Video: Wayne Rooney wonder goal is one of his ‘best ever’

Everton 4 West Ham United 0

Wayne Rooney rolled back the years with a wonder strike and a hat-trick as Everton thrashed West Ham United 4-0 at Goodison Park.

In front of his new boss Sam Allardyce, who was watching from the stands, Rooney completed his treble with a goal from his own half. The former England striker said it was “one of the best” he’d ever scored.

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In the 66th minute, West Ham keeper Joe Hart’s clearance fell to Rooney. According to the Daily Mail, the Everton captain sent the ball sailing back over the keeper and defenders’ heads and into the net from a distance of 59.7 yards.

The hat-trick was Rooney’s first ever in a Everton shirt. Talking about his goal, Rooney told the BBC: “It was one of the best goals I’ve ever scored. I hit it as well as I’ve ever hit a football. To make it my first Everton hat-trick was special. It was a perfect moment.”

Rooney’s man-of-the-match performance will have impressed Allardyce, who watched the match alongside Everton owner Farhad Moshiri.

The Toffees confirmed yesterday that Allardyce would take over from caretaker boss David Unsworth. The former England boss is reported to have signed a £6million-a-year deal at Goodison, says the Mail.

Speaking to the media before the match, Moshiri said he was delighted to have appointed Allardyce. “I really want to give him the support he needs,” said Moshiri. “He can go as far as he wants. We need a strong leader, he gives us that.”

Rooney said he was looking forward to a “new chapter” at Goodison Park. “Sam is a very good manager,” he told the BBC. “I’m sure he’ll bring some new ideas. We’re looking forward to our first session with him.

“We had to win [against West Ham]. We had to stand up and show what good players we are. It’s the first step of where we want to go – moving up the league.”

In a shake-up of the Everton backroom staff, it’s reported that Allardyce will appoint Sammy Lee as his assistant manager and bring former Leicester City boss Craig Shakespeare into the coaching team.

Unsworth, who was in temporary charge for eight games, will return to his previous position as manager of the under-23s.

After the 4-0 win against West Ham, in which Ashley Williams scored Everton’s final goal, Unsworth hailed the team’s performance, especially Rooney’s.

“Every player was committed,” Unsworth said in an interview with the BBC. “I asked them to be men tonight. If you can stand up there and fight in times of trouble, that says a lot.

“Great hat-trick, great display from Wayne. He was captain for a reason. I’m delighted for the club. I took over when we were in the bottom three and we’ve got out of it in the six weeks.

“We expect more. The players have shown that when they are confident, we can keep clean sheets and score goals. Goodison must be a fortress for the rest of the season if we are to finish in the top half.

“I spoke to Sam Allardyce for about 10 or 15 minutes about the season in general, but I picked the team.”

Rooney’s goal and display was lauded by fans and press on social media, with many calling his strike the goal of the season.

Here are the best reactions on Twitter:

An all-round top performance from Rooney.

His greatest ever goal?

Rio Ferdinand started a Twitter debate.

A long wait for a treble.

#ThrowbackThursday for Rooney.

Tale of two strikers.

Not bad for a holding midfielder.