Jake Rooney Explained

Jake Rooney
Fullname:Jake Richard Rooney[1]
Birth Date:22 August 2003
Birth Place:Liverpool, England
Position:Defender
Currentclub:Derby County
Clubnumber:21
Youthyears1:2014–2018
Youthclubs1:Tranmere Rovers
Youthyears2:2018–2022
Youthclubs2:Burnley
Years1:2022–
Clubs1:Derby County
Caps1:12
Goals1:0
Club-Update:17:07, 2 September 2023 (UTC)

Jake Richard Rooney (born 22 August 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for club Derby County.

Rooney spent time in the academies at Tranmere Rovers and Burnley, before signing with Derby County's under-21 in August 2022, he would make his league debut for Derby County in November 2022, in July 2023 Rooney signed a three-year contract at Derby, in August 2023, Rooney picked out an anterior cruciate ligament which left him on the sidelines for a year.

Personal life

Rooney is a cousin of former England & Everton striker and former Derby County and D.C. United manager Wayne Rooney and Macclesfield midfielder John Rooney.

Career

Youth career

Rooney joined the Burnley academy at age 14,[2] after leaving Tranmere Rovers following the closure of their academy.

Derby County

He joined Derby County on 8 August 2022, following a trial period with the club, and made his debut the following day, playing 63 minutes of Derby's 2–1 EFL Cup first round win at Mansfield Town.[3] [4] Rooney would make his first league appearance in a 3–1 win at Milton Keynes Dons on 14 November 2022, playing the entire 90 minutes.[5] Rooney would feature in the majority of first team matchday squads during the season as he made a total 18 appearances during his first season with the club.

On 11 July 2023 it was announced that Rooney had signed a three-year contract extension, extending his stay at Derby until June 2026.[6] At the start of the 2023–24 season, Rooney would feature as an unused substitute in Derby's opening four games of the season, but after injuries to Joe Ward and Kane Wilson, Rooney would start the next three games at right-back,[7] in the third of these games against Bolton Wanderers on 2 September Rooney was substituted off after 14 after a serious looking injury.[8] [9] He underwent a scan[9] to check the severity of the injury, on 6 September 2023 the scan results confirmed anterior cruciate ligament damage in his right knee, with the 20-year old defender expected to be sidelined for a "significant period".[10] In a February 2024 interview to the Derby Telegraph, Rooney thanked the support of the club, his teammates and family during his recovery and took up his hobby of playing the guitar during his rehab, which was said to be going "better than expected" with a return to training before the end of the season possible.[11] Rooney did not feature in any further games for Derby in 2023–24; he made a total of three appearances for Derby during the season, as they secured promotion to the Championship.[12]

Rooney returned to action in a 2024–25 pre-season friendly against Matlock Town on 12 July 2024.[13] However just a week later in a pre-season training camp in Spain, Rooney picked up another knee injury which is expected to rule him out for the first four months of the season.[14]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Derby County2022–23League One90403020180
2023–24League One3000000030
2024–25Championship0000000000
Career total120403020210

Honours

Derby County

Notes and References

  1. Web site: England - J. Rooney - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway. uk.soccerway.com.
  2. Web site: Jake Rooney - Burnley Football Club. www.burnleyfootballclub.com.
  3. Web site: Rams add defender Rooney to Under-21 ranks. www.dcfc.co.uk.
  4. News: Mansfield Town 1-2 Derby County. BBC Sport .
  5. News: Milton Keynes Dons 1-3 Derby County. BBC Sport. 12 November 2022. 14 May 2023.
  6. News: Derby County defender signs new contract after impressive season. Derby Telegraph. 11 July 2023. 11 July 2023.
  7. News: ‘Massive blow’: Paul Warne confirms that Derby County trio will be out of action for a long time. derbycounty.news. 20 August 2023. 8 September 2023.
  8. News: Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Derby County. BBC Sport. 2 September 2022. 8 September 2023.
  9. News: Jake Rooney set for scan as Derby County boss rues 'heartbreaking' injury. Derby Telegraph. 2 September 2023. 8 September 2023.
  10. News: Jake Rooney: Derby County defender out with knee injury. BBC Sport. 6 September 2022. 8 September 2023.
  11. News: 'I thought it was all a dream' - Jake Rooney opens up on Derby County, injury and Wayne's advice. Derby Telegraph. 21 February 2024. 9 March 2024.
  12. News: Breaking: Derby County promoted as duo seal it for Paul Warne's side. Derby Telegraph. 27 April 2024. 28 April 2024.
  13. Web site: Pre Season Match Report: Matlock Town 0–3 Derby County. www.dcfc.co.uk. 12 July 2024. 25 July 2024.
  14. News: Derby County rocked by major Jake Rooney injury blow. Derby Telegraph. 25 July 2024. 25 July 2024.