Is Harry Kane the Greatest of All Time? Wayne Rooney Weighs In
In a recent episode of The Overlap Fan Debate, football icon Wayne Rooney has sparked a lively discussion among fans and pundits alike by calling Harry Kane “England’s greatest striker.” Rooney's enthusiasm for Kane, now at Bayern Munich, highlights not just the player's impressive goal tally but also his evolution into a modern forward capable of influencing games beyond simple scoring.
Rooney, who himself is a legend having scored 208 goals in the Premier League, expressed his admiration for Kane's adaptability on the field. “I love Harry. I think, as a goalscorer, he’s evolved his game over the last few years as well. He’s got a good range of passes and can shoot from outside the box,” he explained.
Currently, Kane holds the record for becoming England's all-time leading scorer with 63 goals and has notched up 213 Premier League strikes, sitting just 47 goals shy of Alan Shearer's long-standing record. Rooney is optimistic about Kane's chances of surpassing this milestone, especially if he were to return to a Premier League side, saying, “If Harry had stayed in the Premier League, he’d break Shearer’s record for sure.”
Delving deeper into Kane’s tactics, Rooney analysed his performances for England, particularly during the last European Championship. He noted that Kane’s propensity to drop deep has sometimes hindered the team’s attacking flow: “Harry should’ve recognised that and said, ‘No, I’m going to play up top,’ because at times you have to do that.”
Rooney's comments resonate with ongoing debates within football regarding the changing role of strikers. He lamented the decline of traditional centre-forwards, claiming that modern tactical structures often leave them “bored” and less involved in play. “The game's changed massively. Strikers don’t touch the ball anymore; it's all about building up through the back,” he remarked, spotlighting a notable shift in the footballing landscape.
This shift, he argues, has made it challenging for new generations of strikers to emerge. While he identifies players like Alexander Isak, Erling Haaland, and Ollie Watkins as exceptions, he harbours concerns about the dwindling number of true centre-forwards in top-flight football.
When it comes to choices for the best striker currently, Rooney was unequivocal: “Haaland.” He elaborated on Haaland's unique qualities, despite some reservations about his heading ability. Rooney stated, “As good as Isak's been, I think Haaland's got everything.”
Reflecting further on the past, he reminisced about titans of his era. Names like Didier Drogba and Michael Owen sprang to mind as epitomising the versatility and skill that defined the role of a forward. “Kane, for sustainability and goals scored, is right up there,” he concluded, solidifying the growing consensus about Kane's position in football's pantheon.
As Wayne Rooney draws parallels between past and present strikers, the question remains—does Harry Kane deserve a spot among the greatest of all time? With opinions divided and careers evolving, one can only speculate on how history will remember him. What are your thoughts? Is Kane the best? Join the discussion below.
