and legends, and Patrick Vieira, are the first inductees into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2022.
Six more players will join them this year via a public vote, but Rooney and Vieira have been inducted by the Premier League and join the eight men welcomed in last year.
Rooney, who scored 208 Premier League goals, said: ‘It’s a huge honour for me to be named in the Premier League Hall of Fame, alongside an incredible group of players who have already been inducted.
‘Growing up, I watched the Premier League as far back as I can remember. My dream was always to become a professional footballer, score goals and win trophies, and I was lucky enough to win the Premier League five times.
‘I have so many brilliant memories from my years playing for Everton and Manchester United, and I’m really proud of what we achieved. To enter the Hall of Fame is very special for me personally and I’m grateful to be recognised.’
Vieira, who won three Premier League titles with Arsenal and is now back in the Premier League managing Crystal Palace, said: ‘Being inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame is a fantastic achievement. When I received the news, I thought about being a young boy playing in Senegal, or in a suburb of Paris.
‘To be there with the best players in the Premier League, the best league in the world, is bigger than what I was ever thinking about. To have my name around those players makes me proud and makes me realise how good I was.
‘It’s not bad company to join. I was lucky to play at the same time as some of them, of course including Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp, so to share the stage with them makes me realise I had a really good career.
‘What really makes me happy and proud is when your name is mentioned by new, up-and-coming holding midfielders as an example of how they would like to play.
Premier League Hall of Fame Inductees
- Alan Shearer
- Thierry Henry
- Eric Cantona
- Roy Keane
- David Beckham
- Dennis Bergkamp
- Frank Lampard
- Steven Gerrard
- Wayne Rooney
- Patrick Vieira
What are the Premier League Hall of Fame requirements?
Only players who are retired are eligible to be inducted and, in order to be eligible for induction in the inaugural 2021 list, players must have been retired by August 1, 2020.
Players must have also:
- Appeared in more than 200 Premier League appearances for one club
- Selected to any of the Team of the Decade or 20-Year Anniversary teams
- Won a Golden Boot or Golden Glove
- Been voted as Player of the Season
- Won three Premier League titles
- Scored 100 Premier League goals, or goalkeepers who have recorded 100 Premier League clean sheets
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