5 Of the most iconic Manchester Derby goals

#1. Wayne Rooney in 2011

Rooney's overhead kick against City was voted as the Best Goal of the Premier League's first two decades

A no-brainer really, Wayne Rooney’s bicycle kick has to be the most iconic goal ever scored in the Manchester Derby’s 139-year history. The Englishman is Manchester United’s record scorer with an incredible 253 goals in all competitions over a 13-year period but he has described the match-winner against Manchester City in the 2010/11 season as the ‘best of his career’.

Roberto Mancini’s men travelled to Old Trafford with a renewed spirit amidst the camp after beating them in the FA Cup semi-final the previous year. City were desperate to emerge from their neighbours’ shadow and beating them at their own park would be a statement result.

However, it wasn’t meant to be that season. Nani fired United into the lead before David Silva levelled things up in the second half. With the game labouring towards a draw, the Portuguese winger bombed forward on the right-wing before pinging a hopeful ball into the box which deflected off Pablo Zabaleta.

Rooney, to everyone’s surprise, quickly reacted to the ball which was destined to drop behind him by leaping into the air and acrobatically finishing past Joe Hart.

Nine years ago today, Wayne Rooney settled the Manchester derby with this incredible strike 🔥(via @premierleague)pic.twitter.com/AYE8NYYNE1

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 12, 2020

Ask any professional footballer and they will tell you that the overhead kick is the most difficult technique to perform. The timing, contact and precision should all work in perfect tandem to even have a chance for the player to produce an effort on goal, let alone score.

Rooney’s goal not only won Manchester United the match on that day but also widened the points gap between them and City who were mounting a significant title challenge. The strike was also voted as the best goal in Premier League history in a 2012 poll by fans.