LONDON (AFP)
Wayne Rooney's stunning overhead kick in the Manchester derby in
February 2011 has been voted as the greatest goal in the 20
seasons of the Premier League in a ballot of more than 300,000
fans.
England striker Rooney acrobatically volleyed home Nani's
77th-minute cross to take United eight points clear of City in
the league standings en route to a record 19th English league
title.
Supporters from around the world voted in the ballot, with
Rooney's effort gaining 26 percent of the total votes cast.
Dennis Bergkamp's magnificent turn and finish against Newcastle
for Arsenal in March 2002 was the second most popular with 19
percent and Thierry Henry's volley for Arsenal against Manchester
United in 2000 was third on 15 percent.
Rooney said: "I grew up watching the Premier League so to be
voted the best goal in the history of the Premier League is a
great feeling.
"There's so many good goals in that shortlist, goals that I
watched in my living room as a kid: Alan Shearer's goal, Paolo Di
Canio's, Tony Yeboah's, David Beckham's.
"To be competing with them and winning is a great honour for me
and something I'm very proud of. I'd like to say a big thank you
to all the fans that voted for me."
The current Premier League season, which has two games left to
run, has produced several goals that could be remembered as long
as Rooney's award-winning effort, notably Newcastle striker
Papiss Cisse's astonishing swerving strike from the touchline in
a 2-0 win away to Chelsea on Wednesday.
