spell in the US capital as a result, but he was in fact their best player for the duration of his 18 months in the side.
In 52 games for the club, he scored 25 goals and provided 14 more assists - including perhaps one of the greatest of all time.
Back in August 2018 with the 10-men of DC United tied at 2-2 with Orlando City, Rooney raced back two-thirds of the pitch to make a lung-busting tackle after an attacking corner was cleared.
The England legend admitted that many in the States thought 'I was Irish' and
