When Wayne Rooney bursted onto the scene every Everton fan was shocked, but the academy knew exactly what he was all about.
Rooney made his mark on Evertonians from an early age, scoring that famous goal at Goodison Park against a prime Arsenal side aged just 16.
It sent the whole stadium into bedlam, as David Moyes had a serious star on his hands.
Of course, Rooney had bigger things to consider as a move to Manchester United was on his mind, and because of this decision, Jamie Carragher suggests Rooney isn’t an Everton legend.
No matter what he did though, he will always be remembered for that goal, but Everton’s former academy director saw him do something even more shocking before signing with the Toffees.
Academy director was shocked at what Wayne Rooney did before Everton signing
As it’s known Rooney went on to have an illustrious career, but Everton was always the making of him as a player.
Rooney looked up to Duncan Ferguson at Everton as part of his aggressive nature probably stemmed from the Scotsman.
But Rooney’s ability was all him, and former academy director Ray Hall saw that first hand.
Speaking in 2009 of how he found Rooney for Everton, Hall talked on a time he left a crowd in utter shock.
“I met him for the first time when he actually signed, he was eight years of age, and the first time I saw him play was probably against Manchester United,” Hall said.
“Something happened in that game which I’ll never forget. That was the first time sign we appreciated we had something different.
“It was eight against eight, the ball comes across about head height and I looked at Wayne thinking ‘he’ll hit this’ but he didn’t.
“He turned his back on it and did a bicycle kick. There was complete silence.
“The coach from United looked down the line as if to say, what have we just seen?”
READ MORE: Everton boost as £10.5m star says he now feels ‘strong’ after 3 months out injured
Everton could have a Rooney-like talent in Harrison Armstrong
It’s been a struggle for Finch Farm to produce the next Rooney at Everton, but Moyes might have landed the jackpot once again.
Harrison Armstrong is looking the real deal and seems like the most promising youngster coming through the Everton ranks.
Many suspected Anthony Gordon to replicate a Rooney-like stature, but after his Newcastle move, Armstrong seems like the one next in line.
The 18-year-old looks extremely promising and it has left Derby County fans in awe of Armstrong during his loan spell at the moment.
Everton will never quite get a youngster like Rooney, but if Moyes gets it right with Armstrong, the sky is the limit.
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