Wayne Rooney deserves to be remembered as a football legend when he retires, says Ally McCoist

Ally McCoist believes Wayne Rooney is under-appreciated by fans and deserves to be remembered as a true legend of football when he retires.

Rooney surprised supporters over the weekend by admitting he feels he is ‘not a natural finisher’ but also believes he should have scored more goals throughout his career.

Writing in his Sunday Times column, the self-deprecating star said he ‘was never a Gary Lineker or a Ruud van Nistelrooy’ and actually gets more joy splitting a defence with a perfect pass than putting the ball in the back of the net.

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Wayne Rooney scored 253 goals to break Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time scoring record at Manchester United

That’s quite a shock admission from a man who is the all-time record goalscorer for both Manchester United and the England national team.

Rooney argues the reason behind both of those feats was ‘time’, having spent 13 years at Old Trafford and 15 years in a Three Lions shirt.

But McCoist says even Rooney himself is under-valuing how good a player he was in his prime.

“In the USA they absolutely love their sports superstars and put them on a pedestal, but it’s almost the opposite in this county,” the Rangers legend told the talkSPORT Breakfast.

“Certainly in Scotland and probably in England as well, we like to blast them at the skies every now and again just to keep them on their toes.

“I think Wayne Rooney was a tremendous player.

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Wayne Rooney also surpassed Sir Bobby’s record England tally with 53 goals in a Three Lions shirt

“Think what he’s achieved – the top scorer in Manchester United’s history and the top scorer in the England national team. It’s an absolutely incredible achievement.

“And for him to say he’s not a natural finisher, I sort of get it.

“It’s one of these things, did we appreciate Alan Shearer when he was playing to the level we do now?

“You probably take a step back when people get older and have a look at their career and value them greater and appreciate their class and what they did after they’re finished.

“And I hope that is the case with Wayne Rooney.”

Listen to a clip of Ally McCoist on the talkSPORT Breakfast above!

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